5 Best Web Based SEO Tools For Small Business Owners

Each year, new search marketing tools are built and put to use by SEOs worldwide. Google updates its algorithm and SEOs adapt, pushing the industry forward.

With so many SEO tools to choose from, many search marketers wonder - what are the best SEO tools?

In my long career as an SEO, I’ve learned the value of powerful tools in saving time, energy and money. Though many of these are standalone software programs for Mac and PC, I’ve developed a strong preference for web-based SEO tools, given their convenience and easy access from any device.

So without further ado, here are my absolute favorite web-based SEO tools in 2016:

1. Ahrefs [Link Analysis and Website Analytics]

Ahrefs is a comprehensive suite of social media and SEO tools that helps you understand your competitors' and your own content better.

When it comes to backlink research and link data for link audits, Ahrefs’ data is extremely powerful. I have been using it for quite some time, and it is one of my favorite search marketing tools out there.

Ahrefs contains a treasure trove of link data: the number of referring domains a site has, how many of the come from unique IPs, the source of the links, a site’s backlink growth over time, and link authority and strength.

Ahrefs’ link index also shows anchor text density, broken links, lost links and much more, making ideal for SEOs conducting a link audit.

Ahrefs backlinks checker. Source: Link Sphinx

Ahrefs has also quietly rolled out some amazing new features called Content Explorer and Positions Explorer. Respectively, they are keyword research tools that can compete with BuzzSumo and the Google Keyword Planner.

Ahrefs Content Explorer. Source: Authority Hacker

Quite a step up for a tool that once was just a backlink checker.

If you’re a small business owner who’s serious about SEO, Ahrefs an indispensable tool that should be at the center of your online marketing, hence why it stands as my #1 web-based SEO tool. It helps you understand your own site, your competitors, and the marketing opportunities available in between.

2. SEMrush [Competitive Analysis]

According to a recent SEO expert roundup, SEMrush is the #1 most essential tool for SEOs. At once a backlink checker, analytics tool, and keyword research suite, SEMrush is most powerful for spying on your competitors.

By far the best SEO competitor analysis tool on the market, SEMrush allows you to understand your competition and outrank them in the SERPs.

SEMrush Competitor Analysis dashboard. Source: Fourth Source

But it wasn’t always so. SEMrush began as a simple keyword rank tracking tool, and it took years of development and new features before it came to dominate the SEO industry. Since then, it’s grown into mature online marketing suite.

You can literally steal traffic from your competitors with SEMrush. Start by finding all the sites in your niche that are similar to yours, usually within 10 domain authority (DA) to your site. Filter the organic keywords to see what your competitors are ranking for, then create better content and outrank them.

SEMrush has the potential to level up your SEO competitor research. Use it wisely and you can quickly take over your niche.

3. BuzzSumo [Content Marketing]

Originally launched as a social media analytics tool, BuzzSumo often gets left out of the conversation of SEO tools. In recent years, however, social media and SEO have converged, and the power of BuzzSumo has stepped into the limelight as a powerful web-based app for content marketing.

I personally use BuzzSumo to generate new content ideas, whether they be videos, blog posts, guides or just social media conversations I want to plug into. BuzzSumo is most effective when combined with keyword research -- after identifying your list of target keywords, plug them into BuzzSumo to find a list of relevant content ideas.

BuzzSumo’s backlinks tab is a useful feature for identifying possible outreach targets for your new content. In combination with Brian Dean’s “Skyscraper Technique”, the tool helps you create the type of 10X content that will outrank your competition.

The BuzzSumo dashboard. Source: BuzzSumo

A quick tip pointed out by AJ Gherich and Jon Cooper: you can also see the social accounts of the influencers who shared the top content for your keyword.

4. Buzzstream [Link Building & Blogger Outreach]

Among all the SEO tools on this list, BuzzStream is the one that comes closest to total automation.

Despite the vast number of web-based tools in the SEO industry, I have yet to discover one that automates the following tasks: prospect qualification, targeted list building, and email outreach.

BuzzStream comes very close -- here’s how:

BuzzStream is an effective blogger outreach tool, but more than that it’s a CRM for managing relationships with other influencers in your industry.

Managing my contacts is easy with BuzzStream. Source: BuzzStream

I love staying in touch with other internet marketers, and BuzzStream helps me keep track of all those people who share my stuff.

To thank them, I respond by sharing their content and eventually getting to know them better in person. In this way, BuzzStream helps me build and maintain long-term relationships on- and off-line.

5. Agency Analytics [Tracking and Reporting]

Agency Analytics is a great tool to track your keywords and show you how well your website is ranking in the SERPs.

If you run a small business shop or manage a couple of SEO clients, then this tool is competitively priced and offers a lot of similar features as other tools and services.

Key features:

• Rank tracking
• Backlink monitor
• SEO audit tool
• Social analytics
• Easy reporting
• Simple UI

Managing a handful of clients can be tough, but the simple client reporting feature makes it easy to export and explain rankings to clients. The dashboard looks like this:

Source: Agency Analytics

Agency Analytics is the best SEO tool you’ve never heard of, but is gaining momentum as it builds out a useful feature-set with a user-friendly interface.

Conclusion

There is no shortage of SEO tools for small business owners in 2016. Rather than give you a list hundreds and create decision fatigue, I’ve reviewed the most effective tools.

These are the tools I use in my business, and that have the highest return on investment when it comes to supercharging your search marketing.

Which tools will you choose for your business? Whether it be Ahrefs or SEMrush, the final decision rests in your hands. I recommend starting with just 1 or 2, getting really familiar with it, then building your toolset from here.

Have another tool to recommend? What’s your favorite?