backlinkhelper

Doing SEO without the right tools is like trying to cook a gourmet meal without a stove—possible, but why suffer? So, I put together a list of some of the most handy SEO tools out there. And at the end, I’ll introduce a Chrome extension called BacklinkHelper that can seriously save you hours every day.

16 beginner SEO tools that can help simplify SEO

1. Google Search Console

If SEO was a toolbox, Google Search Console would be your Swiss Army knife. Seriously, no SEO pro should skip this.

Why? Because it gives you juicy data on how your site is doing in Google search — what’s working, what’s not. Plus, it has nifty features like URL inspection, core web vitals monitoring, and it’ll flag issues like crawling errors, indexing problems, or even if Google slapped you with a manual penalty.

It’s basically your SEO first-aid kit.

2. Google Analytics

SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. You gotta keep tweaking stuff based on real data. Enter Google Analytics — your data crystal ball.

With it, you can see:

  • Which pages are pulling in the most visitors
  • Who your audience actually is
  • How folks find your site (search, social, referral, you name it)
  • How users behave on your pages
  • How many visitors turn into leads
  • And where people drop off in your sales funnel

If you’re flying blind without GA, you’re missing the map.

3. Screaming Frog

Before you fix anything, you gotta know what’s broken, right? That’s where Screaming Frog SEO Spider comes in.

It’s like sending a little spider to crawl your site and your competitors’, then reporting back on:

  • Missing or duplicated meta titles and descriptions
  • Redirect loops and chains
  • JavaScript rendering hiccups
  • 404 errors and other response code issues

A must-have for spotting those sneaky SEO problems.

4. SEMRush

SEMRush is the Swiss Army knife’s big brother — an all-in-one SEO toolkit.

It helps you:

  • Find killer keywords
  • Spy on your competition
  • Analyze backlinks
  • Audit your site for technical issues
  • Track your rankings

If you want a single tool to cover all bases, SEMRush is a safe bet.

5. Ahrefs

Ahrefs is SEMRush’s close cousin, and many pros swear by it. If backlinks are your jam, Ahrefs shines bright.

It offers:

  • Deep backlink analysis
  • Keyword click distribution insights
  • SERP history tracking
  • Internal and outbound link monitoring
  • Content gap discovery

Which one to choose? Depends on your taste, really.

6. Redirect Path

Redirects can get messy, especially on older sites. But how do you check if they’re working right?

Redirect Path is a handy Chrome extension that maps out the redirect trail your browser (or Googlebot) follows to reach a page, so you can spot errors fast.

7. Panguin Tool

Suddenly lost traffic and scratching your head? Maybe Google rolled out an algorithm update.

Panguin Tool matches your traffic dips with known Google updates, so you can tell if it’s “them” or just bad luck.

8. BrowSEO

Want a quick peek at a page’s on-page SEO? Drop the URL into BrowSEO and it breaks down:

  • Heading tags
  • Meta titles & descriptions
  • Status codes
  • Internal & external links
  • Robots tag status

No fuss, just the essentials.

9. AnswerThePublic

Coming up with fresh content ideas is tough. AnswerThePublic turns a keyword into dozens of questions real people are asking online.

Perfect if you want to nail voice search or grab those sweet Featured Snippets on Google.

10. BuzzSumo

Social shares can give your SEO a nice little boost. BuzzSumo shows you what content is crushing it on social media.

Use that intel to create even better content and promote it on the hottest platforms.

11. vidIQ

If YouTube video marketing is part of your game, most SEO tools won’t cut it.

vidIQ is the go-to for YouTube keyword research and optimization. It lets you:

  • Find the best video keywords
  • Check monthly search volumes on YouTube
  • Tag videos like a pro
  • See what your competitors are doing
  • Audit your channel performance

A must if you want your videos to get discovered.

Not all keywords are created equal. Google Trends helps you figure out if a keyword is rising or fading.

Before you dive in, check Trends to avoid wasting time on a dying phrase.

13. Help a Reporter Out (HARO)

Want backlinks from high-profile sites? HARO connects you with journalists looking for expert sources.

Answer their queries and bam — quality backlinks that boost your site’s authority.

14. Google PageSpeed Insights

Website speed is a ranking factor, plain and simple.

Google’s PageSpeed Insights tool tells you how fast your site loads on desktop and mobile, and gives actionable tips to make it faster.

Faster sites = happier users + better SEO.

15. Yoast SEO

For WordPress users, Yoast SEO is a lifesaver.

It helps you optimize your content for keywords, improve readability, set up redirects, and handle all those little SEO tweaks without breaking a sweat.

16. BacklinkHelper

BacklinkHelper is a powerful Chrome extension designed to automate backlink submissions. It intelligently autofills forms and tracks your links, saving you hours of manual work every day.

If link-building feels like a tedious grind, BacklinkHelper makes it effortless—so you can focus on other SEO wins.