Think of it as the icing on the cake…or, perhaps more accurately, the fridge that’s going to keep the cake fresher for longer. Not just for agencies or experts who love to know all the stats, a good SEO reporting tool helps you stay on top of your analytics and regularly audit your performance.
And why is this a good thing? We’re sure we don’t need to tell you. SEO reporting tools keep you abreast of your rankings, help you find new keywords and backlink opportunities, and ensure you can see whether that SEO strategy you worked so hard on is having the desired effect. If you’re not pulling the results you’d dreamed of, a few tweaks in the right direction could be all you need.
Convinced that a regular SEO audit is for you? Read on for our list of the top ten SEO reporting tools and software to make your life that little bit easier.
Related: 10 Best Free Keyword Research Tools
Ten SEO reporting tools to start using right away
Rated by experts, compiled by us – these ten SEO reporting tools are a mixture of free and paid software.
1. SEMRush
Widely regarded as one of the best SEO reporting tools out there, SEMRush will help you stay on top of your metrics – and ahead of the competition. A whole array of reports is available, from data on backlinks and traffic to local SEO and keyword tracking. Reports can be scheduled and sent automatically, which is a particularly great option for agencies working with clients. Note that like many SEO reporting tools, SEMRush is a paid service.
2. Ahrefs
Another hugely popular tool, which is paid for but does offer some features for free. Ahrefs benefits from a simply enormous databank, featuring 12 trillion known links and 200 million root domains. You can generate automated reports, analyze backlinks and keywords, and use a range of analytics to optimize your rankings.
3. Google Analytics
Google is, of course, a major name in SEO, with the distinct advantage of being easy to use. This is also one of the cheapest options, with access coming in the form of a free AdWords account. Tracking conversions, organic traffic, and keyword performance is all super-easy from the Google Analytics console.
4. Moz
Moz has gained popularity among SEO experts because of some nifty features like site crawling and suggested improvements, which help you to find and fix errors faster. There are various levels of this tool (including a free-to-use SEO bar), but the Moz Pro option is the best to go for if you mean business. The hefty keyword database is particularly great for agencies and SEO writers in need of inspiration.
5. Screaming Frog
Screaming Frog is one of the partly free SEO reporting tools that specifically focus on on-page SEO optimization. A website crawler, it helps you find and mend errors (broken links, redirects, etc.) and can be linked with Google Analytics or exported to Excel for more detailed analysis.
6. GrowthBar
If you haven’t heard of GrowthBar yet, it’s worth checking out. This SEO tool is especially good for keyword reporting: you can analyze competition stats, assess keyword performance, and access a whole bunch of new suggestions. GrowthBar also provides tips for improvement to help optimize your rankings across the web.
7. Sprout Social
For agencies specifically dealing with social media, Sprout Social is an integrated content planning and performance tool that displays SEO metrics in an easy-to-view dashboard. As well as analyzing your performance across major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, you can schedule posts and manage pages without the need for a bunch of different tools.
8. Kissmetrics
Kissmetrics is rated by the experts because it tracks visitor activity across any website. This is great if you have an e-commerce business and are looking to optimize for SEO, or for agencies looking for stats to back up their suggestions to clients. Behavioral analytics and a simple interface – what’s not to love?
9. KWFinder
Another SEO reporting tool that will help save valuable time when researching keywords. Particularly geared towards low-competition long-tail keywords, you can also use KWFinder for in-depth analytics on SERPs and backlinks. Localized search results help you refine suggestions to find the ultimate keywords for boosting your rankings.
10. Agency Analytics
Another of the SEO reporting tools that work well for agencies, this software is customizable and provides clear-to-read, automated reports. That’s especially helpful if you’re managing lots of projects or clients. Automatic deliveries can be arranged, including a display banner with your own logo. In addition to monitoring rankings, you can keep an eye on backlinks and many more metrics.
As you can see, there’s a ton of software out there – some paid, some free. Depending on your specific SEO needs (and budget), you may find it helpful to use several of these in conjunction. Whichever your preference, we’re sure you’ll agree – for agencies, startups, content marketing experts, and SMEs, SEO reporting tools are an absolute necessity.
