When it comes to business growth and optimum performance, identifying the right online tools for your business and marketing processes is essential to streamlining workflows and staying ahead of the curve.
One such tool people are talking about is Surfer SEO.
Surfer SEO was launched in 2017 by digital marketing and SEO experts Slawomir Czajkowski and Michal Suski, in response to the need for a comprehensive and data-driven SEO tool. The tool was designed to assist businesses and marketing professionals in optimising their content based on real-time data and SEO trends, reducing the time and guesswork involved in content creation and SEO strategy.
The founders’ combined expertise in software development and digital marketing has resulted in a tool that’s gained a strong reputation within the SEO community, with users ranging from freelance SEO consultants to large digital marketing agencies.
But is it worth investing in?
In this blog post, we will cover everything you need to know about this popular tool to help you decide if it’s right for you.
What is Surfer SEO?
Surfer SEO is a cloud-based SEO suite designed to help businesses and professionals improve their content’s search engine optimisation. It offers a versatile collection of SEO tools that integrate with your content creation process to provide data-driven insights for SEO strategy.
Surfer SEO uses a powerful data analysis engine to examine your content in comparison with other top ranking pages in your niche. It then offers suggestions on word count, keyword usage, content structure, and other optimisation factors to help your content rank higher in search engine results. This SEO tool is known for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive reports, which make SEO optimisation accessible even for those without extensive SEO knowledge.
But it also offers much more; with other tools such as audit, domain planner and in depth keyword research, Surfer SEO is almost the complete package.
How does it work?
Surfer SEO operates on complex algorithms that analyse and interpret vast amounts of data from the web. It takes into account numerous SEO factors like keyword density, page structure, backlinks, and even the length of your content. The tool crawls the web, analysing top-performing content in your domain, and uses this data to provide insightful recommendations.
By leveraging machine learning and artificial intelligence, it identifies patterns and draws conclusions from the analysed data, enabling it to offer strategic advice for content optimisation. This process is continually updated with new data, ensuring your SEO strategies are aligned with the latest trends and changes in search engine algorithms.
Who is it suitable for?
One of the standout features of Surfer SEO is its broad applicability across different industries and professions. Because of its versatile and data-driven nature, this tool can benefit a wide range of users keen on advancing their SEO strategies.
For example, a trades business could significantly profit from using Surfer SEO. With its robust data analysis and SEO recommendations, trades businesses can optimise their online content to target their local service areas effectively. This can lead to improved ranking on search results, increased online visibility, and ultimately, more customer enquiries and business growth.
Bloggers and content creators can also leverage Surfer SEO to ensure their content is SEO-friendly and capable of attracting organic traffic. E-commerce businesses can use it to optimise product descriptions and category pages, potentially leading to better product visibility and more sales.
SEO consultants and digital marketing agencies will find Surfer SEO immensely useful too. It can support their services by providing data-driven insights and recommendations for their clients’ SEO strategies, boosting their credibility and success in the industry.
In short, anyone looking to enhance their online presence through improved SEO can find value in Surfer SEO.
The difference between on page SEO and off page SEO
Before delving into the features and pricing of Surfer SEO, it’s essential to understand the difference between on page SEO and off page SEO.
On page SEO, or on page optimization refers to improving elements within your website or content that you can control. This includes factors such as keyword usage, content structure, and internal linking. Off page SEO, on the other hand, relates to external factors that influence your website’s search engine ranking. This includes backlinks, social media engagement, and online reviews.
Both on page and off page SEO are crucial for a successful SEO strategy, and Surfer SEO caters to both aspects with its range of on page SEO tools and off page SEO insights.
How to use Surfer SEO?
Surfer SEO has 5 key features that, when used as a complete package, can help you achieve your SEO goals effectively.
These features are:
- Keyword Research
- Content Editor
- Audit
- Domain Planner
- SERP Analyzer
Surfer SEO Features
Starting with the first feature –
1. Keyword Research
Surfer’s keyword research tool is one of its core features, designed to help businesses identify the most effective keywords to include in their content for optimal SEO.
To use this on page optimization tool, simply navigate to the ‘Keyword Research’ tab on the Surfer SEO dashboard. Begin by entering a ‘seed keyword’ related to your business or the topic of your content. Consider this as a starting point. For example, if you own a plumbing business, your seed keyword might be ‘plumbing’ or ‘plumbers’.
Once you’ve entered your seed keyword, Surfer SEO will generate a comprehensive list of keywords that are related to this particular keyword, along with important metrics such as search volume, keyword difficulty, and competitiveness. This list can be sorted and filtered based on these metrics, helping you identify the most viable keywords to target.
For instance, if ‘plumbers’ was your seed keyword, Surfer SEO might suggest related keywords like ‘local plumbers’, ’emergency plumbers’, or ‘plumbers near me’. These suggestions are based on what people are actually searching for on the web, helping you to create content that aligns with user intent and boosts your chances of ranking higher in search results.
2. Content Editor
Surfer’s content editor tool is the heart of Surfer SEO, offering a data-driven approach to content optimisation. This AI-driven tool provides real-time feedback as you write, suggesting optimal keyword density, content length, and other essential factors that determine search engine rankings.
To use the Content Editor feature, start by clicking on the ‘Content Editor’ tab on the Surfer SEO dashboard. Input your target keyword. For a trades business, this could be ’emergency electrician services’.
Surfer SEO will analyse the top-ranking content for this keyword and generate an optimisation plan. This includes recommended word count, keyword suggestions, images and structural guidelines. For instance, it may suggest you to include related keywords like ’24/7 electrician’, ‘licensed electrician’, or ‘local electrician’.
You can then start crafting your content directly in the editor. As you write, the tool provides real-time feedback. For example, if you mention ’emergency electrician’ too frequently, it might indicate that you’re over-optimising for this keyword. Conversely, if you haven’t mentioned ‘qualified electrician’ at all, it may prompt you to include this term.
By clicking on the gear icon on the top left of the screen, you’re presented with the option of choosing your competition from the competitor analysis and removing any keywords that aren’t wholly relevant. For example, if you’re a local electrician, you might want to exclude keywords related to national or global electrical companies.
Once you finish drafting your content, Surfer SEO provides a score out of 100 based on how well it’s optimised. If you score highly, your content is likely to perform well in search engines. If your score is low, you can make the suggested changes to improve it.
The Content Editor feature also allows you to export your optimised content to Google Docs or download it as a .txt file, making it easy to integrate with your existing content creation process.
Another great feature of Content Editor is the ability to import content from URLs. This is a game changer for anyone who currently has a live page on their site that isn’t quite getting the traction it needs. After importing the content from the URL and adding in the keyword you want to rank for, Surfer SEO will analyse all of the current content and tell you the exact changes you need to make to ensure that page competes for that keywords. There is no better way to bring a page back from the dead.
Overall, Surfer SEO’s content editor helps you write optimised content that search engines love. By providing real-time suggestions based on your target keywords and competitors, it helps you maintain the ideal keyword density, length, and structure to make your content more relevant and visible in SERPs.
3. Audit
The Audit feature in Surfer SEO provides a comprehensive analysis of your website or specific web pages, identifying areas that could be improved for better SEO. It highlights on-page SEO and off-page SEO factors, including keyword usage, backlink profile, and website structure.
To use the Audit feature, navigate to the ‘Audit’ tab on the Surfer SEO dashboard. Enter the URL of the website or specific web page you’d like to analyse. This could be your website’s homepage or a specific product page. For example, if you run an online bookstore, you might enter the URL of your page featuring the latest bestsellers.
Upon clicking ‘Start’, Surfer SEO will begin analysing your inputted URL. The software will examine various elements such as title, meta description, headers, content, and image alt texts, along with domain-wide factors like backlinks and social signals. It generates a report detailing what you’re doing well and highlighting areas that need improvement.
For instance, if ‘online bookstore’ is your target keyword, the audit might reveal that you’re not using this keyword enough in your content, or perhaps you’re overusing it. It might also suggest improvements such as adding more internal links or optimising image alt texts.
At the end of the audit, you’ll receive a score out of 100. A high score indicates that your page is well-optimised for SEO, while a low score suggests there’s room for improvement. With the detailed report, you can make necessary adjustments to your website or specific pages to increase your score and improve your search engine rankings.
In summary, Surfer SEO’s Audit feature is a powerful tool that provides in-depth analysis of your website or specific pages, empowering you to make data-driven decisions to enhance your SEO performance.
4. Domain Planner
The Domain Planner feature in Surfer SEO is a strategic tool designed to help you plan your SEO strategy on a domain level. It empowers you to understand and organise your SEO efforts more systematically and strategically.
To use the Domain Planner, navigate to the ‘Domain Planner’ tab on the Surfer SEO dashboard. Start by entering your website’s domain. For example, if you run a landscaping company, your domain could be ‘www.ABCLandscaping.co.uk’.
Once you’ve entered your domain, you’ll need to input your target keywords. These are the words or phrases relevant to your business that you want your website to rank for in search engine results. For a landscaping company, these keywords might include ‘driveways’, ‘garden makeover’, or ‘patios’.
After entering your keywords, you can specify the locations you want to check the ranking for. This is particularly helpful for businesses operating in multiple locations or targeting customers in specific areas. For instance, if your company is based in Essex but also serves Kent, you might want to check rankings for both locations.
Next, click on ‘Add to domain’, and Surfer SEO will start analysing your domain in relation to the specified keywords and locations. The Domain Planner will then generate a report, showing how your website ranks for each keyword in each location. It also provides a ‘Visibility Score’ out of 100, which estimates how visible your website is in search engine results based on your keywords and locations.
This report can reveal useful insights. For instance, you may find that your website ranks well for ‘landscape design’ in Essex but not in Kent. This could suggest that you need to optimise your content for this keyword in the Kent market. Alternatively, you might discover that your website has a low visibility score for ‘local landscapers’. This could indicate that you need to improve your local SEO efforts.
In conclusion, the Domain Planner feature in Surfer SEO is a powerful tool, providing valuable insights that can inform your SEO strategy and help your business improve its online visibility.
5. SERP Analyzer
The SERP Analyzer in Surfer SEO is a remarkable tool that allows you to dissect the Search Engine Results Pages (SERP) for any keyword. It gives you critical insights into what Google considers relevant for a given keyword and helps you understand why certain pages rank higher than others.
To utilise the SERP Analyzer, navigate to the ‘SERP Analyzer’ tab on the Surfer SEO dashboard. Begin by inputting the keyword you wish to analyse. For instance, if you’re a plumbing business, you might want to analyse the keyword ’emergency plumber’.
Once you’ve entered your keyword, you can specify the location you’re interested in. This is particularly useful for trades businesses as they typically serve specific geographical areas. For example, if your plumbing business operates in London, you would set the location to ‘London’.
After clicking ‘Analyze’, Surfer SEO will start examining the first page of Google search results for your specified keyword and location. For each result, it provides a detailed breakdown, including the website’s domain score, page score, number of words, number of images, and keyword density.
For your ’emergency plumber’ keyword, it might reveal that the top-ranked pages tend to contain around 1,200 words, use the keyword 7 times, and feature 3 images. This information can guide your content creation, helping you understand what Google is looking for when ranking pages for this keyword.
The SERP Analyzer also provides a handy ‘Quick Audit’ feature, which allows you to compare any page against the top 10 results for your chosen keyword. To use this, simply enter the URL of the page you want to compare. This could be a page on your own website, or a page from a competitor’s site.
For example, you might enter the URL of your ’emergency plumber’ service page. The Quick Audit will then reveal how your page measures up against the top-ranked results. If your page has 500 words, uses the keyword 3 times, and contains 1 image, it will clearly fall short of what the top-ranked pages are doing. This points to improvements you can make to boost your page’s SEO.
In conclusion, the SERP Analyzer feature in Surfer SEO is a valuable tool for trades businesses, offering deep insights into what it takes to rank on the first page of Google for your chosen keywords. It empowers you to make strategic, data-driven decisions that can enhance your SEO and elevate your online visibility.
Pros and Cons of Surfer SEO
Below are the pros and cons of using Surfer SEO –
Pros:
- User-friendly interface
- Comprehensive data and analysis
- Real-time content optimisation
- Competitive analysis
- Excellent customer support
Cons:
- Can be pricey for small businesses
- Limited backlink analysis
- May require some SEO knowledge to fully utilise all features
- Limited free trial period
- No mobile app currently available
Despite the cons, Surfer SEO remains a top choice for businesses looking to improve their SEO performance. With its range of powerful features and user-friendly interface, it provides valuable insights and actionable recommendations that can significantly enhance your website’s search engine visibility.
Surfer SEO Pricing
Surfer SEO offers three pricing plans in GBP:
- Basic: £41 per month (billed annually)
- Premium: £81 per month (billed annually)
- Business: Custom pricing based on business needs
Each plan comes with a 7-day free trial, and there is also a 14-day money-back guarantee. Customers can save up to 20% by opting for annual billing instead of monthly. Additionally, Surfer SEO offers a free basic plan with limited features for those on a tight budget or looking to try out the tool before committing.
Surfer SEO Review
In summary, Surfer SEO is a feature-rich, user-friendly SEO tool that provides comprehensive data and real-time content optimisation capabilities.
Despite some limitations, such as a lack of extensive backlink analysis and a potentially high price point for small businesses, it offers a multitude of benefits. These include an intuitive interface, thorough analysis features like the Domain Planner and SERP Analyzer, and robust customer support. The competitive analysis feature and the ability to make data-driven SEO decisions significantly enhance its value.
While it may require some degree of SEO knowledge to fully utilise, Surfer SEO remains a top choice for businesses seeking to elevate their online visibility. With various pricing options and a free basic plan, Surfer SEO truly caters to a wide range of business needs and budgets. On the whole, it is a promising investment for those dedicated to improving their SEO performance.
By providing insights grounded in real-time data, Surfer SEO acts as a GPS, guiding you through the world of SEO content creation. Your journey towards top-ranking content becomes more strategic, less time-consuming, and more effective with this tool in your arsenal.