Google's official position on webmaster best practices really hasn't changed much over the years. What has changed is the search engine's ability to enforce these guidelines through improved algorithms. The implementation of Panda, Penguin, and Hummingbird has had a profound impact on the SEO landscape.
Google's Matt Cutts has remarked that no one should be surprised when a website that hasn't followed the guidelines is penalized. What Cutts overlooks or chooses to ignore is something that I have dubbed the "Google Paradox". I suspect the Google paradox is the root cause for one black hat forum member expressing his desire to "punch Matt Cutts in the face" (per Cutts' Pubcon 2013 keynote).
In order to reach the top of the SERPs and stay there in 2013 and beyond, your website must deserve to be there. It needs to be the best in class. It must offer the best user experience in that niche. Fortunately, there are a number of free tools that can help you achieve that goal.
Keyword Research
Developing the right list of keywords remains a staple of SEO, even in 2013. Because the keyword selection has such a profound impact on the overall performance of a website, the keyword selection process shouldn't rely on a single tool.
1. Wordstream
The Wordstream Free Keyword Tool offers thousands of keyword ideas from a huge database of more than a trillion unique searches. This tool outperforms some of the paid alternatives in the market.
2. Keyword Eye Basic
Keyword Eye Basic is a visual keyword suggestion tool, that works particularly well for brainstorming sessions.
3. YouTube Keyword Tool
Julie Joyce recently described in detail just how great the YouTube Keyword Tool is for keyword research for all kinds of content, not just video.
4. Übersuggest
Übersuggest utilizes the "Suggest" data from Google and others. A terrific tool for developing long-tail phrases.
Content Tools
Everyone knows by now that Panda ushered in a new era for content quality. No longer will cheap, spun, or duplicate content frequently find its way to the top of the SERPs. These tools will help you with your content development
5. Anchor Text Over Optimization Tool
The Anchor Text Over Optimization Tool outputs anchor text diversity. Words or phrases that are potentially over-optimized are highlighted for manual review.
6. Convert Word Documents to Clean HTML
Convert Word Documents to Clean HTML is a free converter tool for documents created in Microsoft Word, Writer, and other word processing software.
7. Copyscape
Copyscape is a free plagiarism checker. The software lets you enter a URL to detect duplicate content and to verify that your content is original.
Technical Tools
Don't let the title scare you away. These are technical tools designed to be used by the non-technical among us.
8. Xenu's Link Sleuth
Xenu's Link Sleuth is a PC based spidering software that checks websites for broken links. It performs validation of text links, frames, images, local image maps, and backgrounds.
9. Robots.txt Generator
Robots.txt Generator is a freeware utility that makes the creation of robots.txt files a breeze.
10. Robots.txt Checker
Robots.txt Checker is a "validator" that will analyze the syntax of a robots.txt file to verify the format is valid.
11. URI Valet
Use the URI Valet Header Checker to view total number of objects (http requests), time to download, object details, document internal links, and external links along with verifying server headers for each.
12. Title and Description Optimization Tool
This title and description optimization tool gives insight as to what the top ranking competitors are using for titles and descriptions. The best competitor intelligence tool of its type.
13. Image SEO Tool
With Image SEO Tool, simply input a URL and this tool checks image name, alt attribute, and dimensions. Alerts are given if a potential problem is discovered.
14. Schema Creator
15. Google Snippet Preview
The snippet that appears in Google Search is usually taken from these meta tags. The Google Snippet Preview tool helps visualize and optimize what is displayed to searchers.
16. Structured Data Testing Tool
17. XML Sitemap Generators
XML Sitemap Generators create "web-type" XML sitemap and URL-list files (some may also support other formats).
18. XML Sitemap Inspector
XML Sitemap Inspector validates your sitemap (XML or gunzip), repairs errors, and pings all search engines.
19. Pingdom Website Speed Tool
Pingdom's Website Speed Tool tests the load time of a page, analyzes it, and finds bottlenecks.
20. Fiddler
Fiddler is a web debugging tool which logs all HTTP(S) traffic between your computer and the Internet.
21. Microsoft Free SEO Toolkit
Now that you have run each of these tools over your website, it's time to run a full blown SEO audit, complete with detailed reports. Fortunately, Microsoft has created a Free SEO Toolkit which does just that.
What are some of your favorite tools for on page optimization?
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