Archives for July 2024

3 Cheaper SEO Tools Than Ahrefs (2025)

July 27, 2024

Last Updated on April 24, 2025 by Jan Barley

Ahrefs Has Fantastic SEO Tools But There Are Alternatives for New Bloggers On A Budget

Ahrefs is one of the most popular SEO tools. It’s considered the heavyweight SEO platform for keyword research, content ideas, site audits, competitor analysis, and more. However, it’s costly, and people search for alternatives to Ahrefs.

This SEO tools comparison guide covers the best alternatives to Ahrefs, which are notably less expensive.

SurferSEO: Best On-Page Optimisation

SurferSEO vs Ahrefs?

SurferSEO is a different beast from Ahrefs. Still, if your goal is to write SEO content that ranks, it is one of the best I ever used. I wrote content up to 8,000 words with SurferSEO when I created crypto articles for Coin Bureau.

The article I wrote on “Crypto Trading Psychology” is still on page one of SERPs.

Search for that phrase and see for yourself.

SurferSEO is an in-depth SEO tool that has a proven track record.

SurferSEO Features & Benefits

Unlike traditional SEO tools focusing primarily on backlinks and technical aspects, SurferSEO’s unique selling point is its laser focus on on-page SEO.

It’s like having an SEO content optimisation guru beside you, guiding every word you write!

SurferSEO uses advanced algorithms to analyse top-ranking pages for target keywords, providing real-time suggestions to optimise your content.

This data-driven approach takes the guesswork out of content creation, ensuring that every piece you produce is spot-on for SERP success.

Content Score: You know exactly how likely your content will rank because SurferSEO gives your content a score. The scale turns green when you’ve nailed it (usually at around 70%)
Comprehensive SERP Analysis: SurferSEO doesn’t just tell you what keywords to use. It gives you insights into keyword density, how many headings to use, word count, and the number of images or videos that top-ranking competing pages use.
Content Editor: The Content Editor provides real-time suggestions for improving your content’s SEO potential. It suggests relevant keywords and semantics and optimises your content.

For those of you like me, my favourite aspect of SurferSEO is that the keywords and semantics turn green when you have optimised them enough on the page.

Pricing: How Does SurferSEO Stack Up Against Ahrefs?

SurferSEO’s basic plan begins at $89/month (July 2024).

It’s an attractive option for smaller businesses or individual content creators who might find Ahrefs’ $129 pricing for Lite a bit steep.

However, note that SurferSEO and Ahrefs aren’t direct competitors in functionality. SurferSEO specialises in on-page optimisation, while Ahrefs offers a broader range of SEO tools.

Many SEO professionals use both tools in tandem for a comprehensive approach.

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Pros and Cons: Is SurferSEO Right for You?

Like any tool, SurferSEO has strengths and limitations.

SurferSEO Pros

Content Editor: Can save writing time. Always download and edit in Grammarly or equivalent & read out loud for auditory rhythm.
Content Audit: Audit, evaluate and optimise your content.
SurferSEO is Easy to Use: Its intuitive interface and actionable suggestions make it easy to create SEO-friendly content, even if you’re not an SEO expert.
Ideal for Bloggers, Small Businesses & Content Creators: SurferSEO is affordable, and you can write up to 30 articles a month with the $89 package.
Unlimited AI Detection: You want your published content to pass AI detection tests.
Invite 2 Members: You can have up to two members on your SurferSEO content team.

For small to medium-sized businesses, bloggers, and content marketers, SurferSEO offers an excellent balance of functionality and affordability.

Larger enterprises or agencies with more complex SEO needs might find it helpful as part of a broader toolkit rather than a standalone solution.

SurferSEO Cons

Content is Data-Driven: Be careful when mindlessly writing articles in SurferSEO because data-driven content can affect readability, content quality, and user experience.
The Interface Can be Clunky: However, that might be my issue. I write my content in Word, run it through Grammarly and copy and paste it into SurferSEO.
Limited to 30 Articles: If you’re a small blogger, 1 article a day is fantastic, but if you want more, you must upgrade.

Note: SurferSEO has a free Chrome extension to assess search volume, which is helpful. However, I advise prioritising user intent over search volume.

SurferSEO Trustpilot Score

SurferSEO has a Trustpilot score of 4.2 *

😊Try SurferSEO to Fastrack Your SEO Results

Please note: If you purchase a SurferSEO subscription, I may receive a small commission at no cost to yourself.

Ubersuggest: The User-Friendly SEO Companion

Ubersuggest, created by digital marketing guru Neil Patel, is an excellent alternative to Ahrefs for user-friendly SEO.

If you’re a fan of Neil Patel SEO tools, you will love Ubersuggest.

Ubersuggest has an intuitive interface that doesn’t sacrifice depth, allowing users to dive into SEO without drowning in complexity.

Please read my Ubersuggest review to learn more about this low-cost SEO software.

Ubersuggest Features & Benefits

Keyword Research: It uncovers valuable long-tail keywords and provides search volume data, helping you target the right audience.
Content Ideas: Coming up with content ideas can be tricky. Ubersuggest now has an AI content writer with the paid package.
Site Audit: Scan your website for issues that could affect ranking.
Backlinks Checker: Identify your backlinks. Check their domain authority and spam score.

Ubersuggest is not as in-depth as Ahrefs, but, for the low price for individuals, it’s perfect for the small blogger writing 2 or 3 articles weekly.

Pricing: How Does Ubersuggest Stack Up Against Ahrefs?

Ubersuggest is $29 for individuals and $99 for enterprise users (July 2024).

The free version offers much value but is limited to three keyword searches daily, and you don’t get access to the AI content writer.

Ubersuggest Content Writer Is Excellent Value on The Starter Package

Pros and Cons: Is Ubersuggest Right for You?

Ubersuggest does not have many pros and cons. It’s an excellent all-round SEO tool.

Ubersuggest Pros

Low Cost: At $29/month, Ubersuggest is $100 cheaper than Ahrefs, and the SEO tools are more than enough for the small blogger.
Digestible Format: It is easy to navigate the Ubersuggest interface. Ahrefs can be daunting for beginners.
Actionable Insights: Ubersuggest tells you how to optimise your website for SEO success.

Ubersuggest Cons

Data Volume Less Than Ahrefs: Ahrefs is the best for tracking volume. If you’re an advanced SEO user, you may find Ubersuggest limiting. That said, it’s spot on for new bloggers to gain experience.
Not as in-depth: Ahrefs has multiple SEO tools you can use to assess the chances of your keywords ranking. Ubersuggest is effective, but there’s a reason Ahrefs is so expensive. That said, I found I hardly used many of the Ahrefs SEO tools.

Ubersuggest Trustpilot Score

Ubersuggest is a popular and successful SEO tool with a Trustpilot score of 4.6 *

😊 Open a FREE Account With Ubersuggest

Please note: If you purchase the paid version of Ubersuggest, I may receive a small commission at no cost to yourself.

SEOWriting AI: An Alternative to Ahrefs for the Lazy Blogger

If the idea of doing intensive keyword research or writing long-form content in SurferSEO, consider trialling SEOWriting AI.

SEOWriting does all the heavy lifting by writing the content for you using AI.

SEOWriting Features & Benefits

50 SEOWriting Generations: With the paid version, you can create up to 50 pieces of content
Unlimited Words: Many AI writers limit the wordcount, which can become restrictive
Bulk Generations: It takes time to write SEO content. SEOWriting AI can create it for you in bulk.
Outline Editor: Get a shapely outline for your SEO blog content.
GPT-40 and Claude 3 Opus: These are the AI used for the platform

Pricing: How Does SEOWriting AI Stack Up Against Ahrefs?

You cannot compare SEOWriting AI to Ahrefs, as it’s purely an SEO writing tool.

The starter package on the annual plan is $14/month and $19 if you pay monthly for 50 generations (July 2024).

The professional package gives you 250 generations and costs $59/month if paid annually and $79/month if you pay monthly (July 2024).

Pros and Cons: Is SEOWriting AI Right for You?

SEOWriting AI Pros

Easy to Use: The interface is intuitive
Bulk Create: Saves a ton of time writing SEO content
Low Cost: From $14/month (July 2024)

SEOWriting AI Cons

Mixed Reviews: Although SEOWriting AI scores 4.2 * on Trustpilot reviews, some users love the SEO tool, and others share a negative experience. One has to allow for user error, and SEOWriting AI responds to all reviews.
It’s not a Keyword Research Tool: However, many people do not want the leg work of hunting for low-difficulty keywords, and it’s a perfect option.

SEOWriting AI Trustpilot Score

SEOWriting has a Trustpilot score of 4.2 *

😊 Try SEOWriting for Free

Please note: If you purchase a SEOWriting subscription, I may receive a small commission at no cost to yourself.

Conclusion

SEO for small businesses is vital to bring customers to your business. Of course, we all want affordable SEO software, but should price factor in our decisions?

I’ve used all three Ahrefs alternatives, and my first choice for functionality and performance is SurferSEO.

This excellent SEO software has the highest Trustpilot score, and it performs. I’ve written dozens of SEO articles using SurferSEO. They all ranked in SERPs.

If budget is a concern, my next choice is Ubersuggest. At $29/month, it is an excellent value SEO tool.

Ahrefs is a fantastic SEO tool, but as a small business, I baulk at paying $129 a month when cheaper SEO tools can rank your content in SERPs, such as Ubersuggest, for a fraction of the price.

Using free SEO tools is great. The downside is it takes longer because you have to confirm data accuracy. For the sake of spending $29 to $89/month, you’d save a lot of wasted time.

Disclaimer: There are affiliate links on this page. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission.

Is Social Media Making Us Depressed? 2025

July 25, 2024

Last Updated on December 27, 2024 by Jan Barley

Increasingly, Studies Show A Correlation Between Social Media & Poor Mental Health

Is social media making us depressed? 1 in 3 adults report feeling more anxious or depressed when using social media, regardless of what channel it is.

I’ve recently recognised that social media affects my state of mind. At times, it’s a subtle awareness. Mainly, it affects me negatively. I know I am not alone, so I dug deep into research and asked if social media is making us depressed.

The results aren’t that surprising, but still, I worry about the youth of today and how social media will affect them over time.

This post is a deep dive into how social media affects our mental health.

Social Media and Mental Health Concerns

Increasingly, we’re becoming aware that social media is correlating with mental health concerns.

Evolution of Social Media Platforms

Today’s platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter have become integral in our daily lives. They offer increasingly immersive and engaging experiences, AKA addictive.

These platforms have evolved from simple communication tools to complex ecosystems that shape our social interactions, consume our attention, and influence our perceptions of the world.

As social media advances, with features like stories, live streaming, and AI-driven content recommendations, the line between our digital and real-world lives becomes increasingly blurred.

Increased Awareness of Mental Health Issues

Alongside the rise of social media, there’s been a growing awareness of mental health issues. This heightened consciousness has become somewhat fueled by the very platforms that may contribute to our concerns.

Celebrities, influencers, and everyday users sharing their struggles have helped destigmatise mental health issues and encouraged more people to seek help.

Still, that doesn’t seem to have helped the rising levels of anxiety and depression.

As a neurodivergent, I struggle at times with mental health because my brain doesn’t align with my goals.

I felt like a misfit most of my life, and social media does little to alleviate that.

The Correlation Between Social Media Use and Depression

A study by UCLA Health revealed that young brains are more susceptible to negative input.

Teenagers with raging hormones and limited coping strategies may navigate social media like an episode of Eastenders (a British soap ).

They get affected by negative or lack of engagement.

Many studies have found a correlation between heavy (what constitutes heavy?) social media use and increased rates of depression, especially among younger users.

Factors such as social comparison, cyberbullying, and the addictive nature of these platforms have been identified as potential contributors to this trend.

The relationship is likely bidirectional – those experiencing depression may turn to social media, while excessive use may exacerbate depressive symptoms.

How Social Media Affects Our Brain Chemistry

Every social media platform understands how to evoke a dopamine hit. It’s the foundation of their success.

Dopamine Hits from Likes and Notifications

When our content gets likes and comments, our brain releases a small amount of dopamine.

It feels good.

We want more.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain associated with pleasure and reward.

Dopamine creates a feedback loop leading to compulsive checking and scrolling behaviours (I’m guilty, your honour) as we seek out these mini-doses of feel-good chemicals.

The unpredictable nature of these rewards is like a gambling addiction. We never know when we’ll get our next like.

Over time, online validation seeking can alter our brain’s reward system, potentially leading to decreased sensitivity to natural sources of pleasure and increased dependence on digital validation.

That is to say, as we get more dopamine, we crave more, thus increasing our behaviour patterns.

Impact on Sleep Patterns and Circadian Rhythms

The use of social media, particularly late at night, can disrupt circadian rhythms and sleep patterns.

Disconnect From Your Devices At Least Two Hours Before Bedtime So It Doesn’t Disrupt Your Circadian Rhythm

Social media sleep disruption occurs from the blue light radiating from our electronic devices. It suppresses melatonin, a hormone that regulates our sleep-wake cycle.

Additionally, the engaging nature of social media can lead to “bedtime procrastination,” where users delay sleep to continue scrolling.

That is a nighttime habit I am aware of and find challenging to break.

This combination of factors can reduce sleep quality and quantity, leading to daytime fatigue, mood disturbances, and decreased cognitive performance.

In addition, chronic sleep disruption linked to late-night social media use can increase the risks of depression and anxiety.

The Comparison Culture: How it Affects Self-Esteem

Social media platforms often present curated, idealised versions of people’s lives, creating a culture of constant comparison.

I’m going to be vulnerable and admit that I often unfollow slim, attractive young women who seem to have it all.

I’m in my sixties, widowed and alone. Seeing the supposedly perfect lives makes me chronically aware of how much I miss my soul mate.

I also miss my youth. I don’t want a constant reminder that it has gone.

We repeatedly see carefully selected highlights of others’ experiences, achievements, and appearances, especially on Instagram.

Social media imposter syndrome is tricky to beat. The first step is to identify it’s an issue and disconnect from what triggers the negative feeling.

Instagram envy can lead to feeling inadequate and experiencing low self-esteem.

The pressure to present a perfect online image may contribute to anxiety and feelings of inauthenticity.

Over time, this constant exposure to seemingly perfect lives can erode self-esteem and contribute to negative self-perception, potentially leading to or exacerbating depressive symptoms.

FOMO: The Fear of Missing Out

Social media platforms calitalise on our fear of missing out.

Definition and Prevalence of FOMO

FOMO anxiety arises from the fear of missing out on an exciting or interesting development or event.

It’s increasingly common in our hyper-connected world, with studies suggesting up to 70% of adults experience FOMO regularly.

Online scarcity marketing tactics compound FOMO, particularly among younger generations who have grown up with constant digital connectivity.

How Social Media Amplifies FOMO

Social platforms act as catalysts for FOMO by providing a neverending stream of real-time updates about others’ activities.

The curated nature of social media posts often showcases only the most exciting moments, creating an illusion that everyone else’s life is better than ours. By comparison, our lives might seem dull.

Features like Instagram Stories or Snapchat’s location sharing further intensify this effect by providing immediate glimpses into friends’ lives.

Psychological Impacts of Constant Connectivity

The pressure to stay constantly connected can lead to rising stress levels, anxiety, and feelings of inadequacy.

We become hypervigilant and may experience difficulty focusing on present moments. That may increase cortisol, the stress hormone. We may experience burnout, decreased life satisfaction, and symptoms of depression.

Paradoxically, FOMO may result in missing out on real-life experiences and genuine connections.

One thing that has become increasingly annoying in the digital marketing space is the constant income claims on reels and stories. At a time when many people worldwide struggle financially, it’s a tough kick in the teeth.

The number of gorgeous young women in glamorous places bragging that they made $500k or $3 million in their first three months is ridiculous.

Social Media and Body Image: A Toxic Relationship?

It’s Becoming Increasingly Challenging For Women to Know What’s Normal About Being A Woman

Unrealistic Beauty Standards on Social Media Platforms

Social media platforms often showcase idealised and unattainable beauty standards.

The constant exposure to seemingly perfect bodies, flawless skin, and glamorous lifestyles can distort perceptions of what is “normal”, leading to unrealistic expectations, especially for teenagers and young women.

The Rise of Filters and Photo Editing

Photo editing tools and filters have become ubiquitous on social media platforms.

These features allow users to easily alter their appearance, from subtle touch-ups to dramatic transformations. Their widespread use has blurred the lines between reality and digital enhancement.

This trend has led to concerns about the “Instagram face” – a homogenised, filtered look many users aspire to achieve, often through digital manipulation or cosmetic procedures.

Impact on Eating Disorders and Body Dysmorphia

Constant comparison to edited photos can fuel negative body image and dangerous behaviours to achieve unrealistic goals.

Studies have shown a correlation between social media use and increased risk of disordered eating patterns, particularly among adolescents and young adults.

The pressure to conform to these digital standards can exacerbate existing body image issues or trigger new ones, potentially leading to severe mental health consequences.

The Paradox of Connectivity: Feeling Lonely in a Crowded Digital Space

Digital age loneliness is a thing.

Quality vs. Quantity of Online Relationships

Social media often emphasises the number of connections over depth. Users may have thousands of “friends” or followers, but these relationships are frequently superficial.

While these platforms provide opportunities for widespread networking, they can create a false sense of intimacy.

The Illusion of Connection in Social Networks

Social media creates the constant illusion of connection, but digital proximity doesn’t always translate to genuine emotional closeness.

Users may feel up-to-date with friends’ lives through posts and updates, but this passive information consumption is not the same as active, two-way communication.

Social media addiction can lead to a paradoxical feeling of isolation despite being constantly “connected” to an extensive network.

When I disconnect from social media, I feel less lonely. Repeated exposure to seemingly perfect lives with partners, husbands, and family shines a spotlight on my isolation.

At times, it’s unbearable.

Impact on Real-World Social Skills and Interactions

Excessive reliance on digital communication can hinder the development of crucial face-to-face social skills.

Nonverbal cues, active listening, and empathy may be underdeveloped when most interactions occur through screens. Some studies suggest heavy social media use correlates with decreased real-world social engagement and poorer interpersonal skills.

It can create a cycle where discomfort with in-person interactions leads to increased reliance on digital communication, further eroding social abilities.

After all, you’re getting the dopamine hit without making the effort. You can see how that could affect real-life relationships.

Balancing Act: How to Use Social Media Mindfully

Social media mindfulness is something you might have to work on. It won’t come naturally. Still, the rewards of a digital detox are worth the effort.

Balance Your Screen Time With Your Actual Life

Setting Healthy Boundaries With Screen Time

Monitor the time you are online. Most social media apps have analytics showing how long you’ve been scrolling. Alternatively, download a separate app to keep track of your time on social media.

Ask your partner to monitor your behaviour and remind you when you mindlessly pick up the phone and start scrolling.

Be creative in your efforts to get off social media. If you’re running a business, learn how to market it without relying on social media.

It’s essential to build online real estate because most of the social media platforms have draconian values.

Curating A Positive Online Environment

Don’t watch ANYTHING that makes you feel bad or induces FOMO. Unfollow or block any accounts that affect you negatively.

Follow people with a positive message. Yes, watch cat videos if you want 😊

Digital Detox Strategies And Their Benefits

Find something else to do with your hands and time:

Journal
Meditate
Read a book
Call a friend
Write a book
Take a course
Take the dog for a walk
Watch or listen to a podcast
Talk to your partner (shock! Horror! 😊)

You actually have got a life. Still, you may have become so deeply immersed in social media that your life seems beige. It isn’t, of course.

You need to remind yourself of how to live in the moment, doing things that enhance your life.

When you disconnect from social media, you may discover a rich landscape ahead of you and suddenly realise how much free time you have to enjoy your life.

Conclusion

So, is social media making us depressed?

These platforms offer unprecedented connectivity and opportunities. Still, they come with a fair share of pitfalls—the secret lies in how we use them.

By being aware of the potential risks and implementing mindful usage strategies, we can enjoy social media without falling victim to its darker side.

We must focus on digital wellbeing and social media mindfulness.

Remember, you control your digital usage – though it may not feel like it. If you think you might have a growing addiction, try taking a social media break. It might be tricky initially because of the neural pathways you have created by seeking the daily dopamine hit.

Try replacing social media with a healthy dopamine-producing activity, such as jogging, spending time with a loved one or walking your dog.

How to Create Evergreen Content That Ranks for Years (2025)

July 19, 2024

Last Updated on April 24, 2025 by Jan Barley

Learn To Write Evergreen Content & Watch Your Traffic Grow Over Time

Create evergreen content that ranks for years, making successful SEO much easier.

Moreover, Neil Patel (Ubersuggest) and many other SEO gurus state that updating aged content is as effective as writing new content.

Indeed, current data suggest refreshing old content is a more powerful way to get Google to rank the content.

If you don’t understand the importance of evergreen content, you may miss out on valuable opportunities to grow your business. Moreover, you’ll be forever creating content that goes out of date.

Above all, evergreen content is the holy grail of digital marketing. It will continue driving traffic to your site for years to come.

If you’re ready to learn how to craft evergreen content, I’m about to spill the beans on crafting sustainable blog content that’ll have Google falling head over heels for your website!

What is Evergreen Content and Why Does it Matter?

Discover precisely what evergreen content is and how to write it.

The Definition Of Evergreen Content

Evergreen content is topics that don’t become outdated or lose relevance and continues to be helpful to readers in years to come. For example, “7 ways to monetise your blog for passive income” and “8 steps to building a faceless brand”

10 Benefits Of Evergreen Content For SEO And Engagement

Establishes authority and expertise in your niche
Continuous traffic generation long after publication
Serves as a foundation for internal linking strategies
Higher return on investment (ROI) for content creation efforts
Provides consistent value to your audience, building trust and loyalty
Improved search engine rankings due to sustained relevance and traffic
It helps attract organic backlinks over time, boosting domain authority
Increased opportunities for backlinks as the content remains beneficial over time
Reduces the need for constant content creation; focus on quality over quantity
Offers opportunities for repurposing into other content formats (e.g., videos, infographics)

Examples Of Successful Evergreen Content

How to start a podcast
Tips for writing a resume
Beginner’s Guide to SEO
Guide to affiliate marketing
X ways to monetise your blog
Top tips for maximising SEO Console data
Understanding evergreen content for SEO

That is to say, this kind of content never gets old. These are subjects that people search for daily.

Choosing the Best Topics for Evergreen Content

Research your topics thoroughly to create a pillar post and content clusters.

9 Key Characteristics Of Evergreen Topics

Broad Appeal: Subjects of interest to a wide audience within your niche
Recurring Problems: Issues people consistently face and seek solutions
Unchanging Processes: Methods or techniques that don’t rapidly evolve
Universal Questions: Topics addressing everyday curiosities or concerns
Foundational Concepts: Basic principles underpinning more advanced topics
Timeless Relevance: Topics that remain important regardless of current trends
Cyclical Interests: Subjects that regain relevance periodically (e.g., seasonal topics)
Fundamental Knowledge: Basic information that newcomers to a field always need
Timeless Human Interests: Topics related to enduring aspects of human nature or society

How To Identify Evergreen Opportunities In Your Niche

Don’t skimp on this stage if you want to write the best evergreen content in your niche. Analyse the FAQs in your industry, You can do this with a Google search or Ask the Public.

Research your competitors for evergreen content and especially choose topics that identify common pain points, solve problems and are helpful for beginners

9 Powerful Tools For Evergreen Topic Research

These time-tested SEO tools are fantastic for helping you identify opportunities for evergreen content. Moreover, most of them are free.

SimilarWeb: A good SEMrush alternative
SEMrush: Identify keywords with steady search volume
Quora: Identify frequently asked questions in your industry
Reddit: Explore subreddits in your niche to find recurring discussions
Answer the Public: Discover questions people are consistently asking
BuzzSumo: Find content that has performed well over extended periods
Ahrefs: Analyse top-performing pages in your niche for evergreen ideas
Google Trends: Analyse search interest over time to identify stable topics
Google Search Console: Analyse your content for consistently high-performing topics.

Avoid Time-Sensitive Language And References

Don’t reference current events or news stories. Instead, focus on timeless principles rather than current trends and use present tense. Don’t use phrases like “this year,” “recently,” or “last month”

When discussing statistics, focus on percentages rather than absolute numbers. Use relative time references (e.g., “in the past decade”) instead of specific years

Structuring Your Content for Long-Term Success

Play the long game. Spend a little longer in the planning stage to structure your blog content for long-term success.

Best Practices For Organising Evergreen Content

Create a FAQ section. At the end is usually best. Include a table of contents, a summary or key takeaways section and bulleted or numbered lists for longer pieces.

Start with the most vital information first. Keep intros short and paragagraphs to no longer than 3-4 sentences. What I do is, after publishing, I open the post on my mobile phone and adjust to create more white space as necessary.

Use internal links to connect related topics within your site

How to Use Headings And Subheadings Effectively

Keep headings concise and descriptive and use H2s with at least 2 subsections, and maintain consistenct in heading structure.

Use a headline analyser for compelling headings. Avoid Clickbait: Headings must accurately reflect the content that follows

Make headings stand out visually (my headings are green font)

How to Optimise Evergreen Content for Search Engines

Remember, you’re writing helpful content for the reader, not just Google bots.

Key SEO Elements For Long-Lasting Content

Regularly update your content
Use descriptive anchor text for links
Add internal links to relevant articles
Optimise image alt text and file names
Use external links to authoritative sources
Ensure your content is 100% mobile-friendly
Add the target keyword in the title & description
Optimise for featured snippets by directly answering common questions

Implementing Semantic SEO Strategies

SurferSEO is one of the best SEO writing tools because it provides multiple semantics for each article.

Moreover, content created with SurferSEO consistently ranks because the semantics help create a comprehensive article.

I used this powerful SEO tool with many of the companies I wrote SEO content for and the content got ranked super quick.

If you don’t want to invest in SurferSEO, try using Claude or ChatGPT to generate semantics for your primary and secondary keywords. SurferSEO is the SEO software professionals use because it works.

Use natural language patterns and a conversational tone. I always write to one person. Answer related questions to your main topics and create content aligning with user search intent

Research and use synonyms and variations of your keywords. I use a lot of long-tail keyword phrases because I find they work well in Google ranking.Check the People also ask when doing your Google searches.

Write as if you’re talking to a complete beginner. Readability keeps people on your page, which shows Google your content is valuable.

Place primary keywords in the first paragraph and headings and use analogies and examples to explain complex topics

I use the free Yoast plugin on WordPress as it gives a readability score. I also use Microsoft Word “read aloud” function to check auditory rhythm

Leveraging Social Media And Email Marketing For Evergreen Content

I’m not a fan of social media, but it has its place. Social media marketing can help maximise visibility for your evergreen content if you have followers and good views.

I am a believer in curating content. For every post you publish, share it everywhere, on all of your social media channels. Create pins if you’re on Pinterest.

You could also create a mini course from your evergreen content, especially if you have built good sequencing with your evergreen posts.

Conclusion

To sum up, creating evergreen content that never gets old and ranks for years isn’t just a pipe dream.

Moreover, sustainable content marketing is achievable once you implement the right strategies and commit to a long-term plan.

Therefore, by focusing on timeless topics and content that never loses traffic, you’ll build a library of content that defies time and stays relevant to your audience.

Remember, the key is to provide enduring web content that stands the test of time. Try to write more evergreen blog posts instead of trending content nobody wants to read in a year.

Meanwhile, share trending content on social media, but build a portfolio of evergreen articles and gain consistent traffic, views, clicks and sales.

Disclaimer: There are affiliate links on this page. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission.

7 Ways to Monetise Your Blog for Passive Income (2025)

July 16, 2024

Last Updated on December 27, 2024 by Jan Barley

Don’t Just Write A Blog for the Sake of It. Start Making An Income As Soon As Possible With These Tips

Monetise your blog for passive income or you may later regret not starting with the end in sight.

There’s no point creating a blog if you don’t plan to monetise it. It’s hard work generating enough SEO content to start getting traffic.

33% of bloggers never make a bean. Do you want to do all that hard work for nothing?

I’ve been a freelance writer since 2020. Writing content that performs is an ongoing commitment until you get to the point where you can hire writers to share the workload.

Imagine how it will feel in a year when your blog gets tons of traffic and makes sales while you sleep.

Read my post on the 7 types of blog content that Google loves, and your content will start ranking in SERPs.

That, my friend, is a reality that can and will be yours if you apply these 7 ways to monetise your blog in 2024.

#1: Harness the Power of Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing will underpin your blog monetisation strategy.

How Affiliate Marketing Works

You promote a vendor’s products or services on your blog
The vendor gives you an affiliate link that tracks back to traffic from your blog.
When you make a sale, the vendor pays you an agreed commission rate.
You get a one-off payment or recurring commissions depending on the deal (the latter is preferable for passive income)
The vendor tracks cookies for a determined period.

Choosing Relevant Affiliate Programs for Your Niche

Affiliate products or services must be relevant to your niche: Ideally, opt for affiliate partnerships with vendors you trust. Promote products or services you use or have used that provide value to your audience.
Don’t bother with affiliate programs paying low percentages: Although Amazon affiliate marketing is fantastic, the commission is tiny, around 3%, if I recall. Unless you’re selling big-ticket items, it’s not worth the effort. I promote vendors offering 25% or more affiliate commissions.
Insert links with relevant anchor text: For instance, add your link in sentences like “the Ubersuggest Keyword research tool is free” or “Use Systeme for sales pages and email campaigns.” (note where I inserted the link).

#2: Create and Sell Digital Products

If you have a skill that helps others, create and market a digital course.

Types of digital products: Create e-books, courses, Canva templates, and bite-sized video courses).
Identify your audience’s pain points and create solutions: Research the market to discover these things. Instagram Threads is a great place to ask questions.
Pricing strategies for digital products: Look at market prices for similar products.
Platforms for hosting your digital products: You can host one free course on Systeme or five courses with the starter package. It is VERY easy to create a course in Systeme.
Buy a DFY digital product: I joined Catalyst Collective – the founder is an ex Meta executive. Not only do you learn how to start a business, make a success of social media and create your own digital products. You can sell Catalyst and receive a 70% commission. Is Catalyst Collective good? Yes, it’s the best program I have bought and I no longer need to buy other digital products or courses.

#3: Leverage Email Marketing for Monetisation

Remember, you do not own your social media followers. If a platform closes your account or gets hacked, you lose your followers. Building an email list is the best way to protect your business and create a following eager to buy your products or services.

Create a capture page: This is a one-page website to get people to subscribe to your newsletter
Build and nurture your email list: Don’t rush to sell to your email list. Give value away freely and build trust with your subscribers.
Implement automated email sequences: Structure your emails into a timed sequence. Send the first email immediately after subscribing, followed by another within 3-4 days and then one or two weekly. Don’t bombard your subscribers with fluff and nonsense.
Monetise your email marketing: Add your links to offers, freebies, templates, products and services, but only in small doses. Avoid the hard sell. Lead with value.

You can create a capture page of your own by taking the free certified course on building sales funnels.

#4: Launch a Membership Site or Premium Content

A membership site can become a cash cow if you have sufficient content and the time to nurture your members. Low ticket memberships have become a “thing”, with an average $7 membership fee.

Don’t underestimate low ticket memberships. Jessa of Template Creators has multiple low-ticket memberships generating 6-figure months.

You get recurring revenue through memberships.
Offer exclusive content to subscribers.
Offer membership upgrades and 1-2-1 services.

The most popular Membership platforms are: –

Circle
Skool
Mighty Networks
Thinkific
Kajabi
Podia
Kartra
Membervault

Most membership platforms cost around $99/month, so building a following and a waiting list is a good idea. That way, you know those monthly fees are covered before starting your membership.

#5: Provide Coaching or Consulting Services

Coaching and consulting services aren’t passive, but you could generate recurring income if you create an email list.

You don’t need to be a super coach; you can make a successful practice if you’re just a few steps ahead of your clients.

Identify your expertise and target audience.
Set up your coaching or consulting packages.
Organise a system for managing appointments and payments, such as Calendy, which is relatively low-cost.
Scale your services through group coaching or workshops. Working 1-2-1 limits your income. Scaling can make a significant difference financially.

Start with small groups, but don’t start with a free service. The pain of paying bias makes it uncomfortable for people to upgrade to paid from free.

#6: Sell Print-on-Demand Merchandise

Print-on-demand is perfect for the time you have a more extensive following. Don’t try to do it when you have 20 followers, 😊

You can either set up an e-commerce store such as Shopify or use a print-on-demand service where you only need to upload 300 dpi images.

Choose the right print-on-demand platform: Printful and Printify are the two most popular POD platforms.
Design merchandise that appeals to your audience.
Integrate your store with your blog or insert links to your shop.
Promote to your followers and on social media.

Alternatively, open an account with Redbubble. I opened a store there a couple of years ago. I lost interest after a while, but still get a few sales come through each month.

#7: Explore Podcast Sponsorships and Advertisements

Podcasting is something I want to do, but I keep avoiding the task. Still, forget about me. Podcasting can be a fabulous way to monetise your blog with integrated ads.

Start a podcast to complement your blog.
Find and secure podcast sponsors (Ideally relevant to your niche).
Integrate ads seamlessly into your podcast content.
Cross-promote your blog and podcast for maximum reach.

Conclusion

Monetising your blog doesn’t have to be an impossible dream. These passive income strategies are relatively easy to implement.

I suggest using one strategy at a time, or it could become overwhelming. It takes time, but as you gain confidence and experience, you will master these blog monetisation techniques.

Content monetisation is a must for bloggers and digital marketers. I put together 9 best passive income ideas for digital marketers, which you might find helpful.

Keep going and believe that success is only a matter of commitment, consistency and time.

Hey, if you want to generate additional income whilst you’re building your blog, read 38 websites that pay bloggers to write.

Pro Tip: Set up your blog with Google Console and Google Analytics. Once you have 10,000 monthly users, you can apply for the Journey by Mediavine program and start getting paid for ads on your site.

Disclaimer: There are affiliate links on this page. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission.

The Power of Using Trigger Words in SEO Content

July 15, 2024

Last Updated on May 1, 2025 by Jan Barley

Don’t underestimate the power of trigger words. They create subliminal messages to our brain by creating an emotional response

Trigger words in SEO act as a primer for the reader’s search intent. For example, suppose someone is looking for a new laptop. They may type the detailed phrase “best laptop under £500” or “cheap laptop with good reviews.” In these instances, best, cheap and reviews are trigger words.

How do Trigger Words Improve SEO?

Content entirely focused on SEO can seem starchy and impersonal, and adding trigger words helps strike a chord with your audience. Although a word like “best” may seem obvious, it is entirely subjective. Still, when people are ready to buy, they genuinely want the best.

Most people don’t wait to get recommendations from friends. They read a few testimonials and make snap decisions based on the positives or negatives.

Using detailed trigger words can help: –

Beat the competition
Increase conversions
Better target your audience

Content for user search intent includes the following four types: –

Informative: Words suggesting the user seeks information, such as advice, guidance, instructions, or answers.
Navigational: The user searches for a specific product, brand, service or website.
Transactional: The user is ready to buy
Commercial: The user may be researching products to make a purchase later, but they are not yet ready to buy.

Before writing content, the first step is deciding upon keyword intent. You can then weave fabulous trigger words into your content, with primary and secondary keywords to create articles that rank and keep readers on the page. Whatever niche you are in, whether it’s digital marketing or knitting baby scarves, use trigger words that your audience can relate to.

Best Trigger Words for Conversion

Best – Commercial
Buy – Transactional
Cheap – Transactional
Coupon -Transactional
Deal – Transactional
Discount -Transactional
DIY – Informative
Easy – Informative
Fast – Informative
Free -Transactional
Guide – Informative
How to – Informative
Offer -Transactional
Online – Navigational
Quick – Informative
Review – Commercial
Sale – Transactional
Simple – Informative
Top – Commercial
Tutorial – Informative

… and more …

Advanced – Informative
Affordable – Commercial
Beginner’s – Informative
Compact – Commercial
Comparison – Commercial
Custom – Commercial
Durable – Commercial
Efficient – Informative
Essential – Informative
Expert – Informative / Commercial
Innovative – Commercial
Lightweight – Commercial
Must-have – Commercial
Popular – Commercial
Portable – Commercial
Premium – Commercial
Professional – Informative / Commercial
Quality – Commercial
Recommended – Commercial
Reliable – Commercial
Trending – Commercial
Ultimate – Commercial
Unique – Commercial
Versatile – Commercial

… and more …

Alternative – Commercial
Advice – Informative
Approach – Informative
Blueprint – Informative
Case study – Informative
Checklist – Informative
Examples – Informative
Findings – Informative
Formula – Informative
Framework – Informative
Ideas – Informative
Insights – Informative
Method – Informative
Recipe – Informative
Report – Informative
Research – Informative
Results – Informative
Solution – Informative
Steps – Informative
Strategy – Informative
Study – Informative
Survey – Informative
System – Informative
Technique – Informative
Tips – Informative
Tricks – Informative
Secrets – Informative
Ways – Informative

Descriptive Trigger Words

Advantages – Informative
Analysis – Informative
Authentic – Commercial
Benefits – Informative
Certified – Commercial
Complete – Informative
Comprehensive – Informative
Detailed – Informative
Disadvantages – Informative
Exhaustive – Informative
Features – Informative
Genuine – Commercial
Highlights – Informative
In-depth – Informative
Facts – Informative
Pros and cons – Informative
Proven – Commercial
Objective – Informative
Overview – Informative
Snapshot – Informative
Specifications – Informative
Summary – Informative
Tested – Commercial
Thorough – Informative
Unbiased – Commercial
Statistics – Informative
Verified – Commercial

Contextual Trigger Words

Customer Service – Navigational
Delivery – Transactional
Guarantee – Transactional
Installation -Transactional
Return Policy – Transactional
Setup – Transactional
Shipping -Transactional
Support – Navigational
Warranty – Transactional
Article – Navigational
Blog Post – Navigational
eBook – Navigational
Guidebook – Informative
Infographic – Navigational
Latest – Commercial
New – Commercial
Podcast – Navigational
Report – Informative
Slide Deck – Navigational
Video – Navigational
Webinar – Navigational
Whitepaper – Navigational

People Trigger Words

For Men – Commercial
For Women – Commercial
For Kids – Commercial
For Teens – Commercial
For Adults – Commercial
For Seniors – Commercial
For Beginners – Informative
For Professionals – Commercial
For Experts – Commercial
For Amateurs – Informative
For Entrepreneurs – Commercial
For Students – Commercial
For Teachers – Commercial
For Parents – Commercial
For Singles – Commercial
For Couples – Commercial
For Families – Commercial
For Small Businesses – Commercial
For Large Corporations – Commercial
For Freelancers – Commercial
For Remote Workers – Commercial
For Travelers – Commercial
For Foodies – Commercial
For Gamers – Commercial
For Photographers Commercial
For Developers – Commercial
For Designers – Commercial
For Artists – Commercial-
For Writers – Commercial-
For Musicians – Commercial
For Fitness Enthusiasts – Commercial

Seasonal Trigger Words

Annual – Informative
Autumn – Commercial
Classic – Commercial
Contemporary – Commercial
Current – Informative
Daily – Informative
Historical – Commercial
Holiday – Commercial
Future – Informative
Old – Commercial
Past – Informative
Recent – Informative
Retro – Commercial
Modern – Commercial
Monthly – Informative
Today – Informative
Tomorrow – Informative
Traditional – Commercial
Seasonal – Commercial
Spring – Commercial
Summer – Commercial
Upcoming – Informative
Vintage – Commercial
Weekly – Informative
Winter -Commercial
Yearly – Informative

Conclusion

When considering adding trigger words to your content, ponder the intent first. For instance, who is the reader, and what do you want them to do? Identify the demographics and type of content in your analysis. For example, “special offer this month for entrepreneurs who want a new marketing system. Monthly or yearly subscriptions. Sale ends tomorrow.”

Yeah, I know that sounds a bit blah, but you get my point, I hope. Use trigger words sparingly; otherwise, your content might get a bit busy and unreadable. Especially filter trigger words into email campaigns. Trigger words also work in social media marketing where you intend to implent SEO and encourage someone to take action.

Thanks for reading. Hey, why not follow me in Instagram and TikTok

How to Market Your Business Without Social Media 2025

July 13, 2024

Last Updated on December 27, 2024 by Jan Barley

Marketing Your Business Without Social Media Isn’t As Daunting as You Might Think

Do you know how to market your business without social media? Are you struggling to get your business seen but assuming social media is the only way to do so?

If you answered “No” and Yes“, read on for top tips to market your business without social media.

We do not own our social media content. They can ban or restrict our account activities whenever they want, but they do not explain why.

If you’re marketing your business with multiple social media channels, you know how much hard work it is. The content requirement is endless, and the algorithms seem more focused on highlighting ads than taking care of us little guys.

I spent ages trying to reactivate my Pinterest account after losing it due to supposed “spamming” in June. For every appeal I submited, I received an automated bot response stating they won’t reactivate.

So I thought, sod that. I eventually opened a new account, but started focusing on other options.

Here are 11 ways to market your business without social media.

Using Content Marketing To Grow Your Business

Here’s where you start growing your business.

#1: Blog Content

Create a Pillar Post with Content Clusters: Choose an overarching subject with the potential for dozens of spin-off articles and interlink them.
Develop A Content Calendar: Plan topics in advance. Align your business goals and seasonal trends. Use an Excel doc or free Trello board to map out your plan.
Create Evergreen Content: Write relevant articles over time, providing long-term value—update as necessary.
Optimise For SEO: Use keyword research to target specific search terms and structure your posts for readability and SERP rankings.
Vary Content Types: Mix how-to guides, listicles, case studies, and opinion pieces to keep your blog diverse and engaging. For an in-depth look at content types, read “7 Types of Blog Content That Google Loves.”

#2: Long-Form Content

Whitepapers: Produce in-depth reports on industry trends or challenges, showcasing your expertise and research capabilities. A whitepaper builds your authority.
Ebooks: Create comprehensive guides on specific topics, offering them as lead magnets for email sign-ups. Your Ebook could double up as a lead magnet for email marketing.
Case Studies: Highlight successful client outcomes to demonstrate your product or service effectiveness.

#3: Visual Content

Infographics: Present complex data or processes in visually appealing, easy-to-understand graphics.
Videos: Produce tutorials, product demonstrations, or behind-the-scenes content to engage viewers.
Webinars: Host online seminars on relevant topics, allowing for real-time interaction with your audience.
Note: The Systeme $47 package includes unlimited webinars, including evergreen options.

#4: Audio Content

Podcasts: Start a regular podcast discussing industry news, interviewing experts, or sharing tips related to your field.
Audio Guides: Create downloadable audio content for on-the-go learning.

#5: Interactive Content

Quizzes: Develop engaging quizzes that provide value to users while collecting data for your business. Quizzes are currently trending in content creation.

#6: User-Generated Content

Customer Stories: Encourage and feature happy clients’ testimonials, reviews, and success stories.
Contests: Run engaging competitions for customers. Create content relevant to your brand.

#7: Repurposing Content

Transform Blog Posts into slideshows or video presentations.
Convert Webinars into blog posts or podcast episodes.
Curate Long-Form Content into a series of social media posts or email newsletters.

Curating content can save you hours of work. I curate my TikTok videos for Instagram and my Instagram stories into reels and TikTok videos.

#8: Guest Posting

Contribute Articles To Reputable Industry Websites: That will expand your reach and build backlinks.
Ask Industry Experts To Contribute To Your Blog: Bring fresh perspectives and potentially tap into their audience.

#9: Content Partnerships

Collaborate With Complementary Businesses: Co-create valuable content, expanding both parties’ reach.
Participate In Industry Roundups Or Expert Panels: Showcase your knowledge alongside peers.

#10: Content Distribution

Implement An Email Strategy to share your content with subscribers.
Use Content Syndication Platforms to republish your work on other relevant websites.
Leverage Industry Forums And Q&A Sites to share your expertise and link back to your content when appropriate.

#11: Measuring Content Performance

Track Key Metrics: Page views, time on page, and conversion rates.
Use Google Analytics: Assessing analytics helps to understand user behaviour and content effectiveness.
Regularly Review And Update older content to keep it relevant and high-performing.

Focus on creating high-quality, valuable content and strategically distributing it. It will help you attract and engage with the right audience without relying on social media platforms.

9 More Ideas for Marketing Your Business Without Social Media

The tips keep coming.

1. Focus On Your Website

Always make your website a working partner. It shouldn’t be about randomly posting content without having a clear SEO plan underpinning your marketing strategy. The goal should always be to monetise your website as early as possible.

Optimise For Search Engines: Use relevant keywords in your content, meta descriptions, and headers.
Create Valuable, Keyword-Rich Content: Develop in-depth articles, guides, and resources that address your target audience’s needs and questions.
Improve User Experience: Make your site mobile-friendly, easy to navigate, and visually appealing. Implement clear calls to action.

2. Email Marketing

Email marketing is a great way to “own” your followers. Even if your social media accounts get restricted, your email list is still a loyal band of people who identify with your brand.

Build And Segment Your Email List: Offer sign-up incentives and categorise subscribers based on interests or behaviour.
Create Engaging Newsletters: Share industry insights, company updates, and exclusive offers. Use compelling subject lines and personalisation.
Offer Exclusive Content: Give subscribers access to unique resources, early product releases, or members-only discounts.

If you haven’t got an email campaign set up yet, open a free account with Systeme. You can have up to 2,000 subscribers and one email campaign entirely for free.

3. Local Marketing Strategies

You could have many business opportunities on your doorstep but haven’t yet maximised the marketing potential.

Optimise For Local SEO: Claim and optimise your Google My Business listing. It’s relatively easy to do.
Participate In Community Events: Sponsor or attend local fairs, markets, or charity events to increase brand visibility.
Use Traditional Local Advertising: Place ads in local newspapers, magazines, or on local radio stations.

4. Networking And Partnerships

Attend Industry Events: Participate in trade shows, seminars and conferences to meet potential clients and partners.
Collaborate With Complementary Businesses: Create joint promotions or bundle services with non-competing businesses in your area.
Join Professional Associations: Become a member of industry-specific groups to expand your network and gain credibility.

5. Public Relations

Send Press Releases: Share newsworthy updates about your business with local or industry media outlets.
Seek Speaking Engagements: To showcase your expertise, offer to speak at conferences, webinars, or local business events.
Contribute Expert Articles: Write guest posts or columns for industry publications to increase your visibility and authority.

6. Customer Referral Programs

Incentivise Referrals: Offer discounts, upgrades, or other rewards to customers who bring in new business.
Create A Structured System: Develop a formal process for tracking and rewarding referrals, making it easy for customers to participate.

The final three social media marketing alternatives are my least favourite because they involve cost. However, for your business, these options might work well.

7. Print Marketing

Design Eye-Catching Materials: Create professional brochures, flyers, or postcards communicating your value proposition.
Use Direct Mail: Target specific demographics or geographic areas with personalised mail campaigns.
Place Print Ads: Advertise in industry magazines, local publications, or niche interest periodicals relevant to your target audience.

8. Search Engine Marketing (SEM)

Invest In Pay-Per-Click: Use platforms like Google Ads. You can bid on relevant keywords and appear in search results.
Use Display Ads: Create visually appealing banner ads and place them on websites frequented by your target audience.

9. Offline Advertising

Billboards Or Transit Ads: Use high-traffic locations to increase brand awareness in your local area.
Radio Or TV Commercials: Develop memorable ads for broadcast media to reach a wider audience.
Sponsor Local Events: Support community sports teams, cultural events, or educational programs to enhance your local reputation.

Conclusion

I’ve given you a lot to think about. I appreciate it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by so many choices. I recommend starting with one of the tips and building up as your business gains momentum. Alternatively, consider hiring relevant experts to help market your business without social media.

Disclaimer: There are affiliate links on this page. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission.

Ubersuggest: Free Keyword Research Made Simple 2025

July 12, 2024

Last Updated on February 28, 2025 by Jan Barley

Free keyword research tools can be as effective as paid versions. Ubersuggest is a fantastic free platform to help you master your SEO. It’s easy to learn and suitable for beginners and professionals. It’s one of the only platforms I have found that shows your website backlinks for free.

Ubersuggest free SEO tools highlight spam scores, too, meaning you can disavow any links affecting your site scores.

Although there is a paid version of Ubersuggest, the free SEO tools are more than enough to help you improve your site’s SEO.

The Benefits of Using Ubersuggest Free Keyword Research Tools

Ubersuggest is better than Google Console as it shows you the movement of keywords in SERPs

It’s excellent for initial keyword research and idea generation
You can get an overview of competitors’ performance
It offers site auditing to identify major SEO issues
It provides an understanding of search trends and user intent

It’s essential not to rely on one free keyword research tool. The most powerful results come from combining SEO tools. For instance, compare insights from free SEO tools like Google Search Console and Google Trends for a more comprehensive SEO strategy.

Having a good grasp of SEO can help your site become an income generator, so it’s worth choosing the best free keyword research SEO tools.

Ubersuggest: Overview of Free Features

Keyword Overview

Search Volume Data: Analyse your website’s search volume.
SEO Difficulty Score: When starting a new site, targeting keywords with low difficulty is best.
Paid Difficulty Score: When planning paid ads, this tool stops you from wasting money on keywords that won’t perform.
Cost Per Click (CPC) Estimates: Ubersuggest calculates how much it will cost per click so you can budget effectively.

Keyword Ideas

Related Keywords: A brilliant way to avoid using expensive SEO software.
Questions People Ask: These are essential to build long-tail keywords.
Prepositions (keywords with “for,” “with,” etc.): Often overlooked, but prepositions can help build out your SEO content.
Comparisons (keywords with “vs,” “or,” etc.): Comparison articles do well in SERPs

Content Ideas

Top-Performing Content For A Given Keyword: This can help you create an effective content strategy.
Social Shares Data: Knowing what people share enables you to target your content.
Estimated Visits: You can get estimated visits from Google Console & Analytics, so use Ubersuggest to compare.

Site Audit (Limited)

There are limitations with the paid version, but I suggest using them to the maximum extent possible.

Basic On-Page SEO Analysis
Identification Of Critical Errors
Suggestions For Improvements

Domain Overview

Domain Authority Score: this is better than Moz, which often seems to have out-of-date data.
Number Of Backlinks: I love this free service as it helped me identify one of my backlinks with a 62% spam score. I have disavowed the link in Google Console, but it’s proving tricky to get rid of.
Organic Monthly Traffic Estimate: Monitor your efforts by checking your site’s growth.

Top Pages

List Of A Domain’s Top-Performing Pages: Knowing your best-performing pages means you can create more content clusters and create a spider web of internal links.
Estimated Visits Per Page: Monitor your site growth.

Backlink Data (Limited)

Overview Of A Site’s Backlink Profile
Sample Of Backlinks

Rank Tracking (Limited)

Even the free version of Ubersuggest gives a great overview of site ranking

Track A Few Keywords For Your Domain: No free SEO tools are 100% accurate, but you can track keyword movement. Target keywords that are ranking already.

Chrome Extension

The free Chrome extension gives you quick Access To Key Metrics While Browsing.

Daily Search Limits

A Set Number Of Free Daily Searches (Typically 3): Before using the Ubersuggest daily search, I advise preparing by selecting the most important keywords for which you want to build out more content.

Here’s an example from my dashboard of keywords I could use in my next articles about master resell rights products.

How To Find Low-Competition Keywords

#1: Start with a Seed Keyword

Enter a broad topic or main keyword in the Ubersuggest search bar
Select your target country and language

#2: Analyse the Keyword Overview

Look at the SEO Difficulty score
Aim for keywords with a score under 30 for low competition (ideally under 15 for new sites)
Check the search volume
Balance keywords between low difficulty and decent search volume (1000+)

#3: Explore Keyword Ideas

Click on “Keyword Ideas” in the left sidebar
Review the suggested keywords, focusing on:
Related keywords
Questions
Prepositions
Comparisons

#4: Filter Your Results

Use the filter option to set max SEO Difficulty (e.g., 15)
Set a minimum search volume that’s realistic for your niche
Apply filters to narrow down your list

#5: Search for Long-Tail Keywords

Focus on longer, more specific phrases
These often have lower competition and higher conversion rates. My site does well with long-tailed keywords. For example “The disadvantages of faceless marketing” is an excellent long-tailed keyword that is a featured snippet for my site (February 2025)

#6: Analyse User Intent

Consider the intent behind each keyword
Look for informational keywords (how-to, guide, tips) for easier ranking

#7: Check Content Ideas

Click on “Content Ideas” in the left sidebar
Look for topics with high engagement but low SEO difficulty

#8: Evaluate Keyword Potential

For promising keywords, click to view more details
Check the “SERP Analysis” to see who’s currently ranking
Look for opportunities where top results have low Domain Authority

#9: Consider Search Trends

Look at the search trend graph for each keyword
Choose keywords with stable or growing trends

#10: Prioritise Your Findings

Create a list of your top low-competition keywords
Prioritise based on relevance to your content and business goals

#11: Verify with Other Tools

Cross-reference your findings with Google Trends or Google Keyword Planner. It helps validate Ubersuggest data.

4 Pro Tips for Ubersuggest

Use your daily free searches wisely by focusing on different seed keywords daily.
Look for niche-specific or location-based keywords for lower competition.
Don’t ignore low-volume keywords if they’re highly relevant to your business.
Consider seasonal trends when evaluating keywords.

To sum up, Remember that finding low-competition keywords is just the first step. You must create high-quality, relevant content to rank for these terms. Use keywords strategically in your content planning and on-page SEO efforts.

My advice is to focus on learning one free SEO tools platform first. Once you have mastered that one, pick another to learn. There is no need to pay for expensive SEO tools like Ahrefs and Moz. I do not pay for SEO tools, and I have hundreds of organic ranking keywords and multiple featured snippets.

Let me know how you get along with Ubersuggest free SEO tools. We are grateful to Neil Patel for offering such a fantastic service for free.

Disclaimer: There are affiliate links on this page. If you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission.