There are a lot of content optimization tools on the market that all claim to help you write SEO optimized content. So, how do you know which one is right for you and your blog? Do they actually even help with SEO?
If you aren’t using an SEO tool, you’re missing out and will struggle to rank higher than those that are using SEO content optimization tools.
If you can’t beat them, join them.
All the tools provide the functionality to analyze and optimize blog posts but the pricing varies as does other functionality that is included.
Whilst running this blog I have tried many on-page content optimizing SEO tools and in this article I give my view on which I use and why and how not to be tricked into using a tool that benefits other people more than you.
Is there one tool that is THE best content optimization tool? I don’t think so. Read on to find out why.
What is Content Optimization?
Content optimization is not just optimizing for search engines ( SEO ) it is the process of making your content more accessible and engaging for both your readers and search engines.
When done correctly, content optimization can help improve your search engine rankings and drive more traffic to your website. There are a number of different techniques that can be used to optimize your content, including using SEO-optimized keyword-rich titles, meta descriptions, and tags.
In addition to making sure that your content is well-optimized for search engines, you also want to make sure that your piece of content is easy to read and understand. This means using clear and concise language, as well as breaking up your text into smaller paragraphs with subheadings.
You should also pay attention to the overall structure of your post, as this can help keep readers engaged.
How Content Optimization Tools Work
Most tools work in a similar way. Enter your chosen keyword for your article. The search engine optimization ( SEO ) tool will show you the top 10 or more results to select from. Once chosen you are taken to a document editor for you to write your article.
Displayed on your screen will be a content score barometer showing your current optimization score & underneath that there will be words and phrases to include to improve content all taken from the competitor content you chose in the earlier steps. Below is a screenshot taken during the optimization of this article using NeuronWriter.
Some of the tools include word counters along with a target word count which the writing tool believes is required to rank.
Often there will also be a view on what the top result and or top 10 articles score so that you know what to aim for.
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Jack Of All Trades
Some of the tools included in this round-up include additional functionality that you may not need or want. It’s important to consider this when you are picking your tools.
Do you really want a tool that does everything, when actually you only really need a couple of content creation-based functions?
One capability that some tools are starting to include is an SEO writing assistant in the form of an AI writer that helps with content creation.
If you already use a tool like Jasper, which is a dedicated AI writer then the functionality provided by a Content Optimization tool is not going to match that, so don’t get swayed by the inclusion of this functionality.
At the end of the day, you want a tool that is great at providing content-based SEO recommendations.
Surfer SEO
Surfer SEO is the market leader for anyone who wants to write content and optimisze it.
Key features
Grow Flow – Surfers AI-driven growth management platform that recommends tasks to complete in order to grow your sites traffic
Content Editor – that provides content based guidelines and content suggestions to improve your content and help rank
Content Planner – Helps to plan content and build a content strategy including suggesting topic/keyword clusters
Pros
- You can use the tool in WordPress and in google Docs so you can use Surfer SEO to write where you like
- Easy to understand and use
- Many features help bloggers with their content.
- Ability to optimize your blog content and then audit it at a later date
- Chrome Extension that allows you to work in google docs
- Grow flow is a tool
Cons
- Expensive with a limited number of articles included in lower plans
- The cost is slightly high for an individual
- Included features are relevant to everyone
- Some Grow Flow recommendations aren’t suitable
Pricing
The downside of Surfer is that it’s a bit pricey. It starts at $59/month (plus VAT) for the basic plan and goes up to $199/month for the Pro plan. There is a handy $1 7-day trial which I strongly recommend. Also if you use Jasper, there is a $1 Surfer SEO trial available that gives you 30 days of the basic plan.
If money is no option then this is the tool for you. However, if you are on a budget and are just starting out then there may be other better options.
When I had a Surfer subscription I felt that I was paying for functionality that I wasn’t using and that was a luxury I couldn’t (didn’t want to) afford at the time.
Frase
Frase is a good option for bloggers who want an all-in-one solution for optimizing their blog posts. It offers features like content planning, keyword research, competitor analysis, and more.
However, if you are already using aHrefs and an AI writer like Jasper then you will not benefit from all of the functionality that Frase offers.
Key Features
Automated Content Briefs – Auto-generated detailed SEO content briefs that help your writers execute content that ranks.
Content Editor & Content Scoring – Frase will guide your writers to the perfect article for your target keywords.
AI Writer – AI Writing functionality to help you get over writer’s block
Frase Pros
- Easy to use with good support and knowledgebase.
- A really useful rephrasing tool
- Easy to share outlines & content with writers
Frase Cons
- Copying content from Frase to WordPress can be a pain.
- Becomes costly when you include the add-on.
- AI Writer is fairly new and needs some improvement.
Frase Pricing
Frase subscription starts at $14.99 when paid monthly and includes 4 article optimizations a month. The basic plan includes 30 articles a month for $44.99 and the Team plan includes as many articles as you would like.
There is a useful 5-day trial for $1 if you want to test out the product before committing.
For a further $35 a month you can add unlimited AI, SERP Data Enrichment, and Keyword Search Volume in SERP results.
The extra functionality may be useful but if you are just wanting a content optimization platform, then you won’t need them all.
Market Muse
MarketMuse is a revolutionary new tool that uses artificial intelligence to help you research, plan and create outstanding content with ease. They claim they will save you 11+ hours per piece of content by doing the heavy lifting for you.
This innovative software provides quick wins right away! The tool shows personalized difficulty scores based on your existing work in order to show which keywords will most likely be able to rank for search engines. It also has an incredible feature allowing users first drafts of each piece written – saving hours of time while still editing efficiently using natural language generation technology built into the program’s interface–allowing no mistakes or typos when publishing online posts.
Key Features
First Draft & Final Draft Creation
Content Research and Strategy
Content Creation & Optimization
Competitive Analysis
Market Muse Pros
- Free trial with unlimited use
- First draft creation to help you get over writer’s block
- Easy to use to create high-quality content
- Internal and external linking suggestions
Market Muse Cons
- Buggy trial offering
- Doesn’t show reading difficulty
- Mad pricing ($7,200 per year)
Market Muse Pricing
MartketMuse includes a free plan that offers some functionality, but not all. Their next level up is $7,200 per year. Yes, you read that correctly. Madness. This makes me think this is more of an enterprise-level tool for SEO professionals and not one most people will consider, other than the free trial.
Neuronwriter
Neuronwriter is another new entrant, but the team behind it is extremely experienced as they also have tools for content optimization for large enterprises.
NeuronWriter is my pick as the top SEO content optimization tool for anyone on a budget or just starting out. Even if money was no object this tool is still hard to beat. The inclusion of an AI writer that helps expand on your draft outline really helps get you moving.
What stands this tool apart is that the owners continue to develop and improve it. Listening to their users in their active Facebook group and implementing suggestions.
Key Functionality
- NLP-based SEO recommendations of terms to use
- Quick create a document draft using suggestions from high-ranking competitors
- Content Planner to track completed and planned articles
- Internal Link Building suggestions
- Next Article Suggestions to give you content ideas
- Plagiarism Checker included in Gold Plan to ensure your article is unique.
Neuronwriter Pros
- Easy-to-use interface
- AI Writing Functionality
- Extremely Competitive Pricing with a generous SEO O volume of articles that can be created
- Additional Functionality added regularly
Neuronwriter Cons
- Workflow optimizing an existing article could be better.
- No Chrome Extension (This is coming soon)
- Plagiarism checker
Neuronwriter Pricing
Compared to many of the other tools NeuronWriter is extremely good value. At $19 per month for 25 article analysis, you get more for your money. If you spend $57, a touch less than surfer SEO’s price, you get 75 article analyses compared to Surfer’s 10 and you get the full functionality stack including a plagiarism checker.
Topic
When you insert a keyword into the system, Topic will provide you with an outline of what needs to be covered in your content, including all appropriate headings, questions that need to be answered, and different topics that should be included.
AI can help you create unique and effective H2 and H3 headings, saving you time and helping you compete against your rivals.
Key Features
Assists with research and builds outlines
Suggests H2 and H3 headings
WordPress and Google Docs plugins
Highlights questions that you should answer related to your keyword
Content grader with word count
Pro’s
- Helps save a lot of time when figuring out how to structure the article and finding the most important content to include.
- WordPress and Google Docs Plugins enable you to work your way.
Cons
- Reports can take a while to generate
- No readability score
- Expensive
Topic Pricing
Topic offer 3 plans. The cheapest at $99 per month offers 10 content briefs, making it more expensive than Surfer and significantly more expensive than NeuronWriter. But they compare well to others like ClearScope and MarketMuse.
Other Helpful Content and SEO Tools – Grammarly
Whether you are writing new content or using content you’ve already written, you want great content that’s easy for people to read, interesting, and grammatically correct.
This is where Grammarly comes in. Grammarly, as the name suggests is a grammar tool that comes with a great free plan and a function-packed premium plan.
In their own words, they explain their tool as “From grammar and spelling to style and tone, Grammarly’s suggestions are comprehensive, helping you communicate effectively and as you intend.”
With chrome extensions and plug-ins available Grammarly can be used to enhance your writing to make sure your content has no errors, has the right tone, and is free from mistakes. A godsend if you are going word-blind and can no longer spot errors.
Content Optimization Tool Conclusion
Do you need an SEO content tool? Yes everyone should optimize their content to stand the best chance of ranking and to ensure they are producing great SEO content.
There are a lot of different content optimization tools that you can use, each with its own set of pros and cons. When choosing a content optimization tool, it’s important to consider your budget, your needs, and your preferences.
Some people may prefer an all-in-one solution like Frase whilst others may prefer a feature-stacked tool like NeuronWriter that focuses on helping you optimize your content.
Ultimately, the best content optimization tool is the one that works best for YOU where you are now and ideally one that can grow with you as you develop your SEO skills.
What is Content Optimization Software?
Content optimization software is a tool that helps you improve your content so that it is more effective for search engines.
By optimizing your blog posts, content marketers can increase their chances of ranking higher in search results and getting more traffic to your site.
There are many different content optimization tools available, but they all work towards the same goal: helping you create better content for search engines.
Who Needs Content Optimization Tools?
Content optimization tools are used by content creators to help them write better content. These tools can be used to create content briefs, optimize content marketing, and improve the overall quality of the content that is produced.
Any blogger, content writer, or eCommerce seller should consider using a content optimizer to make SEO-friendly content with the best SEO possible.
Why is it important to optimize your content?
Content optimization is important because it can help you improve the quality of your content. When your content is optimized, you can make sure that your content is high-quality and relevant to your audience.
Additionally, using content-optimizing tools can help you rank higher in search engines, which can lead to more traffic and visibility for your website or blog.
What are the fundamentals of optimizing content?
To optimize your content for search engines, you need to understand the basics of how they work. Start by familiarizing yourself with the different types of content that exist and how they can be optimized.
Existing content can be a great resource for new ideas, but it’s also important to keep an eye on your competition and see what they’re doing to improve their ranking. Once you have a good understanding of the basics, you can begin to optimize your content to ensure that it is visible to the largest audience possible.
