Top 10 SEO Software for Agencies: Boost Your Client Results
Julia McCoy
Tuesday, 1st Oct 2024
As an agency owner, I’m guessing you’re pretty familiar with the headache of SEO reporting.
It’s 2024 – who has time for manual reports? Clients want results, and that means proving you’re hitting those KPIs.
This is where the right SEO software for agencies comes into play.
Choosing the best SEO software for agencies means sifting through a sea of options.
Trust me, I’ve been there. That’s why I’m breaking down the best SEO tools (and how to choose the right one for your business) to streamline your workflow and impress your clients.
Finding the perfect blend of features, usability, integrations, and cost can feel daunting, but let’s look at some popular SEO software options for agencies.
Keep in mind, there is no one “best” software, only the one that’s the best fit for your specific agency and client roster.
1. All-in-One SEO Platforms
As a former agency owner for 10+ years, I’ve learned that when you manage most SEO tasks in-house, a powerful all-in-one platform is often the smartest choice. These solutions deliver serious value, offering a comprehensive range of tools to cover every aspect of SEO, making your team’s workflow more efficient.
Here are three of my best choices for all-in-one SEO platforms:
BrandWell
Looking for an all-in-one SEO tool to tackle all of your content production needs? BrandWell handles everything from keyword research and competitor analysis to long-form writing and optimizing content — so you don’t have to.
Plus, it offers so much more than SEO! From your subscription, you get a complete website analysis, content briefs, topic reports, Google Search Console tracking, automatic link building, free plagiarism scans, AI detection, and generative AI assistance.
How does it work? BrandWell crawls your entire website, builds a comprehensive brand graph, and understands what you write about – plus how you write it and what’s missing – so you can branch out into deeper authoritative topics that help you maintain your brand positioning at the top of your industry. It will run optimization audits on all your existing content and identify which pieces need to be improved, straight from your URL.
For long-form content creation, BrandWell has an SEO writer called RankWell which helps you write zero-fluff, deeply researched, Google-friendly articles that read just like you wrote them.
It’s very easy to use: just enter a keyword, YouTube video URL, podcast URL, audio file, article link, or doc and get fully optimized articles in minutes.
You don’t even have to copy-paste your text to your WordPress or Shopify blog — publish straight to your website with a click of a button.
For marketing copy, there’s BrandWell’s WriteWell suite which features the AIMEE chatbot and 40+ pre-trained AI Agents.
Need to write a Google Ad copy? YouTube script? Facebook story? LinkedIn value post? Email newsletter? Press release? Sales letter? WriteWell is your on-call, 24/7 AI writing assistant for any kind of short-form content you need.
No wonder hundreds of agencies love using BrandWell to manage multiple brands across industries.
This SEO powerhouse needs no introduction. I’ve been using it since I started my writing career 13 years ago and it just gets better and better.
With over 40 tools and reports for keyword research, competitor analysis, website audit, and backlink analysis, it’s a one-stop shop for many agencies.
Semrush’s Keyword Magic Tool is particularly impressive, allowing you to identify profitable keywords with very detailed numbers.
The technical SEO audit tool helps you identify and fix website issues such as broken links and images, duplicate content, and mobile usability issues.
Plus, the competitor analysis tool allows you to analyze competitors’ strengths and weaknesses, identify gaps in your content strategy, and spy on competitors’ ads and keywords.
While Semrush has a steep learning curve due to its extensive range of features, the tool’s user-friendly interface makes it easy to navigate.
The data provided by Semrush is also accurate and up-to-date, helping you make informed SEO decisions.
However, the pricing plans can be steep, especially for small businesses or individuals.
Ahrefs
Ahrefs is another household name in the SEO landscape, offering an impressive array of features that cater to the needs of digital marketers, SEO professionals, and business owners alike.
One of Ahrefs’ standout features is its Keywords Explorer tool, which boasts an enormous database of over 7 billion keywords. This treasure trove of data enables users to identify lucrative keywords, analyze competitors’ strategies, and craft content that resonates with their target audience.
Like Semrush, Ahrefs has a backlink analysis tool that provides a detailed breakdown of a website’s backlink profile, including anchor text distribution, referring domains, and more.
What sets Ahrefs apart from its competitors is its commitment to data accuracy and freshness. The tool’s algorithms are constantly crawling the web, ensuring that users have access to the most up-to-date information possible. This attention to detail is reflected in Ahrefs’ content analysis tool, which provides actionable recommendations for improving on-page SEO, including content optimization, internal linking, and technical SEO.
While Ahrefs is an incredibly powerful tool, its steep learning curve may intimidate beginners and pricing can be prohibitive for startups or small businesses.
2. Technical SEO and Crawling
A technical SEO audit can make or break your client’s website performance. You can learn more about this by reading about technical SEO vs. content SEO. These tools will help you pinpoint issues like broken links, slow loading times, or crawlability problems.
Google Search Console
If you’re just starting or working on a limited budget, then Google Search Console (GSC) is definitely your go-to.
Although it’s free to use, this powerful technical SEO tool provides website owners and digital marketers with unparalleled insights into their website’s search engine visibility. By integrating GSC into your website, you can gain a deeper understanding of how Google crawls, indexes, and ranks your content.
One of GSC’s most valuable features is its ability to identify and alert users to technical SEO issues, such as crawl errors, schema markup errors, and mobile usability problems. This allows users to address these issues promptly, ensuring a seamless user experience and improved search engine rankings.
Another standout feature of GSC is its Search Analytics which provides users with a wealth of data on their website’s search engine traffic, including impressions, clicks, and average position, helping them refine their SEO strategies.
GSC’s sitemap and URL inspection features are also noteworthy, allowing users to submit sitemaps, inspect individual URLs, and request re-crawls. This level of control enables users to ensure that their website’s most important pages are crawled and indexed correctly and that any crawl errors are addressed promptly.
While GSC is not as comprehensive as paid SEO tools, its integration with other Google tools, such as Google Analytics, makes it an essential component of any technical SEO strategy.
Screaming Frog
If and when you’re ready to scale, Screaming Frog should be tops on your list. This desktop app is a beloved tool in the SEO community that even John Mueller, Google Search Advocate, openly endorses it.
Screaming Frog is a technical SEO’s best friend, offering a powerful crawling tool that uncovers hidden website issues, identifies optimization opportunities, and streamlines technical SEO audits.
One of Screaming Frog’s standout features is its ability to crawl websites at lightning-fast speeds, providing users with a comprehensive overview of their website’s technical health. The tool’s advanced crawling capabilities allow users to identify and fix critical issues such as broken links, duplicate content, and redirect chains, ensuring a seamless user experience and improved search engine rankings.
Screaming Frog’s integration with Google Analytics and Search Console also provides users with a holistic view of their website’s performance, enabling data-driven decisions and optimization strategies.
What sets Screaming Frog apart from other technical SEO tools is its flexibility and customization options. Users can tailor the crawling process to their specific needs, adjusting parameters such as crawl depth, speed, and scope to suit their website’s unique requirements. This level of control enables users to target specific areas of their website, such as sitemaps, canonical URLs, or mobile-specific pages, and receive actionable insights to inform their optimization strategies.
Even if you’re relatively new to technical SEO, you’ll find Screaming Frog’s extensive documentation, tutorials, and support resources useful as you unlock the full potential of this technical SEO powerhouse.
3. Rank Tracking
What good is your SEO strategy if you’re not tracking your progress? A reliable rank tracker is essential for demonstrating results to clients and making data-driven decisions.
Mangools SERPWatcher
Mangools SERPWatcher is a robust rank-tracking tool that has quickly become a favorite among SEO professionals for its sleek interface, accurate tracking, and actionable insights.
One of SERPWatcher’s excellent features is its ability to track rankings across multiple search engines, including Google, Bing, and Yahoo. This level of granularity enables users to identify trends, opportunities, and threats in their search engine rankings, and make data-driven decisions to improve their online visibility.
SERPWatcher’s customizable reporting features also allow users to tailor their reports to their specific needs, making it easy to share insights with clients or stakeholders.
What makes SERPWatcher stand out is its accuracy and transparency. The tool’s algorithm is designed to eliminate false positives and negatives, ensuring that users receive reliable and actionable data.
Plus, SERPWatcher’s integration with other Mangools tools such as KWFinder and LinkMiner provides users with a comprehensive SEO suite that can help them dominate the search engine rankings.
Semrush Position Tracking Tool
Yep, Semrush again. This tool is versatile for a reason — its position tracking lets you monitor specific keyword rankings across multiple devices, including desktop, tablet, and mobile. This enables users to identify device-specific trends and opportunities and make data-driven decisions to improve their mobile-first indexing strategy.
What sets Semrush apart from other rank-tracking solutions is its integration with Semrush’s vast database of keywords and competitors. This integration enables users to track their rankings for specific keywords, monitor their competitors’ rankings, and identify gaps in their own strategy and opportunities to outrank their competition.
In a crowded market of rank-tracking tools, Semrush’s Position Tracking Tool stands out as a leader in comprehensiveness, accuracy, and user experience. With its advanced tracking capabilities, customizable reporting, and seamless integration with other Semrush tools, this tool is an investment worth considering whether you’re a small business or a large enterprise.
4. Backlink Analysis and Monitoring
Building a solid backlink profile is essential for boosting domain authority and visibility. This means digging deep into your client’s current backlinks while seeking new opportunities – easier said than done, right?
Here are two of the best backlink analysis and monitoring tools for agencies:
Majestic
Majestic is a pioneering technical SEO tool that has been instrumental in shaping the backlink analysis landscape. With its unparalleled database of over 1 trillion URLs, Majestic provides users with a treasure trove of insights into the world of backlinks, enabling them to uncover hidden link opportunities, identify areas of improvement, and optimize their online presence for maximum visibility.
One of Majestic’s most impressive features is its Trust Flow metric, which provides a unique perspective on a website’s authority and credibility. This proprietary metric helps users identify high-quality backlinks, evaluate the trustworthiness of linking domains, and make data-driven decisions about their link-building efforts.
Complementing Trust Flow is Majestic’s Topical Trust Flow scoring which enables users to categorize their backlinks by topic, providing a deeper understanding of how close they are to the most trusted websites.
Majestic’s user interface is both intuitive and feature-rich, making it accessible to users of all skill levels. The tool’s advanced filtering options, custom reports, and integration with other SEO tools ensure that users can tailor their analysis to their specific needs and goals.
While Majestic’s pricing plans may be steeper than some of its competitors, the tool’s unparalleled backlink data and innovative metrics make it an invaluable investment for serious SEO professionals and digital marketers.
Ahrefs
Ahrefs deserves another mention on this list for changing the way digital marketers and SEO professionals approach link-building and online reputation management.
With its massive database of over 12 trillion backlinks, Ahrefs provides users with unparalleled insights into their website’s backlink profile, empowering them to make data-driven decisions and optimize their link-building strategies.
One of Ahrefs’ standout features is its ability to identify and categorize backlinks by type, including dofollow, nofollow, and redirect links. This enables users to identify opportunities to improve their backlink profile, such as replacing nofollow links with dofollow links or removing toxic links that harm their online reputation.
Ahrefs also filters backlinks by domain rating, URL rating, and anchor text, allowing users to conduct detailed and targeted analyses.
With its robust monitoring capability, Ahrefs helps users monitor competitor backlinks and track changes to their own backlink profile, helping identify new opportunities and threats to their online visibility.
Ahrefs’ user-friendly interface makes it easy to navigate for both beginners and advanced users alike. The data presented is visually appealing, with charts and tables that help users quickly interpret trends and patterns.
Despite its strengths, Ahrefs does have some limitations. One of the primary concerns for users, especially small businesses or freelancers, is the cost. The platform’s pricing can be steep compared to other backlink analysis tools, which might make it less accessible to users with tighter budgets.
5. Content Optimization
As a veteran in the content marketing space, I’ve seen the industry evolve over the years. The rules of the game have changed dramatically, and all those outdated SEO tactics like keyword stuffing just won’t cut it these days.
Creating human-first content is what will get your clients to the top of search engine results pages (SERPs) and drive conversions.
Luckily, these tools can help:
BrandWell
Agencies aren’t just using BrandWell for their content production; it’s also a top pick for optimizing content. In fact, it’s the only SEO content writer that allows you to optimize your blog post right inside the unified text editor, eliminating the need to open multiple tabs on your browser.
When you click on an article written by RankWell, you’ll immediately see a full suite of SEO tools on the right sidebar.
The big green number on top is your current SEO score. Aim to reach at least 80 to increase your chances of ranking well on the SERPs.
Now let’s break down each of the tabs below.
Link Analyzer: Click this button to see how many external links are in your article and which sources they are pointing to. This way you can check for broken links before you publish your post.
Content Brief: If you are not happy with your first draft, click this button to rewrite the entire post.
Ranking Contents: Here you’ll find all the top-ranking sources that RankWell crawled to write your article. If you feel that the draft is a little thin or that the AI missed something, you can add more sections from this tab.
Plagiarism: Want to double-check if the AI wrote a 100% original article? Just click on this tab to run a quick scan.
SEO Keywords: One of the easiest ways to boost your SEO score is to optimize your article with keywords. RankWell generates this list of keywords and entities for you. Keywords that are highlighted in green mean they are fully optimized, those in yellow may need a little bit more work, those in red mean you have not used that keyword at all, and purple means you have overstuffed your article with this term.
This tab also displays the meta description and URL that RankWell generated for your blog post — designed to get the attention of Google and readers. You are free to edit them as you wish.
SEO NLPs: RankWell makes NLP optimization as easy as one click. Here you will see the salience score for each keyword in your content compared to how your competitors have used the term. Find out how you can improve your content without the hassle and expense of hiring an expert.
Optimization Audit: Click this button to run an in-depth, real-time analysis of why your content might not rank well, with a step-by-step checklist of what to do to fix it.
AI Detector: You can access the BrandWell AI Detector right inside the text editor. This tool will tell you if your content reads like it was written by a human or if it sounds robotic.
Checklist: Lastly, the sidebar features an SEO checklist that will show you elements in your article that need further optimization. Try to get as many green checks as you can.
BrandWell not only helps you optimize your content for search engines but, more importantly, for readers. Information that’s easy and enjoyable to read keeps them engaged so they stay longer on your page. On the same RankWell editor, you will find tools for adding visuals and improving readability.
The Ask AI button on the floating toolbar pulls up a stack of writing tools to help you improve a sentence or paragraph. If you want to add more content, click the AIMEE Chat or AI Agents tab on the right sidebar and provide a short prompt on the chatbox.
To add images to your blog post, click the Media tab. Here you can either choose from stock photos or upload your own files.
When content is clear and visually appealing, people are more likely to stick around and get what they need. Plus, writing in a conversational style makes everything feel more approachable, helping readers connect with the message. So break up heavy text with graphics, use headings and bullet points, and keep your sentences short and simple with BrandWell’s SEO tools.
Clearscope
Clearscope has emerged as a valuable tool for content optimization, helping content creators and marketers improve their search engine rankings and engagement. By analyzing target keywords and competitive content, Clearscope provides actionable insights to enhance content quality, relevance, and readability.
One of the key strengths of Clearscope is its ability to identify keyword optimization opportunities. The tool analyzes the target keyword and suggests relevant terms and phrases to incorporate into the content. This ensures that the content is well-optimized for search engines and attracts organic traffic.
Clearscope also allows users to benchmark their content against top-ranking competitors, identifying areas for improvement and gaining a competitive edge.
Beyond keyword optimization, Clearscope also focuses on content readability. The tool provides recommendations to improve sentence structure, paragraph length, and overall readability. By making content easier to understand and digest, Clearscope helps ensure that readers stay engaged and are more likely to share the content.
Clearscope also analyzes the overall content structure, suggesting improvements such as adding headings, subheadings, and bullet points. This makes the content more user-friendly and search engine-friendly.
While Clearscope may not be a one-stop content optimization solution like BrandWell, it can be a valuable asset for those seeking to improve their content’s online visibility.
6. Local SEO
If your agency works with local clients, you know that local SEO is a must. However, managing local listings and citations across various platforms can be laborious and time-consuming. Let’s look at a pair of tools that can make this easy for your agency.
BrightLocal
Want to streamline local SEO and wow those brick-and-mortar clients? Manage GBP profiles, monitor reviews, build citations, and track local rankings with ease.
BrightLocal offers a comprehensive approach to tracking and improving a local store’s online visibility. One of its standout features is the citation builder which helps ensure consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) information across the web — crucial for local SEO as search engines rely on accurate and consistent data to understand a business.
BrightLocal’s citation tracker is also helpful in identifying and resolving any inconsistencies in your online listings.
Another excellent tool is their rank tracker. It allows you to monitor website ranking for relevant keywords in both organic and paid search results. This data is invaluable for identifying areas where I can improve my SEO efforts.
While I’ve found BrightLocal to be a reliable and user-friendly tool, it’s important to note that it’s not a magic bullet. Consistent effort and a well-thought-out SEO strategy are still essential for achieving success. However, BrightLocal provides the necessary tools and insights to help you optimize your local SEO and drive more traffic to your client’s business.
SE Ranking
SE Ranking is a versatile tool that offers a comprehensive suite of features for agencies focused on local SEO. One of its best assets is the local rank tracking capability, which allows agencies to monitor keyword rankings across multiple locations, even down to a city or neighborhood level. This is particularly useful for businesses that need to understand how their SEO efforts are performing in specific regions.
SE Ranking’s customizable reports also make it easy for agencies to present data to their clients in a professional manner, tailored to their specific needs and preferences.
Another key advantage of SE Ranking is its competitor analysis feature. It enables users to compare their clients’ local SEO performance with that of competitors, providing insights into areas where they can improve or capitalize on opportunities.
The tool also offers website audits, backlink monitoring, and on-page SEO recommendations, all of which are crucial for optimizing local SEO strategies. The interface is user-friendly, allowing agencies to streamline tasks and manage multiple clients efficiently.
However, one potential downside is that SE Ranking’s data might occasionally lag in real-time updates for smaller, hyper-local markets. While this doesn’t majorly impact larger campaigns, agencies focusing on very specific local regions might find this delay slightly limiting.
That said, SE Ranking offers excellent value for its price, especially when compared to more expensive alternatives in the market, making it a cost-effective solution for agencies of all sizes.
That rounds up 10 of my most recommended tools for agencies. But how do you choose which one is right for you?
How to Choose The Right SEO Software for Your Agency
When searching for the best SEO software for your agency, you’ll want to tick a few key boxes.
1. Features Offered
Different agencies have different needs. At the bare minimum, any worthwhile software will have features for keyword research, PPC and social media management, rank tracking, and technical SEO audits.
However, you might want to explore additional capabilities such as:
Competitor Analysis
Agencies are often tasked with not only improving their clients’ SEO but also outperforming competitors. Choose software with robust competitor analysis tools, including backlink comparison, keyword gaps, and ranking trends. These insights can help agencies craft strategies that differentiate their clients and give them a competitive edge in their niche markets.
Local SEO Capabilities
For agencies serving clients with location-based needs, effective local SEO tools are a must. The software should include local rank tracking, Google My Business integration, and location-based audits. These features help agencies optimize visibility for businesses that rely on local traffic and reviews, providing clear, location-specific data.
Comprehensive Reporting
Creating detailed and easy-to-understand reports for clients is time-consuming, especially when reporting on various SEO metrics. Look for software with customizable, automated reporting features that cater to client-specific KPIs. This saves agencies significant time and helps build transparency and trust with clients by delivering clear, actionable insights without manual effort.
2. Ease of Use
Let’s face it – the SEO world is complex enough. You need a platform that your entire team can easily understand and use, even those who aren’t tech-proficient.
Adopting a new SEO tool can disrupt workflows if the learning curve is steep. Choose a platform that is intuitive and offers excellent support, including training resources and customer service.
Agencies experience less downtime and can quickly integrate the software into their daily operations, reducing the friction that comes with switching or upgrading tools.
3. Integrations
The best SEO tools seamlessly integrate with the platforms you’re already using. This could include Google Analytics, Google Search Console, social media platforms, or even project management software.
4. Scalability
Agencies often deal with multiple clients, each with unique SEO needs, so scalability is essential. Choose SEO software that can grow with your agency, offering multi-project management and seamless onboarding for new clients.
The tool should allow you to manage several campaigns without sacrificing performance or efficiency, ensuring that you can meet the needs of small clients while still catering to larger, more complex accounts.
5. Affordability and ROI
Budget is always a factor, especially for small agencies or those just starting out.
Choose SEO software that offers flexible pricing plans based on the number of clients or projects you manage.
It should also deliver measurable ROI by helping agencies improve client results efficiently without inflating operational costs.
Conclusion
Choosing the best SEO software for your agency boils down to finding a solution that addresses your specific pain points, whether it’s scalability, in-depth reporting, local SEO, competitor analysis, ease of use, or budget constraints. The right tool can significantly improve your agency’s efficiency, deliver superior client results, and help you stay ahead of the competition.
But why settle for juggling multiple tools when you can have everything you need in one place? BrandWell is the ultimate all-in-one brand growth platform designed specifically for agencies — big or small.
From real-time keyword/topic research and competitor analysis to in-depth content creation and seamless SEO optimization, BrandWell handles it all — on autopilot.
Take your agency’s SEO game to the next level and let BrandWell do the heavy lifting for you. Sign up today and experience the future of SEO management.