For small businesses trying to compete online, search engine optimisation (SEO) can feel overwhelming. But with the right tools, you don’t need to be an expert to improve your Google rankings, get more traffic, and grow your business organically.
1. Ubersuggest – affordable all-in-one SEO tool
Best for: beginners and budget-conscious businesses
Ubersuggest, created by Neil Patel, is a user-friendly SEO platform that offers keyword research, site audits, competitor analysis, and content ideas – all in one place. It’s ideal for small businesses because it’s much more affordable than big-name tools.
Key features:
- Keyword suggestions and difficulty scores
- Backlink data for your site and competitors
- SEO audit to find site health issues
- Content ideas based on what’s ranking
Why it’s great: Ubersuggest offers a generous free version and affordable monthly plans starting from around £10.
💡 SEO tip: Use Ubersuggest to find long-tail keywords like “best bakery in York” that are easier to rank for.
2. Google Search Console – free insights from Google
Best for: monitoring performance and fixing SEO issues
Google Search Console (GSC) is a free tool provided by Google that helps you track how your website is performing in search results. It’s essential for understanding what keywords you’re ranking for, how users are finding you, and whether your site has any technical problems.
Key features:
- Track clicks, impressions and average position for keywords
- Submit sitemaps and individual URLs for indexing
- Spot mobile usability issues or broken pages
- Monitor site performance and Core Web Vitals
Why it’s great: It gives you direct insights from Google itself, with no cost attached.
3. Yoast SEO – top WordPress SEO plugin
Best for: on-page SEO and content optimisation
If you run a WordPress site, Yoast SEO is a must-have plugin. It helps you optimise each page and blog post for a target keyword, ensuring your content ticks all the right SEO boxes.
Key features:
- On-page SEO checks (keyword use, meta descriptions, etc.)
- Readability analysis to improve user experience
- Customisable meta titles and slugs
- Automatic XML sitemap generation
Why it’s great: It’s beginner-friendly, with colour-coded suggestions that guide you through improvements.
✅ Pro tip: Use the readability tool to make your content easier for both users and Google to understand.
4. AnswerThePublic – keyword and content ideas
Best for: discovering what your audience is searching for
AnswerThePublic is a visual keyword research tool that shows you the real questions people are asking online. Just enter a keyword (like plumber or organic skincare) and get hundreds of content ideas based on actual search queries.
Key features:
- Visual keyword and question mapping
- Grouped results by prepositions (how, why, where, etc.)
- Great for blog and video content inspiration
Why it’s great: It’s especially helpful for planning blog posts and FAQs that directly answer customer questions.
🧠 SEO tip: Creating content that answers specific questions helps you win featured snippets and voice search results.
5. SE Ranking – flexible and scalable SEO tool
Best for: tracking keyword rankings and managing SEO campaigns
SE Ranking is an excellent alternative to more expensive tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs. It offers professional-level features such as rank tracking, site auditing, backlink monitoring, and even social media management.
Key features:
- Accurate keyword position tracking (local and global)
- Site audits with clear improvement suggestions
- Competitor analysis and backlink tools
- White-label reporting for agencies
Why it’s great: It’s scalable – perfect if your business is growing or you’re managing multiple websites.
You don’t need to break the bank to improve your SEO. The best SEO tools for small businesses are:
- Ubersuggest – for keyword research and site audits
- Google Search Console – for tracking real performance
- Yoast SEO – for optimising your WordPress content
- AnswerThePublic – for content and keyword inspiration
- SE Ranking – for complete, scalable SEO management
Start with one or two, focus on the basics (keywords, content, technical health), and build from there. Over time, even modest SEO efforts can lead to big results – more visibility, more visitors, and more customers.
