{"id":2150,"date":"2023-04-12T05:22:34","date_gmt":"2023-04-12T05:22:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ewebtoolz.com\/blog\/seo-agency-software-what-do-they-use\/"},"modified":"2023-04-12T05:22:34","modified_gmt":"2023-04-12T05:22:34","slug":"seo-agency-software-what-do-they-use","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ewebtoolz.com\/blog\/seo-agency-software-what-do-they-use\/","title":{"rendered":"SEO Agency Software (What Do They Use?)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"\">\n<p>Here\u2019s my selection of the software that SEO agencies use to get their work done and manage their teams successfully.<\/p>\n<p>Accurate data is important for SEO agencies to make good decisions. As a result, every agency I\u2019ve worked for over the past 10 years has had access to Ahrefs.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>So when it comes to providing specific SEO services for clients, it mostly comes down to using the different Ahrefs tools.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Keyword research<\/h3>\n<p>Most agencies use <a href=\"https:\/\/ads.google.com\/aw\/keywordplanner\/home?sf=kp&amp;subid=gb-en-ha-aw-bk-c-bau!o3~Cj0KCQjwk7ugBhDIARIsAGuvgPb7-rWMEcGpxH447MucTv9u1WSGB4vw4mRp3CPPHajROiIfpC_J4jAaAjS-EALw_wcB~57785776459~kwd-58879037234~1485447575~284214908328\">Google Keyword Planner<\/a> (GKP) or a tool like Ahrefs\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/keywords-explorer\">Keywords Explorer<\/a> to do their keyword research.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>GKP used to be considered the most accurate keyword tool because the data came from Google. These days, however, it\u2019s probably not\u00a0true.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s why.<\/p>\n<p>Firstly, GKP no longer shows exact search volumes\u2014it only shows a\u00a0range.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"444\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image3-4.png\" alt=\"Keyword data, via Google Keyword Planner &#10;\" class=\"wp-image-156964\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image3-4.png 1080w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image3-4-680x280.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image3-4-768x316.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"444\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image3-4.png\" alt=\"Keyword data, via Google Keyword Planner &#10;\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-156964\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image3-4.png 1080w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image3-4-680x280.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image3-4-768x316.png 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Google Keyword Planner\u2019s estimated average monthly searches.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Whereas, Ahrefs gives a more definitive answer in terms of volume, which is more helpful for agencies planning an SEO campaign.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"748\" height=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image13-2.png\" alt=\"Keyword data, via Ahrefs' Keywords Explorer&#10;\" class=\"wp-image-156967\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image13-2.png 748w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image13-2-680x282.png 680w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 748px) 100vw, 748px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"748\" height=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image13-2.png\" alt=\"Keyword data, via Ahrefs' Keywords Explorer&#10;\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-156967\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image13-2.png 748w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image13-2-680x282.png 680w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 748px) 100vw, 748px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cVolume\u201d column in Ahrefs\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/keywords-explorer\">Keywords Explorer<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Secondly, Ahrefs CMO <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/author\/tim-soulo\/\">Tim Soulo\u2019s<\/a> GKP study suggested that <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/gsc-gkp-search-volume-study\/\">GKP data is overestimated<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1444\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image14-4.png\" alt=\"91.45% of search volumes in GKP are overestimates&#10;\" class=\"wp-image-156969\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image14-4.png 1600w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image14-4-471x425.png 471w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image14-4-768x693.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image14-4-1536x1386.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1444\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image14-4.png\" alt=\"91.45% of search volumes in GKP are overestimates&#10;\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-156969\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image14-4.png 1600w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image14-4-471x425.png 471w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image14-4-768x693.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image14-4-1536x1386.png 1536w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"\/><\/figure>\n<p>It\u2019s why many agencies have switched to third-party tools like Ahrefs\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/keywords-explorer\">Keywords Explorer<\/a> to do their keyword research.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1694\" height=\"984\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image2-4.jpg\" alt=\"Overview report, via Ahrefs' Keywords Explorer&#10;\" class=\"wp-image-156971\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image2-4.jpg 1694w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image2-4-680x395.jpg 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image2-4-768x446.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image2-4-1536x892.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1694px) 100vw, 1694px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1694\" height=\"984\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image2-4.jpg\" alt=\"Overview report, via Ahrefs' Keywords Explorer&#10;\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-156971\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image2-4.jpg 1694w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image2-4-680x395.jpg 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image2-4-768x446.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image2-4-1536x892.jpg 1536w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1694px) 100vw, 1694px\"\/><\/figure>\n<p>Generally speaking, tools like this can provide a helpful representation of what\u2019s happening in the search results.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Competitor analysis<\/h3>\n<p>Each agency has its methods for completing a competitor analysis. But there is one common denominator that most agencies will agree on\u2014speed.<\/p>\n<p>With multiple clients contacting you at all times during the working day, agency workers must understand a competitor\u2019s SEO strategy. They then need to share it at a moment\u2019s notice with the client.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>To get a bird\u2019s-eye view of the competitor landscape, you can use a tool like Ahrefs\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/site-explorer\">Site Explorer<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Simply plug a domain into Site Explorer and head to the <strong>Organic competitors<\/strong> report.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1714\" height=\"1260\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image8-5.jpg\" alt=\"Organic competitors report, via Ahrefs' Site Explorer&#10;\" class=\"wp-image-156973\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image8-5.jpg 1714w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image8-5-578x425.jpg 578w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image8-5-768x565.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image8-5-1536x1129.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1714px) 100vw, 1714px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1714\" height=\"1260\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image8-5.jpg\" alt=\"Organic competitors report, via Ahrefs' Site Explorer&#10;\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-156973\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image8-5.jpg 1714w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image8-5-578x425.jpg 578w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image8-5-768x565.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image8-5-1536x1129.jpg 1536w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1714px) 100vw, 1714px\"\/><\/figure>\n<p>This tool lets you quickly identify the top five organic competitors for the domain entered and shows you their value plotted against their traffic.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Once you\u2019ve identified your top competitors, you can analyze them further by scrolling down to the <strong>Top competing domains<\/strong> report to get into the details.<\/p>\n<p>Another quick method to analyze your competitors\u2019 websites is to use Ahrefs\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/seo-toolbar\">SEO Toolbar<\/a> to get an overview of each competitor and jot a few notes down about each\u00a0site.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s an example of me looking at the Nasty Gal homepage using the toolbar.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1346\" height=\"1128\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image16-3.png\" alt=\"Nasty Gal website content details, via Ahrefs' SEO Toolbar&#10;\" class=\"wp-image-156975\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image16-3.png 1346w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image16-3-507x425.png 507w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image16-3-768x644.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1346px) 100vw, 1346px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1346\" height=\"1128\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image16-3.png\" alt=\"Nasty Gal website content details, via Ahrefs' SEO Toolbar&#10;\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-156975\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image16-3.png 1346w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image16-3-507x425.png 507w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image16-3-768x644.png 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1346px) 100vw, 1346px\"\/><\/figure>\n<p>From here, you can understand the state of the competitor\u2019s SEO and also use <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/site-explorer\">Site Explorer<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/keywords-explorer\">Keywords Explorer<\/a> to dig deeper into the details.<\/p>\n<p>Once the agency has enough information about the competitors, it\u2019ll typically present its findings in a PowerPoint format.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rank tracking<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"776\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image20-3.png\" alt=\"Rank tracking overview, via Ahrefs' Rank tracker&#10;\" class=\"wp-image-156977\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image20-3.png 1999w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image20-3-680x264.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image20-3-768x298.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image20-3-1536x596.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"776\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image20-3.png\" alt=\"Rank tracking overview, via Ahrefs' Rank tracker&#10;\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-156977\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image20-3.png 1999w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image20-3-680x264.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image20-3-768x298.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image20-3-1536x596.png 1536w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\"\/><\/figure>\n<p>SEO agencies also need to prove results, and the primary way they do this is by tracking a client\u2019s keywords and Google rankings.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>This often means tracking hundreds or even thousands of keywords and organizing them logically. But how can you do\u00a0this?<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll need to use a software tool like Ahrefs\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/rank-tracker\">Rank Tracker<\/a> to do it effectively.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Rank Tracker can help you monitor several key performance indicators, such\u00a0as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Share of\u00a0voice<\/li>\n<li>Average position<\/li>\n<li>Organic traffic<\/li>\n<li>SERP features<\/li>\n<li>Positions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Monitoring these data points helps you understand the impact of any <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/google-algorithm-updates\">Google updates<\/a> as well as the performance of your website.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">SEO audits and SEO proposals<\/h3>\n<p>Most agencies audit a prospective client\u2019s site before working with them, so they can show the client what SEO issues are on the website and suggest fixes.<\/p>\n<p>Although you can manually audit their site, it isn\u2019t an efficient use of\u00a0time.<\/p>\n<p>Therefore, many agencies use a tool like Ahrefs\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/site-audit\">Site Audit<\/a> to quickly get to the core of a website\u2019s SEO issues.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"942\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image12-5.jpg\" alt=\"Site Audit homepage, via Ahrefs' Site Audit&#10;\" class=\"wp-image-156979\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image12-5.jpg 1999w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image12-5-680x320.jpg 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image12-5-768x362.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image12-5-1536x724.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"942\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image12-5.jpg\" alt=\"Site Audit homepage, via Ahrefs' Site Audit&#10;\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-156979\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image12-5.jpg 1999w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image12-5-680x320.jpg 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image12-5-768x362.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image12-5-1536x724.jpg 1536w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\"\/><\/figure>\n<p>Here\u2019s an example of the types of issues the tool can\u00a0find:<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"888\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image15-4.png\" alt=\"High-priority issues, via Ahrefs' Site Audit&#10;\" class=\"wp-image-156981\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image15-4.png 1000w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image15-4-479x425.png 479w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image15-4-768x682.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"888\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image15-4.png\" alt=\"High-priority issues, via Ahrefs' Site Audit&#10;\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-156981\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image15-4.png 1000w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image15-4-479x425.png 479w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image15-4-768x682.png 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\"\/><\/figure>\n<p>This type of technical analysis overview is a good starting point for fixing the issues on your client\u2019s website.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Link building<\/h3>\n<p>When it comes to link building, agencies usually focus on creating a stand-out piece of content for a client that will help them acquire links naturally.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>This content could be new research, a survey, or anything else the agency feels would accrue links over\u00a0time.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Once it has made the content, it starts the outreach process\u2014to spread awareness of the\u00a0work.<\/p>\n<p>To contact the relevant websites, it will typically use one of two\u00a0tools:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.buzzstream.com\/\"><strong>BuzzStream<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 The first outreach tool I used in my agency career. It covers link prospecting, creating custom email templates, organizing contacts, and managing the outreach process.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pitchbox.com\/\"><strong>Pitchbox<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 A popular alternative to BuzzStream that has testimonials from several well-known SEOs. Features are tailored toward agencies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>An SEO professional\u2019s main objective is to rank websites in Google search, so it\u2019s natural they\u2019ll use several Google software products to understand their performance in the search engine.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s my rundown of the top Google software SEO agencies typically use:<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Google Analytics<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/analytics.google.com\/\">Google Analytics<\/a> (GA) is relatively ubiquitous in the agency-client world.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s usually the first place SEO agencies go to when they want to gauge the amount of traffic their clients\u2019 websites have.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Google Search Console<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/search.google.com\/search-console\/\">Google Search Console<\/a> is another popular tool SEOs in agencies use to gauge performance.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It allows you\u00a0to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>View how often your site appears in Google Search and which search queries it shows for, and how often searchers click through for those queries.<\/li>\n<li>Get a breakdown of websites that link to your\u00a0site.<\/li>\n<li>See if Google can find and crawl your\u00a0site.<\/li>\n<li>Fix indexing problems and request reindexing of new or updated content.<\/li>\n<li>Receive alerts when Google encounters issues on your\u00a0site.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Google Looker Studio (formerly known as Google Data Studio)<\/h3>\n<p>Like rank tracking, reporting on the progress of your SEO campaign is important for agencies of all\u00a0sizes.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Tools like <a href=\"https:\/\/lookerstudio.google.com\/\">Google Looker Studio<\/a> (GLS) allow them to do several things:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Aggregate multiple data sets <\/strong>\u2013 GA, GSC, and Ahrefs data can be integrated into one dashboard.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Create scheduled reports <\/strong>\u2013 Schedule PDF reports to be sent to them and other stakeholders.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.ahrefs.com\/docs\/data-studio\/introduction\">Data Studio documentation<\/a> for more information on setting up the Ahrefs integration.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Google Trends<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1472\" height=\"1446\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image11-1.png\" alt=\"Spring Equinox &quot;Interest Over Time&quot; data, via Google Trends&#10;\" class=\"wp-image-156983\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image11-1.png 1472w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image11-1-433x425.png 433w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image11-1-768x754.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1472px) 100vw, 1472px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1472\" height=\"1446\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image11-1.png\" alt=\"Spring Equinox &quot;Interest Over Time&quot; data, via Google Trends&#10;\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-156983\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image11-1.png 1472w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image11-1-433x425.png 433w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image11-1-768x754.png 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1472px) 100vw, 1472px\"\/><\/figure>\n<p>Every keyword you search for in Google has a search trend. Agencies will spot-check these trends by typing them into <a href=\"https:\/\/trends.google.com\/home\">Google Trends<\/a>. It helps to give an idea of whether a keyword is worth targeting.<\/p>\n<p>Agencies use Google Trends to visualize specific keywords\u2019 rising or diminishing popularity.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Google Colaboratory\u00a0<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1102\" height=\"1506\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image5-6.jpg\" alt=\"Google Colaboratory in action&#10;\" class=\"wp-image-156985\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image5-6.jpg 1102w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image5-6-311x425.jpg 311w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image5-6-768x1050.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1102px) 100vw, 1102px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1102\" height=\"1506\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image5-6.jpg\" alt=\"Google Colaboratory in action&#10;\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-156985\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image5-6.jpg 1102w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image5-6-311x425.jpg 311w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image5-6-768x1050.jpg 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1102px) 100vw, 1102px\"\/><\/figure>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/colab.research.google.com\/\">Google Colaboratory<\/a> (Collab) is one of the tools that SEOs use to run <a href=\"https:\/\/www.python.org\/\">Python<\/a> scripts.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Although you can run Python code in different ways, getting sign-off to run Python on your work laptop is often more trouble than it\u2019s\u00a0worth.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Using a third-party tool like Collab enables you to bypass this restriction (in most cases) and run your favorite Python scripts, increasing your efficiency and automating the mundane.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Google PageSpeed Insights<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1172\" height=\"888\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image17-3.png\" alt=\"CWV assessment for Ahrefs, via Google PageSpeed Insights&#10;\" class=\"wp-image-156987\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image17-3.png 1172w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image17-3-561x425.png 561w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image17-3-768x582.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1172px) 100vw, 1172px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1172\" height=\"888\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image17-3.png\" alt=\"CWV assessment for Ahrefs, via Google PageSpeed Insights&#10;\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-156987\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image17-3.png 1172w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image17-3-561x425.png 561w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image17-3-768x582.png 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1172px) 100vw, 1172px\"\/><\/figure>\n<p>Site speed has been a hot topic for a few years now. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thinkwithgoogle.com\/marketing-strategies\/app-and-mobile\/mobile-page-speed-conversion-data\/\">Google estimated<\/a> that for every one-second delay in mobile page load, conversions could fall up to\u00a020%.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>One of the tools agency SEOs use to measure page speed and <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/core-web-vitals\/\">Core Web Vitals<\/a> is <a href=\"https:\/\/pagespeed.web.dev\/\">Google PageSpeed Insights<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>There are other tools agencies use, such\u00a0as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.webpagetest.org\/\"><strong>Webpagetest.org<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Great for comparing site speed vs. competitors\u2019.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/gtmetrix.com\/\"><strong>GTmetrix<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Good all-around tool for checking site\u00a0speed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>With so many <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/seo-chrome-extensions\/\">SEO Chrome extensions<\/a>, it\u2019s hard to know which ones to use. These are the extensions most shared in agencies I\u2019ve worked in.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It may seem unconventional that agencies use free Chrome extensions, but it comes back to\u00a0speed.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>These types of extensions help you to identify issues quickly. You can always return to the issues later for further analysis if needed.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Chrome DevTools<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1184\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image4-4.png\" alt=\"Data on Ahrefs, via Chrome DevTools on ahrefs.com&#10;\" class=\"wp-image-156989\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image4-4.png 1999w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image4-4-680x403.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image4-4-768x455.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image4-4-1536x910.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1184\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image4-4.png\" alt=\"Data on Ahrefs, via Chrome DevTools on ahrefs.com&#10;\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-156989\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image4-4.png 1999w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image4-4-680x403.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image4-4-768x455.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image4-4-1536x910.png 1536w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\"\/><\/figure>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/developer.chrome.com\/docs\/devtools\/overview\/\">Chrome DevTools<\/a> is another useful tool for most agency SEOs that\u2019s worth taking a look\u00a0at.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Although extensions, plugins, and software can help you spot-check the data quickly, you need to go into the code to understand what is happening. This is where Chrome DevTools can be really useful.<\/p>\n<p>As agencies use various tools, they often dream of simplifying their tool setups into one single platform. Several \u201cmiddle-ware\u201d solutions can help you achieve this:<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Supermetrics<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1458\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image7-5.png\" alt=\"Supermetrics connectors, via Supermetrics&#10;\" class=\"wp-image-156991\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image7-5.png 1999w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image7-5-583x425.png 583w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image7-5-768x560.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image7-5-1536x1120.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1458\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image7-5.png\" alt=\"Supermetrics connectors, via Supermetrics&#10;\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-156991\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image7-5.png 1999w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image7-5-583x425.png 583w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image7-5-768x560.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image7-5-1536x1120.png 1536w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\"\/><\/figure>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/supermetrics.com\/\">Supermetrics<\/a> is a paid software tool that allows you to integrate data from 100+ platforms together. This enables you to increase your agency\u2019s efficiency\u2014specifically with SEO reporting.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Zapier\u00a0<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"952\" height=\"932\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image10-5.png\" alt=\"Example of Zapier tasks\" class=\"wp-image-156992\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image10-5.png 952w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image10-5-434x425.png 434w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image10-5-768x752.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 952px) 100vw, 952px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"952\" height=\"932\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image10-5.png\" alt=\"Example of Zapier tasks\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-156992\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image10-5.png 952w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image10-5-434x425.png 434w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image10-5-768x752.png 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 952px) 100vw, 952px\"\/><\/figure>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/zapier.com\/\">Zapier<\/a> is another useful tool that automates interactions between different software tools.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>This is particularly useful for automating repetitive tasks. Another benefit is that it is a no-code tool, so you don\u2019t need any development experience to set up the automation.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1290\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image19-2.png\" alt=\"Time tracking, via Hubstaff&#10;\" class=\"wp-image-156993\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image19-2.png 1999w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image19-2-659x425.png 659w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image19-2-768x496.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image19-2-1536x991.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1290\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image19-2.png\" alt=\"Time tracking, via Hubstaff&#10;\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-156993\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image19-2.png 1999w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image19-2-659x425.png 659w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image19-2-768x496.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image19-2-1536x991.png 1536w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\"\/><\/figure>\n<p>As an SEO agency, you and your team must keep track of your\u00a0time.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Every agency I\u2019ve worked at has used a different time-tracking tool, and there doesn\u2019t seem to be much consensus on which is the \u201cbest\u00a0one.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>So here are a few examples of time-tracking software I\u2019ve used in agencies:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/hubstaff.com\/\"><strong>Hubstaff<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 A great all-around time-tracking system.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/toggl.com\/\"><strong>Toggl<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Popular with smaller agencies.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeneye.com\/\"><strong>Timeneye<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 A simple and easy-to-use time tracker.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sap.com\/uk\/products\/hcm\/employee-time-tracking-software.html\"><strong>SAP<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Comprehensive time-tracking solution.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewbox=\"0 0 14 14\" style=\"\"><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\"\/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style=\"\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><\/p>\n<p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Task and project management<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The most efficient SEO teams will have their methods to organize and distribute tasks among their team members.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Although you can do this in a humble spreadsheet, software tools can\u00a0help.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>All of the below are great, and I have seen them used in agencies effectively.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.atlassian.com\/software\/trello\"><strong>Trello<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Basic Kanban board functionality with simple and effective project management.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/\"><strong>ClickUp<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Useful to keep your team on track with progress and break down\u00a0tasks.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/monday.com\/\"><strong>Monday<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Easy-to-use task management tool with no-code automation built\u00a0in.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.atlassian.com\/software\/confluence\"><strong>Confluence<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Team workspace useful for agencies working with clients to track progress on shared goals.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/basecamp.com\/\"><strong>Basecamp<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 One of the easiest-to-use task management platforms around.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewbox=\"0 0 14 14\" style=\"\"><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\"\/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style=\"\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><\/p>\n<p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Team and client meetings<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>SEO agencies have lots of clients, and the reality is they will all have their preferred method of getting in contact with\u00a0you.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Microsoft Teams<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1206\" height=\"1552\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image1-4.jpg\" alt=\"Microsoft Teams landing page, via microsoft.com\" class=\"wp-image-156995\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image1-4.jpg 1206w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image1-4-330x425.jpg 330w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image1-4-768x988.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image1-4-1194x1536.jpg 1194w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1206px) 100vw, 1206px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1206\" height=\"1552\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image1-4.jpg\" alt=\"Microsoft Teams landing page, via microsoft.com\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-156995\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image1-4.jpg 1206w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image1-4-330x425.jpg 330w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image1-4-768x988.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image1-4-1194x1536.jpg 1194w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1206px) 100vw, 1206px\"\/><\/figure>\n<p>When it comes to remote meetings, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-gb\/microsoft-teams\/group-chat-software\">Microsoft Teams<\/a> is the <em>de facto<\/em> standard for SEO agencies in terms of client-agency communication.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>This is because signing off on a Microsoft product with the IT department in most agencies is generally much easier.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"604\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image6-5.png\" alt=\"Microsoft 365 apps, via microsoft.com&#10;\" class=\"wp-image-156997\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image6-5.png 1999w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image6-5-680x205.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image6-5-768x232.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image6-5-1536x464.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"604\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image6-5.png\" alt=\"Microsoft 365 apps, via microsoft.com&#10;\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-156997\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image6-5.png 1999w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image6-5-680x205.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image6-5-768x232.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image6-5-1536x464.png 1536w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\"\/><\/figure>\n<p>The most used software suite by far for agency SEOs is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.office.com\/\">Microsoft Office<\/a> (now known as Microsoft 365).\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Yes\u2014it\u2019s not the most exciting piece of software. But it\u2019s been a constant presence throughout my agency career.<\/p>\n<p>The key products SEO agencies use in Microsoft 365\u00a0are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Microsoft Outlook<\/strong> \u2013 Send and receive emails.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Microsoft Excel<\/strong> \u2013 Analyze data from your SEO campaigns.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Microsoft Word<\/strong> \u2013 Prepare documents for your SEO campaigns.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Microsoft PowerPoint<\/strong> \u2013 Create presentations, reports, and pitch decks for your clients or prospective clients.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you are working with clients, they\u2019ll expect you to have access to this software.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sidenote\">\n<p>Sidenote.<\/p>\n<p> Google offers software that mirrors the functionality of Microsoft 365 for free. There is nothing wrong with the Google software option. But on the whole, agencies still prefer to use Microsoft 365.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewbox=\"0 0 14 14\" style=\"\"><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\"\/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style=\"\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><\/p>\n<p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9. Working with freelancers<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Working with freelancers in an agency setting is becoming more common. You can manage them through day-to-day task management and existing HR tools, but some agencies prefer to keep them separate.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>If you are working with freelancers at scale, you may need a platform to manage them.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lano<\/h3>\n<p>Tools like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lano.io\/\">Lano<\/a> enable you to manage freelancers, e.g., allowing you to pay your remote contractors easily.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"829\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image9-4.jpg\" alt=\"Lano features, via lano.io&#10;\" class=\"wp-image-156999\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image9-4.jpg 1999w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image9-4-680x282.jpg 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image9-4-768x318.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image9-4-1536x637.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"829\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image9-4.jpg\" alt=\"Lano features, via lano.io&#10;\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-156999\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image9-4.jpg 1999w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image9-4-680x282.jpg 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image9-4-768x318.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image9-4-1536x637.jpg 1536w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\"\/><\/figure>\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewbox=\"0 0 14 14\" style=\"\"><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\"\/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style=\"\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><\/p>\n<p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">10. Contracts and recurring payments<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1184\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image18-2.png\" alt=\"DocuSign example contract, via DocuSign&#10;\" class=\"wp-image-157001\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image18-2.png 1999w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image18-2-680x403.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image18-2-768x455.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image18-2-1536x910.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1184\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image18-2.png\" alt=\"DocuSign example contract, via DocuSign&#10;\" class=\"lazyload wp-image-157001\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image18-2.png 1999w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image18-2-680x403.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image18-2-768x455.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/image18-2-1536x910.png 1536w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\"\/><\/figure>\n<p>Once your agency has won a new client, you must create a contract and set a recurring billing schedule.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s how agencies of different sizes approach it:<\/p>\n<p>Many of the larger agencies will use purchase orders (POs). In the past, I\u2019ve used tools such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mediaocean.com\/media-buying-software-prisma\">Mediaocean\u2019s Prisma<\/a> to book these\u00a0in.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>For smaller agencies, it\u2019s more likely they\u2019ll use something like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.docusign.com\/\">DocuSign<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/stripe.com\/billing\">Stripe<\/a>, but every agency will have its preferred methods.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final thoughts<\/h2>\n<p>Access to the best software is vital for agencies; without this, they can\u2019t advise their clients effectively and efficiently.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Got questions? Ping me <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/chris_at_b449\">on Twitter<\/a> \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/seo-agency-software\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here\u2019s my selection of the software that SEO agencies use to get their work done and manage their teams successfully. Accurate data is important for SEO agencies to make good decisions. As a result, every agency I\u2019ve worked for over the past 10 years has had access to Ahrefs.\u00a0 So when it comes to providing [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2151,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2150","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-seo"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ewebtoolz.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2150","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ewebtoolz.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ewebtoolz.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ewebtoolz.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ewebtoolz.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2150"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ewebtoolz.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2150\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ewebtoolz.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2151"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ewebtoolz.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2150"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ewebtoolz.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2150"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ewebtoolz.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2150"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}