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SEO Tools checks your website, tells you what to improve so it shows up better in Google and other search engines, and tracks how your keywords are doing. It's a do-it-yourself tool: it gives you a plan, and you (or whoever looks after your website) make the changes. It doesn't change your website itself.
Opening your SEO dashboard
- Sign in to the client area and go to My Services.
- Click your SEO Tools service. (If you added it to a hosting plan, open the hosting plan and find it under Addons.)
- Use the log-in button on its page. The SEO dashboard opens already signed in.
It works with any website, wherever it's hosted and whatever it's built with.
Your first report and plan
When you first sign in, your website is scanned and you get a report with a score and a step-by-step plan of tasks. The first scan can take a little while; come back later if the report isn't ready.
Work through the tasks from the top: they're in order of importance, and each one explains what to change and why. Tick them off as you go, and the plan updates as your site is re-scanned (weekly on Lite, daily on Pro).
Adding keywords and competitors
Keywords are the searches you want to be found for, such as plumber in Newark. Competitors are other websites you want to compare yourself with. Add them in the dashboard and your positions are tracked over time.
| Plan | Pages scanned | Keywords | Competitors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lite | 50 | 3 | 2 |
| Pro | 1,000 | 20 | 4 |
Choose keywords people really type, with your town or area where it matters. Very general ones (such as plumber) are hard to rank for and tell you little.
Connecting Google Analytics
If your website uses Google Analytics, connect it in the dashboard so your visitor numbers appear alongside your SEO progress. You'll be asked to sign in to the Google account that owns your Analytics.
Titles and descriptions
The dashboard can suggest page titles and descriptions (the text that shows in search results) for your pages. Treat them as a starting point: check each one reads well and is accurate for your business before you copy it into your website.
Your monthly report
Each month you're emailed a progress report showing your score, your keyword positions and what's changed. You can also download a PDF report from the dashboard at any time.
Common problems
"My site isn't scanning"
Check your website opens normally in a browser at the address in the dashboard, including whether it starts with www or not. A site that's password-protected, still under construction or blocking search engines can't be scanned. If it still won't scan, contact our support team.
"None of my keywords are ranking"
That's normal at the start, especially for a new website. Search positions take weeks or months to move. Keep working through the plan; the report shows when your keywords start to appear.