Surfer SEO Review: The Best On-Page SEO Tool to Help You Rank Higher

Are you struggling to rank higher on search engines and drive more organic traffic to your website?

If so, you’re not alone.

Staying ahead of the competition and getting your content noticed with the ever-changing search algorithms can be challenging.

That’s why Sufer SEO is there. In very simple terms, Surfer SEO tells you how your content should look based on the insights it provides.

In this Surfer SEO review, we’ll dive deep into its features, discuss its pros and cons, and compare it to other popular SEO tools.

By the end of this review, you’ll clearly understand how Surfer SEO can help you rank higher and optimize your SEO content for maximum impact.

Let’s get started!

What is Surfer SEO

Before understanding the Surfer SEO, let’s first understand what problem it solves by an example. You want to write a blog on “ai writing tools“. With the keyword itself, the first-hand idea outline that you might have is like this.

  • Introduction
  • Popular AI writing tools
  • Pros and Cons of AI writing tools.
  • How AI Writing Tools are Changing the Writing Industry
  • Future of AI writing tools
  • Conclusion

The problem with this is that you never know whether this will rank.

This is where Surfer SEO comes in. It takes the guesswork out of SEO, making it easier for you to create high-quality content that ranks well in search results. Under the hood, it uses Machine learning (Specifically NLP) to analyze and understand ranking pages for that keyword.

Based on this knowledge, it generates recommendations such as content score, word count, paragraph count, etc. which you can use in writing the content.

Surfer SEO Features: What Makes It Stand Out?

Surfer SEO offers a range of features that can help you enhance your on-page SEO game. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most significant ones.

1. Content Editor

The Content Editor is one of the main reasons I love Surfer SEO. It helps you optimize your content by analyzing your target keyword and suggesting the ideal word count, keyword usage, and other on-page factors to improve your content’s SEO.

As you write your content, the Content Editor provides real-time suggestions for optimization. This means you can focus on creating quality content while Surfer handles SEO.

I’ve found that using the Content Editor has saved me time and helped me create better-optimized content, which has led to higher rankings in search results.

For example, I searched for the keyword “godaddy vps hosting” and Surfer SEO provided the following information.

Surfer SEO Content Editor
Surfer SEO Content Editor

This dictates how your content should be structured, what terms you should use, and how many images are optimal.

It calculates this data by following steps:

  • Identify ranking pages for the given keyword.
  • Assign every page a content score using NLP.
  • Calculate the terms (N-grams) and the other information on all those pages.

2. Keyword Research

The Keyword Research feature in Surfer SEO is another gem. We all know how crucial keyword research is for SEO success.

Why is that? It provides keyword suggestions based on topical authority.

Surfer’s keyword research tool helps you identify your content’s most relevant and valuable keyword clusters. You can think of a separate post for every keyword that is recommended. This helps you achieve topical authority and improve your ranking.

Here is an example where I entered “jasper ai” in the keyword research, and Surfer provided me with the topic ideas as specified in the image below.

Surfer SEO Keyword Research
Surfer SEO Keyword Research

See how easy it is to generate the topic ideas for the main keyword.

It provides essential information such as search volume, keyword difficulty, and more, allowing you to make informed decisions when choosing your target keywords.

I personally use Ahrefs + Surfer for doing keyword research. I use Surfer to come up with 100’s of keyword idea that are semantically related and analyze them using Ahrefs in one go. This helps me to save Ahrefs credits plus which in-turn allows me to do more keyword research.

3. SERP Analyzer

The SERP Analyzer is another fantastic feature in Surfer SEO. It allows you to analyze the top-ranking pages for your target keyword and provides insights into what makes them successful.

Examining the top-ranking pages allows you to identify patterns and trends to implement in your content. This helps you to create content that is more likely to rank higher in search results.

The SERP Analyzer is a valuable tool for understanding my competition and adjusting my content strategy accordingly.

Surfer SEO SERP Analyzer
Surfer SEO SERP Analyze

Let’s understand this as well with an example. In the above image, I have entered the search query as the elastic beanstalk, and the SERP analyzer shows the line graph of word count. Now, on the left side, all the possible dimensions that can be visualized are present.

So, I have selected 3 dimensions named word count, surfer content, and backlinks to see if there is any correlation between them, and guess what “Yes, there is”.

In the SERP results 1-20, word count directly correlates with surfer content score and backlinks, meaning the top pages have more backlinks, surfer content score, and word count.

4. Surfer Audit

The features we looked for are helpful when optimizing the new content. But what if you want to optimize the existing content? That’s where the surfer audit comes in.

The Audit tool comprehensively analyzes your website’s on-page and off-page SEO factors, highlighting areas that need improvement. It also provides actionable recommendations on optimizing your website to improve its search engine visibility.

Surfer SEO Surfer Audit
Surfer SEO Surfer Audit

Here is the Surfer Audit for the subnet calculator that I have created. So based on this, it has suggested improvements in the page title and meta descriptions. My title has 38 characters per the suggestions, but the suggested range is 55-70.

Surfer SEO Surfer Audit
Surfer SEO Surfer Audit

Integrations

1. Jasper AI

Though the Surfer SEO does not provide any AI writing, it provides integration to Jasper AI. This combination is very strong as you can use Jasper AI to write the AI content and use Surfer SEO to optimize that content.

You must enable SEO Mode in Jasper AI to access Surfer SEO’s content planner.

2. WordPress

Can you imagine an SEO tool without WordPress?

Surfer provides direct integration with the WordPress, allowing you to edit the content in Surfer’s editor and automatically populate it in WordPress, so you don’t need to do manual copy-pasting.

3. Chrome Extension

The Surfer SEO Chrome extension is a handy tool that lets you access Surfer’s key features directly from your browser. With the extension, you can analyze any page you visit and receive instant insights and recommendations.

By using the Surfer SEO Chrome extension, I’ve been able to quickly analyze pages and gather valuable information, helping me create more competitive and well-optimized content.

The Surfer SEO Chrome extension has become indispensable to my daily workflow. It allows me to quickly analyze web pages and identify areas for improvement, all without leaving my browser.

Surfer SEO Pros: What do we like about Surfer?

As someone who has tried multiple SEO tools in the past, I have a pretty good idea of what makes a great tool stand out. Here are some of the things I absolutely love about Surfer SEO

1. Ease of use: Surfer SEO offers an intuitive user interface that makes it easy for beginners and experts to navigate and use the tool effectively. The step-by-step guides and tutorials on the platform also make it simple to start.

2. Comprehensive features: Surfer SEO is an all-in-one SEO tool that covers almost every aspect of on-page optimization. This tool covers you from keyword research and content planning to SERP analysis and optimization. It’s rare to find a tool that offers such a wide range of features in one package.

3. Accurate data and insights: Surfer SEO’s data is reliable, providing valuable insights into keyword trends, search volume, and competitor analysis. These insights help you create well-optimized content that targets the right keywords and outranks your competition.

4. Constant updates and improvements: The team behind Surfer SEO is always working on updates and improvements to the platform, ensuring that users have access to the latest features and data. This commitment to continuous improvement sets Surfer SEO apart from other tools in the market.

Overall, Surfer SEO is a top-notch tool I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone looking to up their on-page SEO game.

Surfer SEO Alternatives: How Do They Compare?

While Surfer SEO is a powerful and user-friendly tool, it’s essential to explore other options in the market to ensure you make the best choice for your needs. Let’s examine how Surfer SEO stacks against two popular alternatives, Neuronwriter and Marketmuse.

Surfer SEOMarketmuseNeuronwriter
PointsComprehensive on-page SEO optimization Real-time content editor with keyword suggestions Keyword research tool SERP Analyzer Chrome extensionAI-driven content analysis Content optimization based on target keywords Keyword research and topic suggestions Content planning and strategy toolsAI-generated content creation Content optimization based on target keywords
ProsUser-friendly interface Wide range of features Great for content optimization and analysisAI-driven content analysis and optimization Comprehensive content planning features Great for content strategy developmentSaves time with AI-generated content Content optimization features
ConsSurfer AI is expensive.It can be more expensive than Surfer SEO The steeper learning curve for new usersLimited features compared to Surfer SEO Less focus on in-depth SEO analysis

Surfer SEO Pricing

Surfer SEO pricing
Surfer SEO pricing

Surfer SEO offers three pricing plans to cater to different needs. The above pricing is based on monthly, not annually. Every plan includes all of the features, but the limits are different except for features such as API integration.

Essential ($89/month): Aimed at individuals and small teams. At $89, you get 15 content editor credits and space for 2 organization members. The value seems decent, especially for startups or solo bloggers looking to optimize content without breaking the bank.

Advanced ($179/month): Mid-sized teams and experts might find value here. With 45 content editor credits and 5 organization seats, it feels like a balanced package for its price.

Max ($299/month): Targeted at larger teams and agencies. This package boasts 90 content editor credits, 10 organization seats, and includes all the add-ons. The price point might justify the extensive features if you’re handling bulk content and have a larger team.

Enterprise: This is a wild card. It’s custom-tailored for big agencies and enterprises. The pricing isn’t standard, but it offers unlimited organization seats, a dedicated customer success manager, and all available add-ons. A potential game-changer for big players, but you’d have to contact sales to get a specific quote.

In my opinion, Surfer SEO is worth the investment if you’re serious about improving your content’s on-page SEO and rankings. Its range of features and tools and user-friendly interface make it a valuable asset for content creators, SEO professionals, and businesses.

Compared to its alternatives, Surfer SEO offers a competitive pricing structure and comprehensive features that can help you achieve better results with your content strategy.

How to Use Surfer SEO

Using Surfer SEO for optimization is simple and straightforward. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

1. Sign up and log in: First, sign up for a Surfer SEO account and choose a pricing plan that suits your needs.
2. Access the Content Editor: In the Surfer SEO dashboard, click “Content Editor” to optimize your content.
3. Enter your target keyword: Input the main keyword you want to target for your content. Surfer SEO will then analyze the top-ranking pages for that keyword and provide optimization suggestions.
4. Review the keyword suggestions: Surfer SEO will list suggested keywords, their frequency, and their prominence. Use these suggestions to include relevant keywords in your content naturally.
5. Use the real-time content editor: Write or paste your content into the editor, and Surfer SEO will provide real-time feedback on your content’s optimization. Follow the recommendations to improve your content’s SEO score.
6. Analyze your content with the SERP Analyzer: Use the SERP Analyzer tool to analyze your content’s performance in the search results and identify areas for improvement.
7. Install the Chrome extension: To make optimization even more convenient, install the Surfer SEO Chrome extension to receive optimization suggestions while writing content in Google Docs.

Tips for success:

1. Focus on providing value to your readers and incorporating keywords naturally.
2. Don’t over-optimize the content; it’s essential to maintain readability and user experience. I would suggest optimizing till the score of 70.
3. Utilize Surfer SEO’s other features, like Keyword Research and SERP Analyzer, to gain insights and refine your content strategy.

FAQs

1. Is Surfer SEO suitable for beginners? Absolutely! Surfer SEO offers a user-friendly interface and step-by-step guides, making it perfect for SEO newbies and experts.

2. Can Surfer SEO help with local SEO? Surfer SEO can assist with local SEO by optimizing content for location-specific keywords and providing insights on local search trends.

Conclusion: Why Surfer SEO Is the Best On-Page SEO Tool on the Market

After an in-depth review, it’s clear that Surfer SEO stands out as one of the best on-page SEO tools available. Its comprehensive feature set, user-friendly interface, and competitive pricing provide everything you need to optimize your content and improve your search engine rankings.

Surfer SEO’s Content Editor, Keyword Research, and SERP Analyzer tools, combined with the convenience of the Chrome extension, make it a powerful asset for content creators, SEO professionals, and businesses.

In summary, my experience using Surfer SEO has been nothing short of amazing. I have been using it for a couple of months, and it has become the go-to on-page SEO tool. I highly recommend trying and experiencing the difference it can make in your SEO efforts.

In conclusion, Surfer SEO is worth the investment if you’re looking for an effective way to optimize your content, boost your rankings, and achieve better results with your content strategy.