Adrian
Table of Contents
- Introduction to Ahrefs
- My Personal Experience with Ahrefs
- Key Features of Ahrefs
- The Site Explorer
- Keyword Explorer
- Site Audit
- Pricing
- Content Explorer
- Free SEO Tools
- My Verdict on Ahrefs
- How Many Cups of Coffee?
- FAQs
Introduction to Ahrefs
If you're serious about SEO, you've probably heard of Ahrefs. But what is Ahrefs, and what does Ahrefs stand for? Ahrefs is a powerful SEO tool that helps you analyze your website's performance, find the best keywords, and spy on your competitors….no, not quite, more like track what keywords your competiors rank for 😉 The brand stands for "Ahrefs," which is a term derived from the "a href" HTML tag used for hyperlinks. Simply put, Ahrefs is like a Swiss Army knife for SEO experts.
My Personal Experience with Ahrefs
I've been using Ahrefs for a while now, and I have to say, it's turned something as boring as SEO into something super exciting. Prior to using Ahrefs, I considered SEO somewhat tedious. But with its intuitive interface, detailed reports, and helpful resources, Ahrefs has made SEO fun and made me into an SEO nerd 🤓 They have a ton of informative videos on their YouTube channel and easy-to-follow guides on their blog. I'm also super excited they introduced the Starter Plan at just $29 per month, making it more accessible for everyone. Honestly, I wish I had a T-shirt from them 👕—I'm that big of a fan 👍
Key Features of Ahrefs
I want to showcase some of the key features that Ahrefs offers.
The Site Explorer
The Site Explorer tool is one of my favorites. It lets you take a deep dive into any website or URL, giving you insights into backlinks, organic search traffic, and paid search traffic. Want to know where your competitors are getting their backlinks? Or which keywords are driving the most traffic to their site? Site Explorer is a very useful feature to use.
Keyword Explorer
Next up is the Keyword Explorer. This tool helps you find and target the right keywords for your content. It shows you the search volume, keyword difficulty, and even the click-through rate for any keyword. Plus, it gives you tons of keyword suggestions, so you'll never run out of ideas.
Site Audit
The site audit scans your website for technical SEO issues, from broken links to duplicate content. It then provides you with a detailed report and actionable recommendations to fix these issues. So if technical SEO, or as some call it On-Page SEO, is your thing, this feature is for you.
Pricing
So, how much is ahrefs? Ahrefs uses a usage-based pricing model, which means you pay for what you use in the form of credits. This is great for small businesses and freelancers who may not need all the features that larger companies do.
The Starter Plan is a fantastic option at $29 per month, giving you access to most of the essential tools without breaking the bank. More details about their Starter Plan can be found here. 🧐 But….be mindful of usage: Ahrefs' usage-based pricing is flexible, but you need to watch what you click on. Every action, like running a site audit or looking up keywords, uses credits. If you're not careful, you might run out of credits fast and end up paying more. It's a good idea to get to know the tools and plan your tasks well to get the most out of your subscription without wasting credits.
Content Explorer
The Content Explorer is another awesome feature. It lets you discover the most shared and linked-to content in your niche. Just enter a keyword or topic, and Content Explorer will show you the top-performing articles, complete with social shares and backlink data. It's perfect for finding inspiration and understanding what type of content resonates with your audience.
Free SEO Tools
Ahrefs also offers free SEO tools, like the Ahrefs Webmaster Tools, which provide basic site audits and backlink analysis. If you're on a tight budget, these free tools can be a great starting point. The free Ahrefs SEO tools can be found in the footer of their homepage:
My Verdict on Ahrefs
Ahrefs is an amazing tool for anyone serious about SEO. With features like Site Explorer, Keyword Explorer, Site Audit, and Content Explorer, it offers everything you need to boost your website's performance. Its usage-based pricing model and the introduction of the Starter Plan make it accessible to both small businesses and larger enterprises. If you're ready to take your SEO game to the next level, Ahrefs is the way to go. But at the end of the day, you need to understand the principles of SEO in order to use this tool. If you’re still a beginner in SEO, check out my article on Ubersuggest.
How Many Cups of Coffee?
Using my coffee cup expense metric, it'll take you about ☕️☕️☕️☕️ cups of coffee to get going with Ahrefs.
FAQs
What is Ahrefs used for?
Ahrefs is used for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) purposes. It helps users track and analyze their website's performance, find top-performing keywords, and discover opportunities for link building. If you are intermediate to a pro in SEO, Ahrefs is amazing 🤩
Is Ahrefs Free?
Ahrefs offers some limited free tools, but the full suite is not free. However, the value you get from even the basic plan is worth every penny (assuming you understand SEO).
How Much Does Ahrefs Cost?
The Starter Plan costs $29 per month, but there are more advanced plans that go up to $14’999 per month, depending on your needs. To find out more, visit their pricing page here.
How to Get Ahrefs for Free?
You can't get the full version of Ahrefs for free. But they do offer a ton of amazing, free stuff about SEO on their blog or Youtube channel. Also, the Ahrefs Webmaster Tools offer some free functionalities, which can be useful for beginners.
When will my site rank on Google?
Getting your site to rank on Google can take a bit. It relies on how competitive your keywords are, how good your content is, and how powerful your site's domain is. By regularly posting quality content, you might start seeing results in about 3 to 6 months. For more insights, read our guide on how long it takes to rank on Google.