Surfer SEO Review 2024: Honest Insights

In this Surfer SEO Review 2023, we’re diving deep into the world of on-page SEO and its vital role in optimizing your website’s performance. 

Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, is like a compass for your website, guiding it through the vast digital landscape. To ensure your website thrives, you need both on-page and off-page SEO strategies working hand in hand. 

But for now, let’s focus on the main topic – Surfer SEO, the on-page SEO tool that’s making waves in the digital marketing domain.

But what exactly is on-page SEO? It’s the art of optimizing individual web pages to rank higher and earn more organic traffic. Imagine your website is a book, and each page is a chapter. 

On-page SEO is like fine-tuning the content, structure, and elements of each chapter so that it’s both reader-friendly and search engine-friendly. It involves tweaking elements such as meta tags, headings, keyword placement, and content quality. 

Essentially, it ensures that your website’s pages are not only informative but also easily discoverable by search engines like Google.

Now, let’s not forget about off-page SEO. This is like the book’s reputation in the world – how others perceive it. 

Off-page SEO is all about building your website’s authority and credibility in the eyes of search engines and users. It involves activities like link building, social media engagement, and online reputation management. 

Off-page SEO is what tells search engines that your website is a trusted source of information.

Additionally, there’s technical SEO, which is like maintaining the book’s spine and ensuring it’s sturdy. 

Technical SEO focuses on the backend of your website, optimizing things like website speed, mobile-friendliness, and site architecture. It’s the foundation that supports your on-page and off-page SEO efforts.

In this Surfer SEO review, we’ll explore how this tool can help you master the art of on-page SEO, ultimately contributing to the success of your overall SEO strategy. 

Keep reading as we discuss Surfer SEO’s features, benefits, and how it fits into the broader SEO landscape.

Surfer SEO does just what its name says – it helps make your web content better for search engines. It’s great for creating new SEO-friendly content and improving the stuff you already have.

They use it at DemandSage, along with other tools like Semrush.

When you work with Surfer, it checks more than 500 things on your page at once. It looks at stuff like TF-IDF, meta titles, alt tags, LSI, and NLP. It may sound a bit technical, but it’s not that bad.

Instead of guessing what will make your page rank higher on Google, Surfer SEO gives you real data. It’s like having a roadmap to SEO success.

But remember, while it’s good for keywords, other tools like Ahrefs and Semrush might be better for keyword research.

Let’s learn more about this tool.

What is Surfer SEO and what does it do? 

 

Surfer is an important tool for optimizing written content, making it a go-to choice for those seeking higher search engine rankings.

This tool scrutinizes your content against a vast array of on-page signals, more than 500 to be precise.

In addition to this, it provides you with a helpful keyword research tool.

In practice, conducting a Surfer SEO review involves writing a blog post or article and then using the Surfer tool to analyze the top-ranking pages for your target keyword, “Surfer SEO review.”

By comparing your content to these high-performing pages, you can identify areas for improvement and optimization.

The concept is straightforward but highly effective: the pages appearing on the first search results page have already demonstrated their SEO prowess.

By aligning your on-page SEO practices with those of your competitors, as highlighted in your Surfer SEO review, you significantly enhance your chances of securing a coveted position among the top search results.

Surfer SEO is a robust content optimization tool that empowers you to fine-tune your content for SEO success.

Its ability to dissect top-ranking pages and offer actionable insights makes it a must-have resource for content creators and SEO enthusiasts. Conducting a Surfer SEO review is a smart step toward boosting your online visibility.

Now, let’s explore the actual features of Surfer SEO as per pricing plan.

 

 

Essential

 

“ESSENTIAL” is a package offered by Surfer SEO tailored for individuals and small teams with relatively modest content requirements. Priced at $69 per month when billed annually, this option not only provides an accessible entry point into SEO optimization but also offers a significant savings of $240 per year compared to monthly billing.

This package includes several key features and benefits that can make a meaningful impact on your SEO efforts:

• 180 Content Editor Articles Per Year: With the “ESSENTIAL” plan, you gain access to the Content Editor, a powerful tool that helps you optimize your written content for search engines. This plan grants you the capability to create and optimize up to 180 articles per year using Surfer’s Content Editor. This can be especially useful for bloggers, content marketers, and small businesses aiming to maintain a consistent online presence.
• 2 Organization Seats: The plan accommodates two organization seats, making it ideal for small teams collaborating on content creation and SEO strategies. This feature ensures that your team members can work together seamlessly within the Surfer platform, streamlining your SEO optimization efforts.
• Unlimited Keyword Research: Keyword research is a fundamental aspect of any successful SEO strategy. With the “ESSENTIAL” plan, you have access to unlimited keyword research. This means you can explore a wide range of keywords related to your content, allowing you to identify valuable opportunities to enhance your online visibility.
• Google Docs Integration: Surfer SEO recognizes the importance of convenience and familiarity. With Google Docs integration, you can seamlessly incorporate Surfer’s functionality into your existing workflow. This integration allows you to optimize your content directly within the Google Docs platform, enhancing your efficiency and productivity.
• Jasper Integration: Jasper is a tool offered by Surfer SEO that focuses on backlink analysis. By integrating Jasper into your “ESSENTIAL” plan, you gain valuable insights into your backlink profile, helping you identify areas for improvement and growth in your link-building efforts.

ADVANCED

 

The “ADVANCED” plan offered by Surfer SEO is a comprehensive solution tailored for SEO experts and teams with consistent content needs. Priced at $149 per month when billed annually, this package provides substantial savings of $360 per year compared to monthly billing.

This plan is designed to cater to the specific requirements of seasoned SEO professionals and teams who are committed to optimizing their content for improved search engine rankings. Let’s delve into the details of what the “ADVANCED” plan encompasses:

• 540 Content Editor Articles Per Year: A standout feature of the “ADVANCED” plan is the generous allocation of 540 Content Editor articles per year. This allows you to create, optimize, and fine-tune a significant volume of content to align with your SEO goals. Whether you’re managing multiple websites or executing an extensive content strategy, this plan provides ample resources to support your efforts.
• 5 Organization Seats: Recognizing the collaborative nature of SEO projects, the “ADVANCED” plan includes five organization seats. This feature enables your team to work together seamlessly within the Surfer platform. With multiple seats, team members can collaborate on content optimization, keyword research, and other crucial SEO tasks efficiently.
• Unlimited Keyword Research: Keyword research is the foundation of any successful SEO campaign. With unlimited keyword research included in this plan, you can conduct in-depth keyword analysis to identify high-impact keywords and uncover valuable opportunities within your niche. This capability empowers you to fine-tune your content strategy for maximum search engine visibility.
• Google Docs Integration: To enhance your workflow and streamline content optimization, the “ADVANCED” plan offers Google Docs integration. This integration allows you to seamlessly integrate Surfer’s capabilities into the Google Docs platform. As a result, you can optimize your content directly within the familiar Google Docs environment, saving time and improving productivity.
• Jasper Integration: Backlink analysis is a crucial aspect of SEO, and the “ADVANCED” plan extends its functionality by including Jasper integration. With Jasper, you gain access to valuable insights into your backlink profile. This information helps you make informed decisions regarding your link-building strategies, ultimately boosting your website’s authority and search engine rankings.

MAX

 

The “MAX” plan offered by Surfer SEO is a robust solution specifically designed to cater to agencies and teams with extensive content needs. Priced at $249 per month when billed annually, this plan provides substantial cost savings of $600 per year compared to monthly billing.

Let’s take a closer look at the comprehensive features and benefits included in the “MAX” plan, designed to empower agencies and content teams in their SEO endeavors:

• 1080 Content Editor Articles Per Year: The “MAX” plan stands out with its impressive allocation of 1080 Content Editor articles annually. This generous provision equips agencies and teams with the capacity to create and optimize a substantial volume of content. With this abundance of articles, you can comprehensively address the content optimization needs of multiple clients or websites.
• 10 Organization Seats: Collaboration is key in agency settings, and the “MAX” plan acknowledges this by providing ten organization seats. This feature ensures seamless teamwork within the Surfer platform, enabling team members to collaborate on content optimization, keyword research, and other critical SEO tasks effectively.
• All Benefits of Advanced: In addition to the features offered in the “ADVANCED” plan, the “MAX” plan encompasses all the advanced benefits. This means you have access to unlimited keyword research, Google Docs integration, and Jasper integration, which are essential components of a comprehensive SEO toolkit.
• All Add-Ons Included: The “MAX” plan goes above and beyond by including all available add-ons, enhancing your SEO capabilities. These add-ons include:
• Advanced Auditing: This feature allows you to perform comprehensive SEO audits on your websites, identifying areas for improvement and optimization.
• SERP Analyzer: With this tool, you can gain in-depth insights into search engine result pages (SERPs), helping you make informed decisions about your SEO strategies.
• Surfer API: The Surfer API enables you to integrate Surfer’s functionality into your existing systems and workflows, streamlining your SEO processes.
• Custom Branding: The ability to apply custom branding ensures that your agency’s identity remains prominent throughout your SEO reports and analyses, reinforcing your professional image.

ENTERPRISE

 

The “ENTERPRISE” plan offered by Surfer SEO is a highly customizable solution crafted to cater to the SEO growth needs of large agencies and enterprises. Unlike predefined plans, the “ENTERPRISE” plan is tailored to individual requirements and offers a flexible pricing structure. To avail of this plan, interested parties need to contact the Surfer SEO sales team to discuss and create a personalized plan that aligns with their specific needs and objectives.

Let’s explore the extensive features and benefits that the “ENTERPRISE” plan can provide to large agencies and enterprises looking to scale their SEO efforts:

• Custom Number of Articles: The “ENTERPRISE” plan allows clients to determine the precise number of articles they require based on their content strategy and objectives. This flexibility ensures that agencies and enterprises can accommodate their unique content demands.
• Unlimited Organization Seats: Collaboration is pivotal in large agencies and enterprises, and the “ENTERPRISE” plan recognizes this by providing unlimited organization seats. This feature empowers teams of varying sizes to work collaboratively within the Surfer platform, promoting seamless teamwork.
• All Benefits of MAX: In addition to offering the features found in the “MAX” plan, the “ENTERPRISE” plan extends all the advanced benefits. This includes unlimited keyword research, Google Docs integration, Jasper integration, and access to add-ons such as advanced auditing, SERP Analyzer, Surfer API, and custom branding.
• 100 Surfer AI Articles: The “ENTERPRISE” plan includes 100 Surfer AI articles, leveraging the power of artificial intelligence to create and optimize content. This feature enhances content production efficiency and quality.
• Dedicated Account Manager: Clients on the “ENTERPRISE” plan benefit from the support of a dedicated account manager. This professional serves as a primary point of contact, providing personalized assistance and guidance to ensure that the client’s SEO objectives are met.
• Priority Support: The plan also grants priority support, ensuring that any queries or issues are addressed promptly and efficiently, minimizing downtime and disruptions to SEO activities.
• Personalized Product Training: Clients receive personalized training sessions to ensure that they can effectively utilize the Surfer SEO platform’s full range of features and capabilities.
• Legal Assistance During Procurement: Large agencies and enterprises often require legal assistance during the procurement process. The “ENTERPRISE” plan includes legal support to navigate contractual and compliance matters seamlessly.

Surfer SEO SERP Analyzer – A Detailed Overview

 

Let’s get right to the point: the SERP Analyzer tool is the core component of Surfer SEO.

This SEO tool, for instance, offers a thorough breakdown of Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) for a specified keyword. Its purpose is to help you identify the connection between where web pages rank in the search results and the on-page factors.

To begin, you input the keyword you want to examine in the SERP. As an example, let’s use the keyword “Spotify Premium Free Trial.”

Once Surfer’s SERP Analyzer retrieves the data, it presents detailed information:

Surfer SEO Dives Deep into On-Page SEO Metrics

 

Do you know how Surfer SEO delves into various aspects of on-page SEO? It’s quiet simple! By providing extensive data, including:

• Average Word Count: It shows how long the content should be for a particular keyword.
• Keyword Density and Term Frequency: Details on how often keywords appear.
• Long Tail and Partial Match Keywords: Identifies variations for better optimization.
• Keyword-Related Questions: Highlights questions linked to the keyword.
• Page Speed: Evaluate how quickly the page loads.
• Time To First Byte: Measures server response time.
• Structured Data: Look at the page’s structured data.
• Hidden Content: Detects concealed content on the page.
• Links to Competitors: Check if there are no links to top-ranking competitors.
• Meta-Title, Meta Descriptions, Image Alt Tags: Analyze these elements.
• Search Visibility: Assesses visibility for URLs and domains.
• Backlinks: Tracks backlinks for domains and URLs.

While Surfer offers a wealth of data, it’s crucial to note that not all of it may be necessary. For instance, hidden content might not impact rankings, making it less relevant.

The tool can be overwhelming due to the sheer volume of data. However, it provides valuable insights into on-page factors, helping you optimize your content effectively.

In summary, Surfer SEO’s SERP analyzer is a useful tool, but it could benefit from streamlining its data to make the user interface more user-friendly and accessible.

Surfer SEO’s Impressive Range of Features

 

When considering an SEO tool, it’s crucial to ensure it meets your needs. SEO involves numerous intricate elements, making it a complex task. However, Surfer SEO simplifies things by offering a plethora of features all in one tool, including:

• SERP Analyzer: Understanding your competition is key to crafting or improving your content. Surfer’s SERP Analyzer lets you grasp what the search results page looks like for your chosen keyword. It provides valuable insights like alternative keyword suggestions, user queries, and backlinks to top-ranking pages. You can even toggle between mobile and desktop results and track how the SERP changes over time.
• Content Editor: An essential SEO rule is using keywords with similar meanings to signal your page’s topic to search engines. Surfer’s Content Editor assists you in achieving this as you write. Additionally, they offer the Surfer AI tool, which can generate content for you. While writing, you’ll receive suggestions on content improvement, such as word count, missing keywords, and relevant topics and questions. You can also export to Google Docs or share a link with your team.
• Keyword Research: Discovering keyword suggestions doesn’t require adding your content to the editor. The Keyword Research feature offers a list of keywords to consider while optimizing each page. You can even adjust the location focus for location-specific keyword suggestions. It simplifies the process with a built-in clipboard to list target keywords.
• SEO Audit: Surfer’s SEO Audit tool is the final notable feature. Simply enter your page’s main keyword and URL, and it compares your page’s SEO metrics to your target keyword. It provides insights on word count, keyword density, suggested improvements like bolding, and page loading speed. This audit report should be your go-to when optimizing existing content.
• Integrations: Surfer can work with various important platforms, including Semrush. Semrush is a tool for SEO tasks like studying keywords and keeping an eye on what your competition is doing. When Surfer and Semrush work together, it’s a strong combination, and the best part is, this connection doesn’t cost extra.

Surfer also pairs up with these other platforms:

1. Salesforce
2. HubSpot
3. Google Sheets
4. Google Docs
5. Zendesk
6. Amazon S3
7. Xero
8. Facebook Marketing
9. Shopify

Additionally, Surfer collaborates with Writesonic, an AI writing tool for making content for blogs and social media. Using Writesonic with Surfer can help you create content and improve how it performs more quickly.

• Customer Support: Customer support is a strong point for Surfer. The support we’ve had was quick and professional, and any questions we had got resolved smoothly.

To access customer support, simply click on the dashboard:Surfer provides a personal touch with their customer support, and that’s high praise.

You can also turn to the community for help, check out training videos, or visit the Surfer Knowledge Base to see if your issue has already been covered in detail.

Does Surfer SEO Deliver Results?

 

Now that we’ve explored Surfer SEO’s capabilities, the big question remains: Does it actually work?

Over the span of two years, Surfer SEO has emerged as efficient tool for our team. This Surfer SEO review highlights the key advantages that have significantly influenced our SEO strategy.

• Time-Efficient Rankings: Surfer SEO stands out for its ability to accelerate the ranking process, resulting in substantial time savings. We’ve experienced tangible efficiencies when crafting content briefs, generating articles, and optimizing them for search engines. Most notably, our content consistently attains higher rankings compared to our previous efforts.
• Exceptional Content Editor: Surfer’s Content Editor has redefined content optimization. Its user-friendly interface surpasses that of other Content Editors we’ve encountered. Moreover, the suggestions it provides go beyond mere surface-level improvements; they have a profound impact on organic ranking positions. This feature alone distinguishes Surfer SEO from its competitors.
• Customization Flexibility: Surfer SEO offers a high degree of customization, empowering users to select the specific top-ranking content they wish to optimize against. While the platform offers educated suggestions, it doesn’t impose restrictions. Users can even conceal terms that they prefer not to display in the editor during content optimization.
• Seamless Integration: Surfer SEO seamlessly integrates its diverse tools and features, enhancing the overall user experience. For instance, transitioning from a keyword research report to directly incorporating topic suggestions into the Content Editor on the same page is effortless. Similarly, when conducting an audit of a website page, seamlessly opening it in the Content Editor to address identified issues requires just a single click.
• WordPress & Google Docs Integration: The integration of Surfer SEO with WordPress and Google Docs is particularly advantageous for content editors and writers. Content editors function seamlessly, and with Surfer’s browser extension installed, users can effortlessly connect their Content Editor with a WordPress blog post or a Google Docs document, streamlining their workflow.
• Effortless Content Export: After refining content within Surfer’s Content Editor, exporting it directly to WordPress becomes a straightforward process. This streamlined feature expedites the content publication process.
• Topic Clustering: Surfer SEO’s approach of grouping keywords into broader topics aligns perfectly with modern content strategy principles. This approach enables marketers to target multiple related keywords within a single post, a strategic approach that consistently produces superior results.
• Responsive Support: Our interactions with Surfer’s support team have consistently been positive. They exhibit a high degree of responsiveness, providing prompt and friendly assistance, even when addressing complex queries.

Surfer has a couple of drawbacks:

 

• Sometimes, the suggestions it provides can be unrelated. This includes the internal linking recommendations. However, we anticipate that these accuracy issues will likely improve over time. It’s worth noting that despite this, Surfer’s suggestions are still better than those of most other content optimization tools we’ve tried.
• Surfer used to offer a free trial, but it’s no longer available.

 

In the vast landscape of SEO tools, each offering a unique blend of features and pricing, it’s crucial to understand how Surfer SEO stacks up against some of the most popular options.

Surfer vs. Ahrefs

 

Ahrefs is a well-known SEO tool that often competes with Surfer. Ahrefs has earned a reputation for its effectiveness across websites of all sizes. Notably, its Site Explorer is excellent for analyzing existing pages, whereas Surfer shines when it comes to crafting new ones.

Surfer allows you to input your content and receive specific recommendations, streamlining the optimization process. On the other hand, Ahrefs boasts a more robust URL analyzer, presenting valuable metrics like Domain Rating (DR), historical organic traffic data, top-performing pages by traffic value, and backlinks pointing to the domain.

However, the wealth of data provided by Ahrefs can be overwhelming, particularly for newcomers to SEO. Overall, Surfer excels in the content and optimization aspects of SEO. Its built-in content editor aids in outperforming competitors and guides you through content creation, eliminating the need to wait for SEO results as you would with Ahrefs.

Surfer vs. Moz

 

Moz is another popular choice in the realm of SEO tools, sharing many similarities with Surfer. Nevertheless, the most significant distinction lies in the presence of a content editor.

Both Moz and Surfer offer similar features, but Surfer takes the lead with its integrated content editor, simplifying content creation and optimization. This feature sets Surfer apart as a valuable tool in the SEO toolbox.

What’s the Latest with Surfer SEO?

 

Surfer SEO has recently rolled out some handy tools, and here they are:

Content Planner: This tool helps you map out your website or blog’s content strategy. We tried it at Surfer SEO review and found it useful for generating a bunch of topics and keywords. It’s good for creating a content schedule, but it may be less effective for some.

 Create AI Content Outline: This module is all about making article outlines in no time. I used it to generate content outlines, and it worked well. Surfer teamed up with Jasper AI for this feature. At DemandSage, we use it to create outlines for our content writers. It’s similar to Frase.io, which is another option for content planning.

These are the new tools Surfer has introduced lately. 

 

• The review emphasizes the critical role of on-page SEO in optimizing a website’s performance and highlights Surfer SEO as a tool to achieve this.
• It distinguishes between on-page and off-page SEO, explaining that on-page SEO involves optimizing individual web pages for higher rankings and organic traffic.
• On-page SEO involves fine-tuning elements like meta tags, headings, keyword placement, and content quality to make web pages reader-friendly and search engine-friendly.
• Off-page SEO focuses on building a website’s authority and credibility through activities like link building, social media engagement, and online reputation management.
• Technical SEO, like maintaining a book’s spine, ensures the backend of a website is optimized for factors such as speed, mobile-friendliness, and site architecture.
• The review introduces SurferSEO as a tool designed for on-page SEO, highlighting its impact on the digital marketing landscape.
• Surfer SEO checks over 500 on-page elements and provides actionable suggestions for improving content, including TF-IDF, meta titles, alt tags, LSI, and NLP.
• Instead of guesswork, Surfer SEO provides real data for optimizing content, making it akin to having a roadmap for SEO success.
• While great for content optimization, the review notes that other tools like Ahrefs and Semrush might be better for keyword research.
• The review promises to delve deeper into Surfer SEO’s features, including a Content Planner, BRIEF for AI content outlines, and its free plan.
• It outlines the features of Surfer SEO’s different pricing tiers, including the Essential, Advanced, Max, and Enterprise plans, with specific benefits and annual savings highlighted.
• Surfer SEO’s integration with various platforms like Semrush, Google Docs, Salesforce, and more is mentioned as a valuable aspect.
• The review praises Surfer SEO’s customer support as quick, professional, and responsive.
• It briefly compares Surfer SEO to other popular SEO tools like Ahrefs and Moz, emphasizing Surfer’s content optimization capabilities.
• The review concludes by asserting that Surfer SEO has proven effective over two years, citing benefits such as time-efficient rankings, an exceptional content editor, flexibility, seamless integration, and responsive support. It also acknowledges a couple of drawbacks.
• Surfer SEO is praised for its role in content creation and optimization, helping users outperform competitors.
• A comparison is drawn between Moz and Surfer, highlighting Surfer’s advantage with its integrated content editor for content optimization.
• The review reiterates the importance of technical SEO and how Surfer SEO contributes to it.
• Surfer SEO’s extensive feature set is mentioned, covering SERP analysis, content editor, keyword research, and SEO audits.
• The review lists various platforms and tools that integrate with Surfer SEO, enhancing its capabilities.
• It mentions Surfer SEO’s free plan and recent tools like the Content Planner and BRIEF for AI content outlines.
• The review highlights Surfer SEO’s tailored enterprise plan, offering flexibility and extensive features for large agencies and enterprises.
• The review acknowledges the personalized support offered by Surfer SEO’s customer service.
• A comparison is made between Surfer SEO and Ahrefs, emphasizing Surfer’s strengths in content optimization.
• Surfer SEO’s role in content improvement and its recommendations, even though they may sometimes be unrelated, are discussed.
• The review acknowledges that Ahrefs can overwhelm users with data, whereas Surfer SEO simplifies content optimization.
• It mentions Surfer SEO’s community, training videos, and knowledge base as resources for users.
• The review highlights the personalized training sessions offered by Surfer SEO to maximize its features.
• For enterprise-level clients, the review notes that Surfer SEO includes legal support for procurement matters.
• The review answers the question of whether Surfer SEO delivers results, citing its effectiveness in expediting rankings and content optimization.

The review provides a comprehensive overview of Surfer SEO’s features, benefits, pricing, and its impact on on-page SEO and content optimization. It also compares Surfer SEO to other prominent SEO tools and highlights its strengths in the field of content optimization.