There Are A Lot Of Misconceptions With SEO Software
It’s time for an intervention. I have had too many conversations about SEO software over the past few months.
If you’ve ever said, “We’re good on SEO; we installed a plugin…” Yikes… this post is for you.
As a digital marketer who’s worked with local contractors, national brands, and everything in between, I’ve had countless conversations about search engine optimization marketing services. And lately, I’ve noticed a trend that’s too common to ignore: business owners and in-house marketers believing that SEO software like All In One SEO plugins or Yoast SEO is doing the work for them. No, it is not doing SEO. While I appreciate the value of these plugins, it is important to understand that they do not perform SEO on your behalf.
Feeling lazy? Watch me talk about this topic:
SEO Software Is a Tool To Help SEO, Not a Solution
There are some fantastic SEO tools out there. Whether it’s a plugin like Yoast or RankMath on WordPress or a platform like SEMrush or Ahrefs, these tools can help you identify problems, analyze your site, and make smarter decisions.
But here’s the catch: SEO software and SEO plugins don’t actually do SEO.
An Analogy Of SEO Software Being A Tool
Think of it this way. If you’re building a house, software is the hammer, not the builder. Just because you bought the latest hammer doesn’t mean your dream home is going to build itself. Yet, that’s exactly how some businesses treat SEO: “We installed a plugin, so we’re good on SEO.”
Imagine you’re talking to a home builder who says, “Hey, I heard you’re interested in a new home.”
“Nah, I’m good. I bought a hammer.”
The hammer doesn’t measure, cut, plan, or assemble anything on its own. Just like SEO software doesn’t write optimized content, fix your technical issues, or develop a keyword strategy on your website for your niche. It’s a support tool for someone who already knows what they’re doing.
Why This Misconception On SEO Software Happens
There are two main reasons businesses fall into this trap:
1. SEO Software Companies Are Selling It To You
Dishonest marketing from software companies. Software companies often promise easy fixes, quick wins, or “AI-powered automation.” And who doesn’t want to believe there’s a silver bullet in SEO and digital marketing?
2. Lack Of SEO Understanding & Knowledge
Lack of SEO knowledge. If you don’t know what SEO actually entails, it’s writing quality content, improving site structure, and understanding search intent. It is easy to think that a plugin is enough and will help you rank. When you dig deeper into SEO and the content strategy around it, you will be opened up to a whole new world of marketing strategies and possibilities.
What SEO Software Doesn’t Provide
Good SEO takes strategy, experience, and execution. If your site is poorly structured, loads slowly, has no content strategy, and doesn’t answer the right questions for your customers, no software in the world will fix that on its own.
What SEO Software Can Do
To be clear, SEO tools do have value when used correctly. Plugins can help you manage meta tags, sitemaps, and on-page basics. Speed and performance tools can flag issues that need a developer’s attention. Keyword research platforms can help provide insights and guidance to your content strategy.
Just like AI tools might help with content drafts or ideas, they should not be your final strategy or copy. These tools are assistants, not strategists.
So What Should You Do With SEO Software?
If you’re a business owner or in-house marketer and you’re considering SEO software, take a step back and consider, “Do I have the time and skill to actually use the tool well?”
If the answer is no, then hiring an expert or investing in training your digital marketing team member will bring far more value than a piece of software.
The software isn’t terrible, but it’s not the silver bullet solution. Learn the trade, hire a builder, or at the very least, understand what a good foundation looks like before buying more tools. Okay, I will stop with all of my construction marketing analogies.
Need Help Separating SEO Facts From Fiction?
Let’s talk. I’ll explain exactly what your website needs (and doesn’t) and help you build a strategy based on your goals, not just your plugins.