Every few years I make a browser switch and my web use evolves sometimes for the better, and sometimes for the worse. My particular evolution went something like this: Netscape, IE, KDE Konquerer (switched from Windows98 to Debian - so no more IE), Mozilla Phoenix (early Firefox), IE (what do you know... went back to Windows), Firefox, IE, Firefox, and over the last year Chrome. My latest switch to Google Chrome has had the biggest affect on my daily web usage, particularly from the amazing assortment of extensions. The browser is also light and stylish with cool themes. If you haven't tried it already I highly recommend you do. With Chrome quickly gobbling up market share, it's clear I'm not the only one who's recognizing this.
Ok, enough of this Google fanboy madness... let's talk about some SEO tools. Google Chrome's Extensions, much like Android's Apps, are full of garbage with a few gold nuggets hidden amidst the madness.
1. MozBar
Yes, this is SEOmoz, so you might expect this to be top of the list. However, SEOmoz has done an exceptional job with this tool. Before becoming a Pro Member I used it daily and now that I'm a pro member it's always on it. Note: I'm not just saying this to get my blog post boosted to the main blog (wink wink), but it really is the best tool out there and an essential for tool any aspiring SEO.
SEO Site Tools is an all inclusive powerhouse of SEO information. It includes 6 main sections:
- External Page Data
- Page Elements
- Social Media
- Page Terms / Tools
- Server / Domain Info
- Suggestions
Some of the unique features and enhancements include highlighting your domains in Google search, trend data in Google webmaster tools, and Social Media stats in Google Analytics. A close second to MOZbar, this tool is an absolute must.
I don't know if I'm the first to break news of this tool. But even if you hate Chrome, this tool makes it all worth it. It's basic, it's simple, but it has already completely changed the way I work. As the name says you can leave a note... that's right, anywhere. On any page, on any site... leave... close your browser and come back 2 days later. I just left a note on my home page with new keywords I want to target and a note on my Fantasy Football page with all the players I need to drop (sorry Randy Moss).
4. Firebug
Get down and dirty with your code or your competitors code. You'll be able to find the tweaks and tags that can boost your rankings. Not for the beginner but an absolute must for the OCD expert.
5. IE Tab
Another holdover from Firefox, IE Tab allows you to browse the web as if you were using IE. I use this extension at least twice a day to confirm page appearance, double check a ranking, or if Chrome is having an issue with loading a page.
6. SEO SERP
I've found this tool to be slightly buggy. However, the usefulness is there and I'm sure they'll iron out the issues soon. Basically what it does is it allows you to check your search rankings per term. Quick and simple, definitely saves time for those of us that occasionally get addicted to checking rank.
Shorten URLs on the fly, add them to history, integrate with social media... do I really need to explain this further? It's a time saver.
No more CTRL+ALT+PRTSCN, this simple tool by Google let's you highlight the section of the page you want, highlight the visible area, or highlight the whole page (can't do that with PRTSCN - that I know of). After you select, annotate, highlight, mark it up however you'd like and then email it to that lazy coworker who can't find the broken link or misspelled keyword. It's like slapping them... nicely.
Let's face it, there's a lot of information out there for SEO, it's a highly dynamic industry and you need to be on top of your game to stay in it. Google reader is the essential tool
10. Stay Focused
Ever spend 3 hours trying to figure out which who to trade Randy Moss for on Fantasy Football? Nah, me neither... this little tool will help with all that though. Get back to your link building, get back to your analytics, and StayFocused. OK, honesty time... I ended up disabling this tool... but you shouldn't, it's awesome and works better than you think it will.
Well as I'm sure you know by now there's a ton of tools out there, and while Chrome and its extensions are just one of them, I think they're worth a try... and no... I don't work for Google. I'd love to hear your recommendations as well.
Cheers,
Patrick Ahler - www.NinjaWeb.com
Really loved your YOUmoz... but now I fear to transform my Chrome in that huge memory-eating-monster that was my Firefox ;)
I remember that about Firefox... the thing was I only had about 5 plugins running and it was still a memory hog. I think Firefox must have issues with memory leaks. I currently have about 25 Chrome plugins installed. Each plugin takes on average 3,000 KB of memory when I load up the browser. However, it is still lightening quick compared to Firefox and I haven't seen any slowdown because I've loaded more plugins, in fact the load time of the browser itself feels the same as when I first installed it.
Is it really nerdy to leave the 'heavy-duty' add-ons to the add-on king - Firefox - and leave Chrome add-on free for speed?
No... but it is quite "pissing" to always have to move from one browser to another ;)
Sounds normal to me! Exactly what I do.
Nice collection of extensions. My number one favorite extension is the SEO site tool.
I would like to recommend 2 additional extensions:
We have made a Analytics plugin that shows if Google analytics is installed, type of script and UA-code. It's prettey useful if you work with GA. Please feel free to send us requests and ideas.
Link: Analytics Helper for Chrome
Also the second extension I want to recommend is the a Firefox plugin clone called Web developer. It's very useful for technical SEO evaluation and development.
Link: Web developer
hmmm, i m using few of them already. thanks for giving more option.
More Chrome extensions (some already mentioned above):
Good post. I'm a little sick of having to restart Firefox every half an hour.
I like that you included some good productivity plugins too :)
Earlier this year on YOUmoz I blogged about a keyword tool I had been developing called Keyword Eye: https://www.seomoz.org/ugc/do-you-have-an-eye-for-keywords
There is now a Google Chrome Extension for it available here. Hope some of you find it useful :)
This is a good idea... I will check it out.
Wow! This is a cool one I didn't know existed. Just installed now and testing, thanks for mentioning!
No problem at all :) Thanks for your list by the way - I've only used a couple of them before. 'Note AnyWhere' looks useful - I'm going to give this a try. As a webmaster it would be great if you could see what notes people have been leaving on your web page!
Who needs 10 plugins? They all seem sketchy, the only one I trust is the mozbar.
Why would you only want data from the MOZ Bar, it just limits your potential?
I mean don't get me wrong the moz bar is great, love the no follow thing and the other features it has...
Yet many other company's out their have great add on's that the moz bar does not like SEO Quake bar for example I run a few add ons at work with Firefox like KW density and a bunch of other SEO goodies.
Best data is from multiple sources and not limiting your self to only 1 thing imo..
I had a post like this 6 months ago for Firefox, the IT people at my work wont let us install Chrome so I only can run it on personal computers =((
These IT people they are very bad ... Why they don't like Chrome?
Our IT objects to Chrome as well. Not sur eif this is still true for normal chrome installs or not, but, at least early Chrome versions installed the executable(s) for Chrome under the Documents and Settings path. I think this was our IT objection.
Someone pointed out to me though, that, the Chrome installer that is part of the 'Google Pack' setup, installs Chrome under the usual Program Files path. I used that approach and, was able to install Chrome.
HTH
Thanks, I found a few golden nuggets again. Two more great extensions that I recommend is Xmarks and AdBlock. If you also want to integrate Twitter and Facebook into Chrome, than check out RockMelt
I had received a notice that Xmark was taken off the market? (or is that only for FireFox?)
Xmarks didn't have a source of funding and was going to discontinue their service, enter Lastpass. They saved Xmarks and I'm very glad because it is a must have extension IMO for Chrome and FFox!
That last one made me laugh. I currently have a friend withholding my Facebook password so I can focus on finals. It's sad, really. :P
Thanks for the tips on the extensions. I have just made the move from Firefox to Chrome and loving some of the extensions.
@post author
I'd like to know what you mean with "slightly buggy" about SEO SERP
I'm going to release a much improved Chrome "Web App" based on this extension, so I'm looking forward any good advice :-)
I would like to add Google Global from red fly marketing, Chrome SEO and for football fans Ultimate Football Results :o)
These are some great tools! just added the SEOmoz toolbar. Was already using a few, including IE, Google Reader, and the SEO Tools. Looking forward to some of the great things I found :)
Worst SEO Extension for Chrome:
Do Not Press
(ok not really for SEO... but a painfully awesome time killer)
Interesting Stats:
So I tracked all the clicks to each extension (I'm a full-time data junkie). So far here are the stats:
1.) 868 clicks on MOZbar - Really? You guys didn't have this already? Your welcome SEOmoz =)
2.) 844 clicks on NoteAnywhere
3.) 776 clicks on SEO Site Tools
4.) 626 clicks on FireBug
5.) 587 clicks on SEO SERP
6.) 469 clicks on goo.gl
7.) 451 clicks on IE Tab
8.) 442 clicks on Google Reader
9.) 339 clicks on Stay Focused - lol
10... had one of the URLs wrong - sorry!
LOL of course you did!
Well, hate to be the devils advocate, but I think that many of the people that read your SUPER post, then decided to give Chrome a try.
Your links do not work when pulled up in FireFox, so I started searching for each one of the extensions in Chrome on another screen.
That makes all your numbers +1 for this PRO member!
Your post likely has persuaded me to leave FF for what it is and move over to Chrome.
Thx!!
Very useful post Patrick. I have been using most of the listed extensions, bt still, thanks to you I found a few I wasmissing. Thanxx
I have actually switched to chrome following this post! Still using firefox at home due to adblock and noscript which I do not need to use at work.
Whoa. Thanks for the YOUmoz. That NoteAnywhere is going to be a gem. I see it saving a lot of trouble with bookmarking to the extreme, and as a lighter version of how I use Evernote.
Also didn't know Firebug had been released for Chrome. Been waiting for it!
Only about half of these are "must Have" for me - but good list nonetheless.
After reading this blog I downloaded google chrome and these add on exstensions, of course I signed up for pro with seomoz.org after that because it helps with functionality.
Your screen capture links goes to Google Reader.
Oh, that notes anywhere one looks nifty.
Downloading now!!!
As you are talking about SEO extensions for chrome. Below are some extensions which I'm using for SEO.
Chrome SEO - Checking backlinks
SEO Playground - Thorough Analysis of site.
Woorank - Website Analysis
Thanks.
Thanks for this. I'm doing a period now in Chrome. Usually I just cross-browser test websites in it, but with these SEO tools, I might be able to achieve a bit more. We aren't in a position to be able to afford PRO membership yet, so I'm going to see what I can do with the non-pro SEOmoz bar for now and get used to that.
There's so much data and so many tools and it's learning to work out what's the best of the lot and create the right analysis to that the time you spend is useful either to your own business or our clients, so getting people's opinions on things is really important.
So thanks for this article - and thanks for the comments people, good to see open discussion.
Nice List, I have found that SEO Site Tools can also be a big buggy with its GWT and GA integration. Your Screen Capture (by Google) link is actually directing to the tool below it,Cheers,Marc
Yes, you're right, it seems that the SEO Site Tools plugin has been a little all over the place lately which is too bad. SEMRush/SEOQuake has an all in one tool as well, but the SERP overlay and browser bar are a bit too much IMO - still it's worth checking out: https://goo.gl/KX2lB
Yes, I tried the SEMRush/SEOQuake plug-in, found it waay too obtrusive.
This is just to notify you that the link you have provided for "Google Screen Capture" is of "Google Reader".
Thanks.
The correct link is https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/cpngackimfmofbokmjmljamhdncknpmg
Thanks for the update, I corrected the link in the post!
I'm going through the list right now. Some I have,but a couple of cool ones I hadn't heard about yet!
Thanks for the article,.
Thanks for these... always nice to see what is out there for Chrome as I slowly make my way away from what Gianluca calls the "huge memory-eating-monster" that is firefox.
Screen Capture by Google looks a really nice alternative (if you haven't got Windows 7) though I do love the "Snipping Tool" that comes standard on Windows 7 because it lets you highlight and mark up things as you screen capture.
In any event thanks for these, the IE tab is another great shout.
Cheers!
I would like to suggest pagespeed and Yslow as well
Love the screen capture and I didn't know Firebug had been released for Chrome. Hard to keep up with everything these days. Thanks!
Thanks for the post. I really like Chrome, but was still switching back to firefox for most of my SEO site work. Appreciate all the suggestions!
Wow. Note Anywhere is an awesome extension. Never heard of it until today.
I have to say that I'm starting to us Chrome a lot more lately. Use to be a hardcore Firefox fan, but things are starting to even out.
Thanks!
Fantastic post, was worth reading just for 'NoteAnywhere'. Never heard of it before but will definitely be checking it out as I bookmark websites for so many different reasons & even categorising them doesn't really help sometimes.
- Jenni
yes there are nice tools..its help.to all seo expert.
I think for firefox seoquake is the best one
Nice collection of seo tools !
Also, I would like to share my seo tools for google chrome :
Great post! I ended up just writing a post on my favorite SEO chrome extensions for 2015. Feel free to check it out! MozBar really is the tried and true extension for SEO starters, but having an account does take it to the next level!
https://goo.gl/JQ2mc5
This is such great, informative information and I am going to try some of these for my website.
[link removed by editor]
good article..i will pick one of them
Great list, but i think you have missed out an amazing chrome extension "Check My Links" that helps users to find out broken links present in their website.
I got increased in business. Seo content links Which makes my website popular now. Try this plugin so useful. https://wordpress.org/plugins/content-links/
The magnificent work by plugin. which is suitable to promote website. And pretty faster. https://wordpress.org/plugins/content-links/
This post really help me a lot. Thanks for sharing this. I have some other useful chrome plug-ins. Chrome plug-ins help us a lot to smooth our browsing experience.
https://trickytechtunes.blogspot.com/2015/10/top-20-useful-chrome-plugins-from.html Of course there are some those are helpful for SEO's.
Thanks for the list. I already use several of them, but there are a couple I want to check out.
Chrome is coming up with some great extension & I have been using some of them mention here, you can also include SEO Status & Chrome SEO which are really useful & I use them frequently as the info they provide is really useful.
I would love to get off of Firefox but Google Chrome still doesn't seem better for an SEO. Here are my gripes:
You're right;) FF has more useful plugins, not only for SEO. At work im using FF, but if i want to surf in the Internet im using Opera, coz its faster;) But FF 4.0 is faster than the latest opera, so i cant wait for new stable version;) FF4ever.
Nice post Patrick :) Wanted to give everyone a heads up, we've been working an extension of our own called Fenix SEO, would like for you guys give it a go. The aim of Fenix is to save every SEO professional 8 hours of work every week just by using our tool (you'll know how when you open it up). The only reason why I am announcing it now and here, is because the numbers finally show that our current users find great value from it. Cheers
Huh! very nice Post!
Very interesting indeed. Great post, and actually a topic I think SEOmoz should have under their pro tricks or similar. We need all the tools we can get. ;)
Hey Patrick Ahler, it's quite an old post from 2010 when I just started my career as a Trainee SEO :)
But still all the extensions you mentioned for SEOs are really awesome and essential too.
Can you or anyone @ Moz can do a post on the latest SEO extensions available. If this is not possible for you, then will you allow me to do that post?
You can contact me via my account.
Regards
I keep 3 user agents of Chrome up (mainly for multiple Google Accounts); one for Google Analytics & AdWords (MCC), one for Webmaster Tools and fast browsing, one for personal email and alternative browsing.
Firefox up for Basecamp & project management.
IE is setup to clear cache on close so I can benchmark queries from fresh.
Chrome is still the fastest. Hope that helps someone.
I keep returning to this blog post. Everytime I work from a new machine, I search "must have tools" on here.
Thank you about 5 times in the past 6 months for helping me do my job!
Well I've always been a Firefox girl but after reading these posts I think
its time to give Chrome my undivided attention.
Loved the internet explorer tool. Good time saver for sure!
I'm so late to the party here, but wow these tools have completely changed my workflow. I'm completely abandoning the ever slowing firefox. Thanks!
Thanks for the post. The note anywher ap is great!
My first thought: Wow, are there that many SEO-extentions available for chrome? So I was dissapointed about your post, sorry.