Case Study: How to Rank a New Site Using Free SEO Tools
Posted on October 11, 2025
Okay, so quick storytime. A few months ago, I started this tiny new website. No backlinks. No ads. Literally just vibes and a dream.
And I had like… zero budget. Couldn’t pay for fancy SEO tools like Ahrefs or Semrush (those prices are wild 💀).
So I thought, “You know what? Let’s see if I can actually rank a site using only free SEO tools.”
Spoiler: it worked. Not overnight, but slowly — traffic came in, keywords started ranking, impressions went up, and now that little site is alive and kicking.
So here’s everything I did — step-by-step, all free.
1. Setting the Stage (aka the broke phase 😅)
The site was brand new. Like 0 domain authority, 0 content, 0 visitors.
All I had was:
- A free WordPress theme
- A few blog ideas in Notion
- And a goal: get traffic without spending a single rupee
I decided to rely 100% on free SEO tools — Google Search Console, Google Analytics, Ubersuggest (free version), and a few browser extensions.
No fancy stuff. Just hustle and patience.
2. Keyword Research Without Paying a Dime
Okay, so here’s how I found my target keywords.
I used Ubersuggest, Google Keyword Planner, and the good old Google Search bar (auto-suggest is underrated, btw).
My steps were simple:
- Opened Ubersuggest → typed “how to learn SEO”
- Noticed related low-competition keywords like “free SEO tools for beginners”
- Jotted down 20+ similar long-tail keywords in a Google Sheet
Pro tip: If the keyword sounds like something you would Google, it’s probably a good one.
I avoided stuff like “SEO services” (too competitive) and focused on “how to do SEO yourself” or “free keyword research tips.” Use our Keyword Research Tool for similar results.
3. Free Tools That Literally Saved My Life
Here’s what I used and why 👇
Tool | Purpose | Why It’s Awesome |
---|---|---|
Google Search Console | Track clicks, impressions, indexing | 100% free & straight from Google |
Google Analytics | Track traffic & behavior | Easy to understand what works |
Ubersuggest (Free) | Keyword ideas & difficulty | Decent for beginners |
AnswerThePublic | Find what people ask online | Great for FAQ-style blog posts |
Yoast SEO (Plugin) | On-page optimization | Keeps titles & meta clean |
Grammarly | Proofreading | Makes writing smoother (mostly 😂) |
Honestly, if you master these — you don’t need to spend $100/month on SEO tools (at least not at the start).
4. Writing SEO-Friendly Blog Posts (That Don’t Sound Boring)
Now, this part’s fun. Because I didn’t want to write robotic, keyword-stuffed junk.
So I used this little formula:
- Pick one main keyword (e.g., “best free SEO tools”)
- Find 3–4 supporting keywords (e.g., “Google Search Console,” “keyword planner,” “SEO optimization”)
- Write like I’m explaining it to a friend
Each post had:
- A catchy title (try our Title Generator)
- Meta description (Yoast helped with that)
- Short paragraphs
- Internal links (I linked to my other posts)
Example:
“If you’re broke like me but still wanna rank on Google, here’s a list of free SEO tools that actually work (and no, they’re not scams).”
That tone connects. Readers stay longer. And Google loves that. Check our SEO-Friendly Blog Posts Guide for more tips.
5. My “Aha!” Moment with Google Search Console
Once I had like 10–12 posts published, I verified my site in Google Search Console (GSC). That was a game-changer.
At first, my clicks were… non-existent. Like literally 0. But within a few weeks, impressions started to rise.
What I did next:
- Checked which keywords were showing impressions
- Updated my old posts to include those exact phrases
Boom — within a month, started getting clicks.
That’s the secret: 👉 Use Google’s own data to fix your SEO.
6. The First Win — My Page Finally Ranked! 🎉
After about 6 weeks, one of my posts — “Best Free SEO Tools for Beginners” — hit page 1 on Google for a low-volume keyword.
It wasn’t crazy traffic (like 50–70 clicks/day), but it was real. And the best part? It snowballed.
When one post ranked, others started rising too because the site gained trust.
That’s when I realized — SEO isn’t about magic tricks. It’s about small, consistent steps.
7. Backlinks Without Begging
I didn’t do crazy link-building campaigns. Instead, I did:
- Commented on niche blogs (with my site link)
- Posted mini SEO tips on Reddit & LinkedIn
- Shared articles in Facebook groups
Free, low-effort, and surprisingly effective.
Even got featured in one “Free SEO Tools Roundup” blog — that backlink alone boosted my site authority a bit.
8. My Weekly Routine (aka the “SEO Gym”)
Every Sunday night, I did my little SEO workout.
🗓️ Here’s what it looked like:
- Monday: Write a new blog (1 keyword)
- Tuesday: Share it on social media
- Wednesday: Check GSC for impressions
- Thursday: Update old post with new keywords
- Friday: Comment or post on 2 other sites
- Weekend: Chill… but also peek at traffic 😅
Consistency really is the secret. Google rewards effort — not perfection.
9. Traffic Growth: From 0 to 2,000+ Monthly Visits
It wasn’t overnight. Took about 3 months. But the graph started looking beautiful. 📈
At first, 10 visits a day → then 50 → then 100+. Now it averages 2,000–3,000 monthly visits — all organic.
No ads. No paid backlinks. Just content, patience, and free tools.
10. Lessons I Learned (The Hard Way 😅)
✅ Don’t chase big keywords — go long-tail.
✅ Use GSC weekly — it’s pure gold.
✅ Update your content. Google loves freshness.
✅ Internal linking is your best friend.
✅ SEO takes time. Like months, not days.
And the most underrated advice? 💡 Write like a human. Google’s smarter than ever — it knows when content is fake or AI-sounding. See our Guide on Avoiding Plagiarism for safe content creation.
11. Quick Recap Table
Step | What I Did | Tool Used |
---|---|---|
Keyword Research | Found low-competition terms | Ubersuggest, Google Keyword Planner |
On-Page SEO | Optimized meta & titles | Yoast SEO |
Tracking | Watched impressions & clicks | Google Search Console |
Backlinks | Free mentions from groups | Reddit, LinkedIn |
Content Updates | Added keywords from GSC | Manual edits |
12. FAQs — Real Talk 💬
Yup. I’m living proof. It’s slower, but totally possible if you’re consistent.
Google Search Console. 100%. It’s basically SEO X-ray vision.
Around 3–6 months depending on competition and content quality.
You can — but always rewrite it in your own tone. Make it sound real. Use our Paraphrasing Tool for help.
Eventually yes, but you can start ranking without them if your content is solid.
13. Final Thoughts 💭
If you’re broke, busy, or just starting out — don’t stress about buying expensive tools. You can absolutely grow with what’s already free.
Google wants to see effort. Keep creating, keep learning, and use the free tools smartly.
Because the truth is — it’s not the tools that rank a website. It’s you, the person behind it. ❤️
Ready to start? Try our Keyword Density Tool or check our Effective Keyword Research Guide for more insights.