Hi, I'm "Penguin" Pete Trbovich, and you overthink SEO!  Search Engine Optimization (SEO) has been oversold for decades as the easy road to riches, subject to every snake oil tonic shuckster to roll into town. You shouldn't believe most posts about "best SEO tools," because they're usually trying to sell you something they make, and it's not the best.  Except you can believe this post, because it's selling nothing. In fact, most of these tools are free or at least "freemium." It's getting no kickbacks, no commissions, just expert advice from an industry veteran.  In previous posts, I've covered top SEO keyword practices that actually work, and the top SEO tactics that have nothing to do with keywords. If you follow that advice and especially take advantage of the resources I link to, you don't really need many tools in the first place.  But, for what it's worth, we'll go over the toolset of apps and online services which you should consider the essential minimum. This doesn't mean you…