So I did it. I’m off the stuff…for now.
Man, I miss it already, and surprisingly enough, I don’t miss it. Allow me to explain and provide a little background.
I entered the digital marketing space a few years ago with little experience. After struggling with keyword research for the first few months, I opted for Ahrefs to fast-track my learning curve. I was a quick study and learned quite a bit from using Ahrefs for a few months.
Semrush, on the other hand, was the second SEO platform I used. After reading so many great reviews about it and how easy it was to work with it, I decided to switch to it. Similarly to Ahrefs, I wanted to learn as much as possible in the shortest time.
Despite commentary about accuracy, pricing, and features, Ahrefs and Semrush are two of the best SEO tools. Both are great for beginners; however, I recommend Semrush over Ahrefs. That’s a conversation for another day.
Let’s discuss why I decided to stop using them, at least for the time being.
It created unnecessary anxiety
Anxiety was the first indicator that I needed to take a short break from SEO tools like Ahrefs and Semrush.
As silly as it sounds, I began to doubt my ability to write a paragraph, and writing felt like a chore instead of an enjoyable activity. I saw this during deadlines and crunch time when I got a lot of good writing done.
I noticed that my writing did not stand out like it used to and that my love for writing had dwindled. I was trying to keep up with a level of writing that was made for someone else.
Basically, I wasn’t blogging like me.
Another thing to mention was the subscription charges. Not only did I notice the subscription charges every month, but I also needed to use at least 70 percent of the features included in Ahrefs to make it financially sensible.
Thankfully, I did.
I wanted to focus on honing my keyword research skills
Outside of using these platforms and applications for my writing, I realized I did not have the extended exposure or training some of my colleagues had. Many attended universities where they studied marketing, communication, and English, which helped them pivot into their careers as marketers.
While this was not a good reason to switch, I wanted to experience writing without using these applications and focus on more traditional methods. I wanted to learn a thing or two or find another competitive advantage I could tap into.
So what does that mean exactly? I considered traditional methods organic, like word of mouth and sharing useful information that did not include a hyphen or tagging on Facebook or Instagram. It meant analyzing not only my behaviors but also the behaviors of others, down to ticks, habits, and whatever makes you ick when you engage in person and online.
While technology had come a long way, I was willing to find ways to put myself in my readers’ shoes to learn more. For me, it meant coming from behind the curtain and keyboard. And the more I knew about them, the better I could write for them.
That’s just my personal take.
What if it all disappeared?
This next reason sounds strange, but a few times, I wondered how I would adjust if Ahrefs and Semrush suddenly disappeared. Remember, using both SEO resources was all I knew. How would I adjust on a whim?
That uncertainty left me with the idea of searching for comfort without it. I wanted to know that I could go without using Ahrefs and Semrush at the expense of discomfort.
And if Ahrefs and Semrush were to disappear suddenly, I was confident that my newly gained skills would fill the gap beautifully. The solution might be uncomfortable, but I was fine since there were solutions and alternative methods.
Thankfully, many great Ahref and Semrush alternatives, like Moz Pro and BrightEdge, are available today. These offer powerful SEO tools for keyword research, backlink analysis, and website optimization. If you want to read more about great alternatives and related articles, check out the ones below.
I like Moz because it offers good educational resources for beginners to learn SEO basics and features practical tools comparable to Semrush. It features a user-friendly interface and easy navigation for all users, and it’s also great for content creation and site optimization.
Now, I don’t want you to think I know about an apocalyptic day in digital marketing or know of a scheme to shake up the entire internet. This was simply a thought to garner more support for me to hang up what felt like safety.
The data is not 100 percent accurate
Lastly, data. Data was the one area that puzzled me. Ahrefs and Semrush tout their abilities to provide robust information for marketers; however, I’ve never seen what’s behind the veil.
Honestly, much of my acceptance was out of good faith that these companies were not providing inaccurate information. I could not find discernable proof that the information provided was correct.
I’ve searched online, and the responses promoted internal algorithms and unmatched crawling features.
But again, no data.
In Conclusion…
If you’ve read this far in this piece, thank you for indulging me. Hopefully, you enjoyed this article as much as I enjoyed writing this piece. The takeaways from this article are simple.
First, if you’re feeling uninspired by keyword research, it may be helpful to go back to the basics and hone in. You may discover hidden keywords or topics that work well with your site. You may even discover your writing style demands a different style to convey your message.
Secondly, taking a break from a luxury resource can be more refreshing than you think. In addition to saving money, you may appreciate the process and find yourself in a space where you can operate more efficiently and effectively.
Lastly, this is not a defiance against technology or resources that have helped me build my online business and career. Consider this a side quest in an RPG game, where the benefits do not affect the course of the overall goal.
It’s a personal decision to build on skills I would otherwise have not gained without the resources. And who knows? I may decide to get back on the wagon. We shall see. Well, that’s all for now.
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