Are you about to request an SEO scan but are you hesitating between free or paid? You want to know what an SEO scan can do for your website, how a free version compares to a paid analysis and whether there is really a big difference in results. By making the right choice, you lay the foundation for better online visibility and more visitors.
With a free SEO scan you often get quick insight into technical errors and basic points for improvement. Think of findability, loading times and mobile usability. Paid SEO scans go deeper by collecting more data, analyzing competition and giving practical advice in the field of content, backlinks and local SEO.
So compare carefully what you need. Do you opt for a quick first impression or do you want to take concrete action with a complete step-by-step plan? This way you get the most out of your investment in SEO and make your website really powerful.
Definition of an SEO scan: What is it and why request one?
An SEO scan is an in-depth analysis of your website to assess its findability in search engines such as Google, Bing and DuckDuckGo. With an SEO scan you discover technical flaws, content shortcomings and link profile problems that hinder the ranking of your site. Experts such as Rand Fishkin (founder of Moz) and Aleyda Solis (international SEO consultant) emphasize that such a scan is essential to gain insight into where your website stands and where you need to optimize. Organizations such as SEMrush and Ahrefs have embedded this tool in their platforms, given its value for both agencies and companies. At Flexamedia we help you make the right choice for a free or paid SEO scan tailored to your growth goals.
The difference between a free or paid SEO scan
Wondering which option is best: a free scan or investing in a professional, paid version? What tools and processes are involved? Here is an overview of the most important differences:
- Free SEO scan: Often automated. Provides quick insights such as basic technical errors (example: missing meta tags, page speed), but goes less in-depth into content quality and competitor analysis.
- Paid SEO scan: Performed by an SEO specialist or with advanced tools such as Screaming Frog, Sitebulb, Moz Pro, SEMrush or Ahrefs. Personal, more thorough and more extensive. You will receive customized advice, competition comparison and an action plan for improvement.
- Scope of application: Free scans focus on entry-level questions like 'Is my website performing well for Google?'. Paid scans dive into advanced issues like structured data, Core Web Vitals, backlinks, and content gaps.
- Result: Free scans are ideal as a starting point for small businesses, but for growth ambitions, web shops and serious lead generation, paid is almost always indispensable.
How does requesting an SEO scan work? Step-by-step plan for the best approach
The execution of an SEO scan follows a number of logical steps. Both free and paid SEO scans have the following process, with nuances in depth and analysis:
- Formulate objective: Tailored to your unique business case and target group.
- Technical audit: Inventory of crawlability, indexation, loading times, mobile performance and errors via tools such as Google Search Console, Lighthouse or SEMrush Site Audit.
- On-page analysis: Check for keyword integration, content quality, headers, internal links and meta structure.
- Off-page analysis: Research the link profile with Majestic, Ahrefs or MOZ Link Explorer.
- Competitive Analysis: Comparison with competitors on key keywords, content and domain authority (Domain Authority, an indicator from MOZ).
- Reporting and advice: Creating a plan for concrete optimizations and quick wins, tailored to your goals and priorities.
Tools and technologies for performing an SEO scan: free and paid
There are many SEO tools developed by internationally recognized organizations suitable for scans. Think of products like Google Search Console (essential and free); SEMrush, Ahrefs and Moz Pro for professionals; Screaming Frog for in-depth technical audits and smaller platforms like SEOptimer or PageSpeed Insights for quick checks. Paid tools usually offer more functionalities such as extensive crawl functionality, connection to other marketing channels and in-depth data models. According to scientific literature, the combination of these tools is effective for a top result - for example the protocol of a full-site crawl combined with log file analysis.
- Benefits of Google Search Console: Instant insight into indexing errors, mobile usability and Core Web Vitals.
- Screaming Frog SEO Spider: Well known by technical SEO consultants, essential for a complete crawl and in-depth error analysis.
- Additional strategies: Connect on-page and off-page data with tools like Moz Link Explorer and Ahrefs for a complete overview of your SEO performance.
- Integration with content optimization: Tools like SEMrush Content Analyzer help improve content based on search intent and competitive insight.
When do you choose a free SEO scan and when do you choose a paid one?
The choice depends on your situation. Start-up entrepreneurs often opt for free scans to quickly get a baseline; for established companies, e-commerce or if you invest in online growth, paid analyses are the step to next level optimization. A paid scan is often more accurate, because an expert combines data from different sources, performs manual checks and formulates an action plan.
- Free suitable for: Basic quick scan, global technical control, insight for small entrepreneurs and self-employed persons.
- Paid required at: Large corporate ambitions, online shops, national or international marketing, complex websites and growth hacking strategy.
- Examples: Use a free scan to spot indexing issues; invest in an in-depth paid scan to uncover content gaps or backlink risks.
- Combination possible: Start with free, then move to paid for continuous improvement and ROI.
Benefits of a professional SEO scan by Flexamedia
Flexamedia uses proven methodologies (such as the EAT method: Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness via schema.org markup) and leading technologies to analyze every aspect of your website. Our consultants are certified by international training programs from Yoast, HubSpot and SEMrush Academy, so you are assured of in-depth knowledge and reliable execution. Our reports are fully customized, understandable and contain a concrete step-by-step plan with which you can achieve immediate results.
Curious about common mistakes in keyword research and how to avoid them? Read all about avoiding keyword research mistakes here when starting with SEO.
FAQ about SEO scans and related topics
- What is the average cost of a paid SEO scan? Depending on the depth, rates vary between €150 (basic) and €1000+ (enterprise). For this you get a level of work comparable to a consultancy trajectory, with in-depth insights and personal guidance.
- Is it possible to have the scan performed periodically? Yes, many companies opt for monthly or quarterly analyses (SEO monitoring) for continuous optimization, using useful tools such as SE Ranking and Serpstat.
- Can you get started right away after the scan? Absolutely. The Flexamedia report contains a structured step-by-step plan so that you, alone or together with our team, can immediately implement improvements for more online visibility.
- Are these scans relevant for a website migration? Sure, a technical/SEO scan prevents common mistakes like loss of organic traffic after migrations. See also: SEO Friendly Migration Tips.
Want to optimize your SEO strategy and find out if a free or paid scan is best? Feel free to contact Flexamedia. Also discover our effective approach to keyword strategy for maximum impact!
Frequently asked questions
1. What is the difference between requesting a free and paid SEO scan?
A free SEO scan from Flexamedia often offers you a global analysis of your website, with tools such as SEMrush or Google Search Console providing basic points on technical errors, loading speed and content quality. Useful for quick insight, but usually lacking in-depth advice or custom solutions. So you get a kind of superficial MOT of your online visibility.
Paid SEO scans, performed by experts such as Aleyda Solis or Rand Fishkin, go further. In addition to an extensive technical audit, you will also receive tailor-made advice for your goals, data-driven insights and competitor analyses. This provides serious growth opportunities through smart optimization techniques. Still in doubt? Then read how an [in-depth SEO scan in Amsterdam makes the difference](https://www.flexamedia.nl/seo-uitbesteden/seo-amsterdam/).
2. When is it worth requesting a paid SEO scan?
A paid SEO scan is smart if you want to seriously work on your organic growth, for example with a webshop, a company with many competitors or if you want to structurally score better in search engines such as Google (Knowledge Graph, 2024). In critical situations such as a significant drop in rankings, experts use tools such as Ahrefs and Screaming Frog to thoroughly analyze your backlink profile, content strategies and internal link structure.
Especially if you run on platforms like WordPress, Magento or Shopify and work with high scalability, SEO agencies like Flexamedia recommend a paid scan. After all, you invest directly in visible growth and avoid mistakes that can cost you turnover. Want to know more about local growth? Check out the [SEO opportunities in Rotterdam](https://www.flexamedia.nl/seo-uitbesteden/seo-rotterdam/).
3. Which components are analyzed in a professional, paid SEO scan?
A professional SEO scan examines much more than what you get as standard. Think of in-depth technical checks (such as crawlability and indexation according to Google Search Essentials), content optimization based on semantic keywords (NLP), link building profiles and user experience (UX analysis). An expert also looks at structured data, Core Web Vitals and whether your site complies with the EEAT guidelines from Google's SEO protocol (Wikipedia, 2024).
Professional scans are often supported by advanced technologies such as Moz Pro, Screaming Frog, and SurferSEO and offer immediately actionable advice, priorities, and monitoring. This way, you maximize every euro you spend. Interested in how this works for your region? Then check out all the possibilities for [SEO in Utrecht](https://www.flexamedia.nl/seo-uitbesteden/seo-utrecht/).