How I Built 200+ Free Online Tools and What I Learned About SEO, AI Search, and User Growth

A little over a year ago, I noticed a problem.

Every time I needed a simple utility—compressing an image, converting a file, checking SEO metrics, generating content, or analyzing text—I had to jump between multiple websites. Many were slow, filled with ads, required signups, or limited usage unless you paid.

So I decided to build my own collection of tools.

That idea became SimplyUtils.

Today, SimplyUtils hosts hundreds of free tools across categories such as:

• SEO

• AI

• Image processing

• Text utilities

• Development tools

• Productivity tools

• Converters and generators

What surprised me

Building the tools was actually the easy part.

Getting people to discover them was much harder.

I quickly learned that publishing hundreds of pages doesn't automatically generate traffic. Most tools received little to no visibility initially.

The biggest lessons came from SEO and understanding search intent.

What worked

1. Solving specific problems

Instead of creating generic pages, I focused on tools that solve a very specific user need.

Examples:

• Image Compressor

• QR Code Generator

• Word Counter

• JSON Formatter

• AI-related utilities

These tools attract users who already know what they need.

2. Improving content around tools

A tool page alone is often not enough.

Adding:

• Clear explanations

• FAQs

• Use cases

• Step-by-step instructions

helped search engines better understand the page.

3. Tracking actual usage

One of the most valuable things I did was track which tools users actually use.

The data often contradicted my assumptions.

Some tools I expected to be popular barely received traffic, while simple utilities became major traffic drivers.

4. Preparing for AI search

Recently I've been focusing on AI visibility.

That includes:

• Better structured content

• Clear tool descriptions

• Helpful documentation

• Creating pages that answer real user questions

The way users discover products is changing, and AI-powered search is becoming an important source of traffic.

What didn't work

• Publishing large numbers of pages without enough context

• Chasing every trending keyword

• Assuming more tools automatically means more traffic

• Ignoring internal linking

Current focus

My current goal is simple:

Continue expanding SimplyUtils while improving discoverability through SEO, AI search visibility, and genuinely useful content.

I'm particularly interested in how founders are adapting their products for AI-driven discovery and what strategies are working for them.

If you're building a utility website, directory, SaaS, or content platform, I'd love to hear what has worked for your growth.

Website: https://simplyutils.com