The original tool list is obsolete. This page now covers the selection criteria that still matter: choose tools that reduce the work needed to collect relevant evidence, and check that each tool is maintained and suitable for the job.
Inspect the actual heading structure
Use a browser inspector or a suitable page-audit tool to identify headings in context. Check whether the structure makes the page understandable, rather than judging the tags by their visual size alone.
A local highlighting overlay helps you inspect a page; it does not fix the site’s markup. Review extension permissions and maintenance before installing anything from an old recommendation.
Compare the search result, not only your position
A position can change because another result appeared or disappeared. Save comparable observations with the query, date, location and device context so you can see what moved around your page.
That helps describe the change, but it does not prove a penalty or identify the algorithmic cause. Don’t treat a browser’s local history as a universal ranking record.
Group queries for useful monitoring
For larger projects, separate brand queries from product or service topics. Look for changes across a relevant group, then inspect the affected pages and individual queries.
Where available, retained result snapshots can help explain differences that a single position chart hides. Check the tool’s collection location, timing and coverage before comparing it with another report.
Choose the detail you will use
A larger toolset is not automatically better. Start with the decisions you need to make, then choose the evidence and export capabilities that support them.
In part two, the focus is finding useful page opportunities in Search Console. For a practical site review, use our SEO audit checklist or SEO service.