keyword research tools

[StephenT]

I just listened to the webinar and was wondering what everyone uses to do keyword research. I am sure there is already a thread on this, but I didn't see it right away. Anyway, I am doing the 30DC and they really push market samurai. Lynne says she uses wordtracker. What do you use?

[Lynn Terry]

I like Market Samurai. Here's the link for anyone that doesn't have it:

http://www.marketsamurai.com/c/download (trial)

I also use the free WordTracker tool a lot:
http://freekeywords.wordtracker.com

[HireMyMum]

Hi Stephen

I am a big Market Samurai fan ... the rank checker, keyword analysis, competiton analysis, monitization, content finder tools are amazing. For a young product it's great. I actually know Brent Hodgeson from his young days in the property market. Not that that's relevant :P

Well most of you already knew I was going to say MS. :)

Cheers
Leigh

[Lynn Terry]

On a personal note - Brent, Ben & Eugene ROCK! They treated me to a very nice dinner on my last trip to Australia:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3614/3371640410_4cc92e9dca.jpg

I'll get a review up on ClickNewz soon - checking out the new version of Market Samurai now...

[CaliforniaJerry]

I use Market Samurai and I also recommend it as a good keyword research tool.

[StephenT]

I have been using Market Samurai too. I just wasn't sure if this is something everyone thinks is good, or only those pushing it.

[David Jackson]

I just listened to the webinar and was wondering what everyone uses to do keyword research.

I use SeoBook's Keyword Tool. They use a combination of tools, including Wordtracker.

http://tools.seobook.com/keyword-tools/seobook/?keyword=customer+reviews&submit=Submit

David Jackson

[semmyw]

How about Micro Niche Finder? which one is better?:confused:

[karonthackston]

I use a combination of tools including Word Tracker and KeywordDiscovery.com. I also use Google's keyword tool for certain things.

What's Market Samuari? Haven't heard of that one. Would be interested to read your review, Lynn.

[Marya_Miller]

I sometimes use Google's Wonder Wheel, if I'm stuck for long-tailed keyphrases. I've gotten some useful ideas from it. (Just click to expand "Show Options" near the top left corner of any Google search page; then slide down the drop-down that opens up to "Wonder Wheel")

Marya

[StephenT]

Marya, I'm not seeing the show options option. I went to google home page the regular search page, but did not see where to click. I'm not very bright!

[Marya_Miller]

Stephen, it's inside the light blue bar, immediately under the Google Search box and logo, on the left hand sides. You should see a little "+" sign and the words "Show Options" (it might be different on your browser.)

[StephenT]

Hmmm. I use firefox. Are you on explorer? That might be the difference.

[AlexNewell]

Fact is that ALL keywords tools are imperfect.

So try out all or some of the tools mentioned in the thread and see what you like.

There is no "best" -only what's best for you and no one can tell you that.

You just have to find out.

I started with paid Wordtracker, moved on to Keyword Elite -a one time fee unlike Wordtracker - noticed MicroNichfinder...now I have the trial version of Market Samurai...and I have just been watching videos using Wordtracker in a yet to be released SEO product!!!

Right now my favourite tool for small sites, articles, squidoo lenses is Micronichefinder. What I like about it is it's flexibility. It seems to fit me and the way I want to work.

Market Samurai is a superb tool and I hate it. I just don't like the way it is put together and the fact that it crashes my computer does not help either!

So find out what you like and stick with it!

:-)

[StephenT]

Thanks Alex! I have Market Samurai and it does hang up. I'm hoping they fix that as I like it best so far.

[Marya_Miller]

I use a variety of Browsers, Stephen, including Firefox. I can't get "Show Options" not to show up. <:) I'll post an article about using it with screenshots on my blog, and let you know when it's up.

Glad for the tip on Market Samurai. I was wavering between that and Micro Niche Finder, but hearing that it hangs up, I think I'll avoid it - my computer system is pretty old.

Marya

[Marya_Miller]

Stephen, I put the screenshots of where to find it on my blog, in case you're still not able to find where to access the Wonder Wheel.

Just click on the link in my signature, and it will take you straight there.

[Lynn Terry]

What's Market Samuari? Haven't heard of that one. Would be interested to read your review, Lynn.

Here is the link for the trial:
http://www.marketsamurai.com/c/download

I am going to put up a review soon - will keep you posted!

[semmyw]

Here is the link for the trial:
http://www.marketsamurai.com/c/download

I am going to put up a review soon - will keep you posted!

waiting for your review Lynn.. I've some keywords software.. but I don't know how to used it.. LOL

[AlexNewell]

Yeah I can be very critical of iit but it is a powerful tool and this year got even better.

I'd recommend using it just after starting the computer and having a minimum of other programs running at the same time.

:-)

[StephenT]

Yeah, My Samurai has never crashed me, but if I have a lot of stuff running, it slows everything down and it doesn't like to be put on standby and then brought back up.

[GanderCo]

I've noticed several people speaking of Market Samurai causing problems with their computers. I'm wondering what you guys have in common, to try and figure out what the problem might be. The reason I ask is that my Friend, CJ Hallock (Lynn knows who he is), has an "Older" windows vista machine and also has a lot of problems with Market Samurai.

Apparently Lynn has no problems with it. I LOVE it! I have no problems, with the exceptional bug it may have immediately after a major update, but those guys usually fix it within a day or two.

As for me, I use a 20' and a 24' iMac. Both of them are from spring of 2008 running Mac OS X Leopard with 2.4 and 2.8 ghz processors and these Macs run Market Samurai flawlessly.

So I wonder if you guys are running computers with less than 2.0 or 1.8 ghz processors, or whatever it is that you have in common that will not run MS smoothly?

Just a thought.

Gary.

[GanderCo]

Oops, almost forgot to mention one of my favorite KeyWord Tools!
Here is a copied and pasted post I did in a different thread. So if you see this word for word in another thread, that is why. (hey, Just being honest :) )

Do a google search for “WordTracker SEO Blogger”, you will find a FireFox plugin that, once installed, will display a real quick and Super Simple WordTracker Daily keyword search results thing-a-ma-jig inside the left of your FF browser “while” you are writing your blog post. And you can turn it on or off whenever you want to. This to me is like the coolest little thing since sliced bread! With the exception that it will make you type in one of those “Captcha” things once in a while, it’s pert’near (love that non-existant word :p ) the perfect little keyword last minute helper!

Gary Anderson II
@GanderCo

[karonthackston]

So Samurai is installed, not a web-based product like WordTracker and KWD? Does it update automatically or.....?

I also use the WordTracker plugin for quickie searches. Neat little tool to have.

[HireMyMum]

Hi Karon

Yes it does auto update, periodically. Just a tip watch the videos.

I use the Rank Checker almost everyday. I have not had any issues with speed with MS. But I do tend to click away while it is doing it's "thing"!

Leigh :)

[CG12]

This is a great thread.
I haven't tried Market Samurai yet but I will check that one out. Thanks for the suggestion. I have used wordtracker, google adwords keyword tool and the seobook key word tool. All of these are great sources and free too. (Always a plus when you are first starting out.)
Another site you might want to check out is Traffic Travis. They have a keyword tool plus you can find out how your site is doing compared to other sites in your niche. There is a page analysis also that will let you know how well the posts you create are doing or if they need some help. There is a free version if you want to try it or you can upgrade if you like.
Thanks to all who have given such wonderful suggestions.

:)Christine

[GanderCo]

This is a great thread.
I haven't tried Market Samurai yet but I will check that one out. Thanks for the suggestion. I have used wordtracker, google adwords keyword tool and the seobook key word tool. All of these are great sources and free too. (Always a plus when you are first starting out.)
Another site you might want to check out is Traffic Travis. They have a keyword tool plus you can find out how your site is doing compared to other sites in your niche. There is a page analysis also that will let you know how well the posts you create are doing or if they need some help. There is a free version if you want to try it or you can upgrade if you like.
Thanks to all who have given such wonderful suggestions.

:)Christine
Oh yeah! I love "Traffic Travis", got that one too, but it's windows only and well, when windows computers see me coming they break! LOL! But I DO have TT on my wife's HP LapTop, not as good as Market Samurai, but then again it is MUCH less complex, so for a beginner (with windows) Traffic Travis could be the better choice for a beginner. I Really like Traffic Travis!

Gary Anderson II
@GanderCo

[StephenT]

The issue I have is the discrepancy between, say Google adword and Market Samurai. Is some instances, it seems to be great. Now I am using Samurai as I was taught on the 30 day challenge and perhaps that is not best. How about the rest of you who use Samurai?

[GanderCo]

The issue I have is the discrepancy between, say Google adword and Market Samurai. Is some instances, it seems to be great. Now I am using Samurai as I was taught on the 30 day challenge and perhaps that is not best. How about the rest of you who use Samurai?
Keep in mind that nearly all Keyword research tools will often times show you different numbers sooner or later. Many people seem to think that "Which Tool Is wrong" b/c of the Discrepancies .... actually the truth is, that this is par for the course, normal, happens a lot. Pick the tool you like best, and you will serve yourself well by staying with the one you "understand" best.

That being said:
Googles Keyword tool, and maybe even Wordtrackers free version are standard...top of the tool chest because they do what they do very well and for free.

That also being said:
Premium Paid Tools like WordTracker and Market Samurai open up a whole new world of information! To compare them to even Googles free stuff is like comparing a tricycle to a corvette!

Again, keep in mind that they update at different times and even have glitches from time to time, so therefore you will often see different results. It's common. No worries.

Just my 2 cents. :)

Gary.

[Lynn Terry]

I've heard that Google inflates their numbers/results. Not sure if there's any truth to that, but something to look into.

The only true test with a phrase that has a large discrepancy in the various tools... is to rank #1 for that keyword phrase and see how much traffic you really get.

[jkgourmet]

also remember that on the google tool you have to use exact searches (Not broad) and that google reports monthly searches. Word tracker reports daily searches. I don't know about market samurai.

[AlexNewell]

Michael

I have seen 3 different super affiliates using market samurai on various little training videos and they all use it different.

So feel free to use it the 30 DC way for your first site and then think about other tools and methods.

The thing is to get going with a good method and focus on it for a few months or until it becomes profitable.

Just go through the process - market research, keyword research, content creation, traffic building etc as you were taught without any worries or thoughts about other methods.

Ask when you get stuck, otherwise just go for it

Good Luck

Alex

[HireMyMum]

I think I am a lazy marketer, and I find Market Samurai to assist me in my endeavours to be a couch potato marketer :)

But seriously I figure that if all these tools return different results, then so long as I am doing my research I am doing the right thing.

I personally like so many features of MS but know that it isn't the only research to be done.

From the post I have read from you Stephen I think you shouldn't worry so much, I think you are doing great. :)

[nickitta]

I just listened to the webinar and was wondering what everyone uses to do keyword research. I am sure there is already a thread on this, but I didn't see it right away. Anyway, I am doing the 30DC and they really push market samurai. Lynne says she uses wordtracker. What do you use?

I use market samurai and google adwords keyword tool.:)

[AlexNewell]

The issue I have is the discrepancy between, say Google adword and Market Samurai. Is some instances, it seems to be great. Now I am using Samurai as I was taught on the 30 day challenge and perhaps that is not best. How about the rest of you who use Samurai?

I heard recently Stephen that market samurai does some kind of extra processing of google's data to add value to it. Sorry I don't have a reference for that.

I would only add that a lot of dodgy data gets published by google in its search data. Many people have done their research, got to page one and got little to no traffic for the keywords google claims are getting huge demand.

To reduce the risk use Exact match for keyword research.

All The Best

Alex

[stephenxanders]

Before, I used NICHEBOT.. but I found out the google also offer free keyword research tools :-) Although I believe that paid ones is better..

[SandwichINK]

Because of the changes to both Google's keyword search and wordtracker (seems to have a limit, among other things), I am now using Market Samurai more. I am working thru their videos along with 30 days which seem to be pretty similar and currently use their "Golden Rule" figures for the settings for searches but wonder whether any of you have made adjustments to those numbers with good success.

Thanks :)

[lertno]

I just started using market samurai. Program looks pretty good and tutorials are great. Only bad thing its it looks kind of depressing when I check the competition for keywords. Makes me feel like my site is small and doesn't have enough links.

[Matthew Scarlett]

I'm a strange one when it comes to keyword reseach. what I tend to do is put a site up first, and then find out what keywords or phrases people use to find me.

It's a bit in reverse, however for the most part i've found that most phrases and wroks are never picked up by such keyword tools. Oh sure you'll get the main ones, but i've yet to find any keyword tool to be that intuative ... or as useful as tracking your own visitors.

"princess laya koss' was a phrase used more than once to find my site. Who'd of thought it? Well not any keyword tool i know that.

If you know your ... niche market just a little bit, i find that keyword tools are quite unecessary. But i only get into things i have a passion for.

[nickitta]

Hello!

I have done the 30 DC and also another wonderful course.... But although in both courses I was advised to follow a certain method for selecting keywords, I have come to realise that many successful marketers do NOT follow at all these guidelines and are still successful.

The mind boggles:confused:

[karonthackston]

Wordtracker does not provide daily search counts or other daily metrics. They haven't done this in over 2 years.

All WT metrics are annually. If you click the question mark beside the searches column, it explains the following:

"'Searches' is the number of times that the keyword has been searched for in our partner search engines in the US.

The data currently contains 558,778,307 searches over 365 days."

The same applies to their free keyword tool.

Please keep in mind that all data from all keyword research tools is a representative sample, not actual search counts. This is clearly explained on WT's site, Keyword Discovery's site and many others. There simply is no way the keyword research tool could physically house all the searches from all the people even in just 1 country, much less globally. Even Google's free kwr tool offers representative samples. (Which is also stated on their site.)

[PDX Guy]

I am a huge fan of Market Samurai for my non-Site Build It sites. My two big web sites are through Site Build It, who uses a modified version of WordTracker, which is very nice.

The only issue I've had with Market Samurai is on my Vista laptop. It would seem that Vista and Adobe Air don't play well together. So it's not the software itself, but anything that uses Air on a Vista OS.

I made a video on YouTube about a work-around that danced around the problem and got it working. So, now I can use it on my laptop, but if and when the problem will be resolved is anyone's guess.

Aside from that, Market Samurai is the bomb!

[MikeF421]

Has anyone else been having issues with Market Samurai's Rank Tracker? I'm getting some funky results lately. It is telling me I have listings at #5 in Google, for example, but when I go to Google myself, I can't find the listing anywhere.

I've cleared my cache on the web browser and made sure I was logged out of any Google accounts. Have tried 3 different browsers (Chrome, Firefox, SeaMonkey), and hit the same thing with each one.

[SEOArbiter]

I prefer and always recommend the Google keyword tool.

[Jane]

Thanks for starting the thread Stephen ... Its brought up lots of brilliant links to pursue ...

Would really like to read that MS review Lynn ...

:)

[Kai Druhl]

I think the tool depends on what you are doing keyword research for. If you are looking for a niche, use Micro Niche Finder or Market Samurai. If you want long tail keywords, use Market Samurai or Google's keyword tool (use it form you adwords account, you get 800 keywords rather than just 100). If you want SEO in a more competitive market, use SEO Quake for Firefox.

[Ryzon]

I personally love to use the standard google keyword tool for the basic research.

But, if I want to do some deep research, I go for Market Samurai. Even the free trial version kicks ass!

[Jane]

I think the tool depends on what you are doing keyword research for. If you are looking for a niche, use Micro Niche Finder or Market Samurai. If you want long tail keywords, use Market Samurai or Google's keyword tool (use it form you adwords account, you get 800 keywords rather than just 100). If you want SEO in a more competitive market, use SEO Quake for Firefox.

Hi Kai

I've installed SEO Quake and I use FF on a Mac ... but there seems to be a cutting and pasting issue since installing it ... have you heard of that one before? Its quite random ... but wouldn't let me copy and paste a bit-ly link into a yahoo email. Have now deleted the add-on and rebooted but its still present and causing a problem. Any ideas how to get rid of it? Thanks

:)

[murph]

I am using Market Samurai but I would say that it takes a bit of getting used to!

[stormy]

I use Market Samurai, Keyword Tool Dominator and Niche Refinery.
Liz

[jgant]

I use Market Samurai. Haven't tried too many others. I love the competitor analysis module in Market Samurai as well as the basic keyword research module.

[murph]

Has anyone any experience of Niche Finder? I have heard some good resports but don't know anyone who has used it - would be interested in any views.

[jgant]

Market Samurai is fantastic. I love the keyword research module, but it also has a fantastic competition analysis module. The competition module gives you loads of data on the top 10 ranking websites for a given keyword. You can also load specific websites and at a glance get tons of SEO data on that site. What would take a long time to do using free tools, Market Samurai does in seconds.

[sona88]

Hi Elite Members

Hope someone could do a video of how they do the KW research in MS

I KNOW THERE ARE SEVERAL VIDEOS BUT WOULD REALLY LIKE AN EXPERT SHOW ME

Sona

[Jane]

I get KW research ... the aims ... the how-to ... the only aspect I'm queezy on is the numbers ... :) ... When are the numbers too high and when are they too low? And does that vary with the target market or not?

:)

[tamalee]

I have Micro Niche finder & Market Samurai .... but I recently hooked up with SECockpit ... and I totally love it ! I don't see this one mentioned too much yet but out of all of them I love it the most. To be honest I actually found Market Samurai confusing .. maybe that's my adhd kickin in .. lol http://swissmademarketing.com/secockpit/ (http://swissmademarketing.com/secockpit/)

** not an affiliate link ... but I love it .. very easy to understand but it is more expensive too ...

[Jane]

I have Micro Niche finder & Market Samurai .... but I recently hooked up with SECockpit ... and I totally love it ! I don't see this one mentioned too much yet but out of all of them I love it the most. To be honest I actually found Market Samurai confusing .. maybe that's my adhd kickin in .. lol http://swissmademarketing.com/secockpit/ (http://swissmademarketing.com/secockpit/)

** not an affiliate link ... but I love it .. very easy to understand but it is more expensive too ...

Thanks I'll have a look at it :)

[gushy0202]

the pic is unavailable... waiting for some detailed review of market samurai in clicknewz Lynn..

[angienewton]

the pic is unavailable... waiting for some detailed review of market samurai in clicknewz Lynn..

If you're talking about the picture on Flickr, it's just no longer available. This was an old post.

Lynn is not using Market Samurai at this time.

[MikeF421]

At this point, if Market Samurai was a free tool, I would ask for a refund.

Complete piece of junk.

You are far better off using the Google Keyword Tool and something like SEO SPyGlass to analyze the top 3 competitors.

Traffic Travis also does a lot of what MS does for free.

[jwginn]

I have used MNF and MS in the past. I actually won my copy of MS when it was first released. I like aspects of both of them but I have noticed glitches/bugs with both programs in recent months. The software I am playing around with at the moment Long Tail Pro (http://www.longtailpro.com) (non-aff link).

I'll see how I feel about it pretty quickly as I just started using it this week.

Jeremy