The Value Of SEO Keyword Tools...?

Hi All from a sunny UK,

My first post so please be gentle.

I've been SEOing for nearly a year.. and with some success!We sell electrical products and are appearing high on Google Page 1 for a good number of our search terms.

We need to be doing more, particularly in terms of 'niche' keyword selection using KEIs. I also wish to take my SEO skills to the next level, so decided I should start using professional Keyword tools. Last week I therefore downloaded trial versions of Wordtracker, Web Position and WebCEO........

........I must be missing something. They all seem completely useless to me! Now given that I'm a total amateur I'm absolutely prepared to accept this is probably me. So my questions are:

What experience do you guys have of these tools?
Are these tools 'any good'?
Do you have any handy tips for getting the best out of them?
Are there any other tools worth trying?

Really appreciate your help.
Regards
Darren

Hi!

I'm using google trends and adwords, If i'm not satisfied with the result I use digitalpoint's keyword suggestion tool.

I advice you to try IBP if you have budget for that.

Hi Full House,

Many thanks for that. I Will start looking into those today.

Have you tried Wordtracker, WebCEO or Web Position? I wonder how you thought they rated in relation to IBP for example?
rgds
D

Try

Google's keyword Suggestion Tool
HitTail for longtail kws
Google Trends

Here are my tips:

1. Getting a lot of keyword variations that centered around a common theme, say you need variations centered around the word "treadmills" with searches:


https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal

using that tool properly, it can give a lot of searchable variations such as :

cheap treadmills
cheap treadmills UK
etc. etc.

2. Estimating monthly searches in UK:

https://adwords.google.com/select/TrafficEstimatorSandbox

divide the average clicks per day of the keyword with 0.04 then multiply it by 30 to give monthly estimated searches.

Leave the daily budget blank.

3. Choosing the best converting keywords.

Conversion rate of keywords is important for sales. YOu should choose keywords that are specific and direct to your page topic and products.

You can try Google analytics and webmaster tools to analyze converting keywords.

In Google webmaster tools, go to statistics---top search queries---

The first column is the top search queries data means what are your high ranking keywords.

The 2nd column is the top clicked queries where what are those high ranking keywords that are clicked in search results. Focus a lot of time developing those click terms because there are those that will help convert your business a lot.

Hi Emerson and Pagi,

many thanks for your advice. My office is about 200 degrees right now, so I'm calling it a night, but will start using the methodolgy you suggested tomorrow, and will definitely let you know how I get on with them.

.....In the meantime, and if you had a minute.... have you used those tools I mentioned? ...I'm keen to know if I'm being stupid or if these tools do indeed only have a limited value.?

I use them to research KWs for every page on the site and most blog posts. I like keyword discovery.

I want to know relative search volumes for the keywords that we might compete for.

I was using overture but now it dead, so
Currently using Google adwords.
Still i am not dependent upon these tools.
You need to understand your own niche, and you should have some basic knowledge about which keywords generally people in your business regions are using.
Tools helps 100% but Not Works 100%
Finally you need to decide for which keyword you are going to optimize your website.
Thanks.