Keyword Research Tools
These are the types of tools that help form the foundation of any search campaign. While tools like Google and others are freely available, we use them in combination with some of the more sophisticated tools to help get a comprehensive picture of what the target audience is looking for and indeed how competitive these terms are.
Keyword research is not just for search marketers either! Whether you're writing an article, press release or a clever strapline for a TV ad, a bit of keyword research can both stimulate ideas and make sure you reach the maximum number of people.
Wordtracker
Wordtracker has become an essential tool for our keyword research by making it really easy to quickly identify keyword opportunities. Features include the Keyword Effectiveness Index (KEI) which compares the number of times a keyword has been searched for with competition.
To top things off, their customer service is second to none. When we have had questions, their response time has always been within a few minutes.
SpyFu
SpyFu offers us an array of competitor analysis tools making it quick and easy to get a snapshot of what the competition is up to. Whether you want to find keywords being targeted by your competitors or simply want to see what they are offering in the ad creative, this tool does it all.
Google AdWords Tool
The Google keyword tool is an essential browser bookmark for those quick checks. Drop a keyword into the box or enter a URL and within seconds you have a list of keywords coupled with search volume by market, paid search competition and related terms.
