[webcaretaker]

Which is the best SEO tool do you think?

[lazytycoon]

I quite like market samurai, keeps all the info in 1 place.

[MolotovRuss]

I've always really liked websitegrader.com

[BlueDreamer]

Definately a thesaurus!

[Alliance Studio]

We've been using Web CEO which we have found to be very useful.

[Gibbs]

IBP and Web CEO are very good software packages. I prefer IBP but it costs quite a bit (luckily I'm not the one paying). We've started using bespoke tools that we've developed but that's because we do things very specific and detailed in certain areas which most others probably won't.

It really depends on what you're doing and what you want to do. You have things like Googles new Keyword Tool, Google Adwords Keyword Tool, Yahoo Site Explorer and a load of other web based tools good for keyword research, ideas and backlink information. As I said it depends on what you are or want to do and how detailed and comprehensive you want to be.

[gentlefoot]

The human brain wins hands down

[Gibbs]

gentlefoot, on 29 July 2009 - 11:45 AM, said:

The human brain wins hands down

It's a bit difficult to target things with made up statistics though, unless your brain has a database of the internet

[Grizwald]

webcaretaker said:

Which is the best SEO tool do you think?

Such a vague question. Best SEO tool to do what exactly? Apart from dropping your sig link into a new thread?!!

[gentlefoot]

Gibbs, on 29 July 2009 - 01:10 PM, said:

It's a bit difficult to target things with made up statistics though, unless your brain has a database of the internet

Yeah and statistics are pretty useless without the human brain to question and interpret them.

[wizely]

I'm with the human brain answer. It doesn't matter how good the chisel... you don't automatically get Michelangelo's David. Google has enough free tools for you to find out the information you need, but it's your noggin that needs to come up with the right strategy.
For example... finding the right keywords for more customers not just traffic is much more than comparing search volumes with competition - you need to figure-out who's doing the searches, what answers they expect, what context the search is in, what 'buying mode' the searcher's in, what your competitors are doing, what the market's doing etc...

Or you can just blitz the net with links.

[gentlefoot]

wizely, on 29 July 2009 - 02:54 PM, said:

I'm with the human brain answer. It doesn't matter how good the chisel... you don't automatically get Michelangelo's David. Google has enough free tools for you to find out the information you need, but it's your noggin that needs to come up with the right strategy.
For example... finding the right keywords for more customers not just traffic is much more than comparing search volumes with competition - you need to figure-out who's doing the searches, what answers they expect, what context the search is in, what 'buying mode' the searcher's in, what your competitors are doing, what the market's doing etc...

Or you can just blitz the net with links.

Nicely put.

[BlueDreamer]

wizely, on 29 July 2009 - 02:54 PM, said:

...but it's your noggin that needs to come up with the right strategy.

We like noggins

wizely, on 29 July 2009 - 02:54 PM, said:

For example... finding the right keywords for more customers not just traffic is much more than comparing search volumes with competition - you need to figure-out who's doing the searches, what answers they expect, what context the search is in, what 'buying mode' the searcher's in, what your competitors are doing, what the market's doing etc...

...and giving your visitors the information they're looking for when they land on your site - get those calls to action ready!

[lazytycoon]

wizely, on 29 July 2009 - 02:54 PM, said:

I'm with the human brain answer. It doesn't matter how good the chisel... you don't automatically get Michelangelo's David. Google has enough free tools for you to find out the information you need, but it's your noggin that needs to come up with the right strategy.
For example... finding the right keywords for more customers not just traffic is much more than comparing search volumes with competition - you need to figure-out who's doing the searches, what answers they expect, what context the search is in, what 'buying mode' the searcher's in, what your competitors are doing, what the market's doing etc...

Or you can just blitz the net with links.

Google will actually tell you this as well. Its the adwords cost and comp, if its high people are looking to buy if its low they are looking for info. No need for a brain after all.

And then you need the links to get you to the top

[ReachMedia]

Use marketleap.com Its a great site for finding out informatin on what your competitors are doing and also where they are getting links from.

[bermuda]

I really the the tools of Google AdWords and Wordtracker as they are regularly updated according to the monthly stats of the keywords.

[James Mary]

Hey Google Analytic is the best seo tool to make observations on your web site.It has a great features and it will show you all analysis reports on traffic.

[James Mary]

webcaretaker, on 28 July 2009 - 04:02 PM, said:

Which is the best SEO tool do you think?

Hello i have gone through some where that there are 136 seo tools are there. While an searching i found these tools at http://www.seocompan...seo-tools.html. I hope this info will be a great use for all of us..

[mindbees]

webcaretaker, on 28 July 2009 - 04:02 PM, said:

Which is the best SEO tool do you think?

On the net we can find thousands of good SEO tools ! But WebCEO is the better one to me !

[Gibbs]

wizely, on 29 July 2009 - 02:54 PM, said:

I'm with the human brain answer. It doesn't matter how good the chisel... you don't automatically get Michelangelo's David. Google has enough free tools for you to find out the information you need, but it's your noggin that needs to come up with the right strategy.
For example... finding the right keywords for more customers not just traffic is much more than comparing search volumes with competition - you need to figure-out who's doing the searches, what answers they expect, what context the search is in, what 'buying mode' the searcher's in, what your competitors are doing, what the market's doing etc...

Or you can just blitz the net with links.

Some truth but that involves extensive research, which includes getting search volumes, competition, demand etc etc. Saying "I just use my brain" is complete tosh. Prior to making a plan you need to research and you can't simply guess statistics. Getting data from reliable sources, such as Google, is extremely important. Ranking top, or being visible, for "website design" provides a massively different amount of opportunity in comparison to "web design" and they are both equally as competitive (or there abouts). With keyword research you can also find uncompetitive areas or little niches that a business or company can boost their income in. Professional SEO is a form of marketing, a continuous development, and all good marketers research as much as they can which includes search volumes.

I can't stress how important keyword research is, it's the start of the plan. Personally I've found issues with the data provided by IBP and WebCEO and others so we've developed our own tools. The amount of searches we get correlate across the board for terms ranked top for (25% of the estimated searches provided by Google).

[wizely]

Gibbs, on 04 November 2009 - 07:28 PM, said:

Some truth but that involves extensive research, which includes getting search volumes, competition, demand etc etc. Saying "I just use my brain" is complete tosh.

Now you've gone and put words into my mouth I didn't say. The question was "Which is the Best SEO Tool" to which the correct answer is your brain. Did I say "just your brain?". Nope. Anyone can get 'SEO figures' that's easy and the tools widely available. Knowing how to analyse them and what to do with them takes your brain.

I spent 5 years studying advanced mathematical and analytical methods and then many years applying them first as a research scientist then as a Business Analyst so you'll forgive me if I say I favour using my brain. Of course... without such training and experience I'd rely heavily on the figures tools gave me, do simple comparisons anyone could make and not realise that there was so much more that could be done.

[Gibbs]

wizely, on 04 November 2009 - 09:16 PM, said:

Now you've gone and put words into my mouth I didn't say. The question was "Which is the Best SEO Tool" to which the correct answer is your brain. Did I say "just your brain?". Nope. Anyone can get 'SEO figures' that's easy and the tools widely available. Knowing how to analyse them and what to do with them takes your brain.

I spent 5 years studying advanced mathematical and analytical methods and then many years applying them first as a research scientist then as a Business Analyst so you'll forgive me if I say I favour using my brain. Of course... without such training and experience I'd rely heavily on the figures tools gave me, do simple comparisons anyone could make and not realise that there was so much more that could be done.

Misinterpreted your original post, apologies for that. I only read a couple of posts and thought people were dismissing the need to get data such as search volumes. I agree with using your head but tools that automate processes can be good and beneficial. After all that's why we have computers in the first place, to compute for us

[wizely]

Totally agree! Oh God yes... you need the right tools to pull the info together and do the basic calcs for you - even that takes the right approach so it's efficient and gets the right figures you need. Like any tool though, it's knowing how to put it to best use and that means understanding what you need from it to make decisions.

[lee grant]

some good links here!

[websitedesign]

My best SEO tool is my brain, but unfortunately that's not open source ;o)

[markthedoc]

The best tools I've used are Market Samurai and IBP.

[rgbdzine]

Google Analytic's & Webmaster Tool is the best SEO Tools......


__________________________
Web Design Company India

[lein ski]

http://www.instantposition.com/ I recommend the SEO Checker, it's a great way to evaluate your individual keywords.

[Designers' Shack]

Thanks everyone.I got some excellent idea to perform optimization of my new site.

[AndreyW]

The human brain is the answer for me. Everything else is secondary, way to get some statistic information. I'll allow to quote part of article: "As I understand, the main secret of Google is: their algorithm for the looking at the websites as the reaction of the people. It is normal, that Google is searching for the prime sources of information and is taking into account the quality of the website." - other part of the article is at website promotion articles .
Use your minds - they are the answer

[webdesignfolkz]

IBP is the best help.

[janneymarico]

There are lot of SEO tools available, but I like most, SEO for Firefox, Backlink Checker, Keyword Checking, Multiple Website PR checking...

[dreamzgaurav]

Hi,

We Have Been Using Web CEO Search Engine Optimization Tool.

Which Is Very Useful For Me.

Thanks - http://www.dreamz-infotech.com/

[Navi379]

Why not try SEO QUAKE this addons is very quite handy for SEO. Hope this help

[gentlefoot]

Gibbs, on 29 July 2009 - 01:10 PM, said:

It's a bit difficult to target things with made up statistics though, unless your brain has a database of the internet

Statistics mean nothing unless they are interpreted correctly and what do you need to do that, yep you guessed it, a brain.

[mickeyy]

I can nearly bet that the most answer will be that seo-guru uses no software and do everything by hands ))
Absolute best 2 tools out there are:
1) The Human Brain
2) Experience
The Best tool for SEO comes not in a software, it is not promoted in any website, it's not available on Google and you cannot access it on any forum. The best tool for SEO is the SEO person itself. No matter which SEO tool you would be using, it is still the person who will decide on which will be the best approach for the site. It is still the person who makes a site successful or the one who makes it crash..

[trick202]

I was having a little mess around with the tools on instantposition .com and found them really interesting.

As a beginner, I have taken over management of a site from a web designer, and was a little daunted at first. However, using these tools I've increased the ranking by loads (according to the little speedo thingy on the site tool).
Most of the errors were just down to poor page titles and spelling errors in the meta description and tags.

I'm over the moon - thanks all!

It's amazing how a few little changes here and there can make all the difference. It's really addictive though!