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SEO Tools That Work

Posted on 24. Nov, 2009 by Pete Hollier in Search Optimization

The SEO ToolBox

Without doubt there appears to be an infinite number of SEO Tools available, some free and some paid. I have tried many SEO Tools over the years and I still have not found the one tool that can actually comprehensively complete a Search Engine Optimization Program. However, overtime I have discovered tools which I have come to depend on for both results and productivity.

There are a couple of issues with the availability of so many SEO Tools.

1. You can be forever trying new tools and not focusing on important SEO tasks.
2. The results. Unfortunately the results provided by many tools for the same task differs. This creates an impossible situation where you are left wondering which results are accurate and which are not.

My SEO Toolbox

It is all about results and having the time and historical data for tool use, to build a SEO Toolbox which provides the required results. I have no doubt whatsoever that other SEOs will have their opinions of what works and what does not, but for me these are the tools that I would not be without.

I will review these tools in sequence of, how I generally use them, of course there is some crossover here but in general this would be the processes used.

Initial Web Site Review

The first thing I want to know about a potential clients web site is how well it is currently performing, and what the competitive landscape is for their targeted niche. The first tool on the list has to be Firefox. It’s not so much the browser but the plug-ins available for Firefox which makes it my Browser of choice.

Firefox Plug-ins

SeoQuake enables me to quickly evaluate some of the primary performance indicators such as; the number of back-links, Alexa Rank, Domain Age and I can’t help but have a look at Google’s Page Rank.

Foxy SEO Tool offers much the same information as SEO Quake but some additional Social Media features which provide additional indicators the the overall popularity and performance of the targeted web site.

Web Developer Tool Bar is a great tool to quickly determine the web site’s “Search Engine Friendliness”. Features such as the; Disable Javascript and the ability to review numerous web site elements makes this tool indispensable for a quick review of a web site’s Search Engine Accessibility.

WebPosition4

WebPosition is another tool which I have used over the years, the Reporter function enables me to quickly view the overall performance of the web site’s selected keywords to determine how visible the web site is in the Search Engine Results Pages.

Keyword Research

Keyword Research has to be one of the most important web site promotion tasks.

Again I use a couple of tools for Keyword Research. My keyword suggestion tool of choice would have to be Wordtracker, which I have used for years as a Keyword Suggestion Tool. I feel Wordtracker provides excellent keyword suggestion results however, I do prefer the search volume data provided by Google Adwords Keyword Tool for the final analysis of keyword popularity.

Content Analysis

Once again a couple of tools here. WebPosition 4 with the Page Critic service. This tool uses comparative analysis to evaluate web site ranking for a specific keyword and provides a report which identifies how best to integrate your keywords into web page content.

The other tool I like is IBP which also does a comparative content analysis to assist in matching your web site elements to those of top ranking pages. The presentation of results and exactly how each evaluates the web page elements does differ, providing additional insight which is not provided by just one of these software applications.

Link Building

One tool here, and that is WebCeo. This is a comprehensive software application which does offer many additional tools for Search Engine Optimization. WebCeo’s Link Building application completes many of the key tasks required for developing and maintaining a Link Building Program.

WebCEO is also a great tool for web site analysis of web site elements and accessibility issues.

Although I do not use the product Link Assistant it does complete the same tasks as WebCeo and is worth a try.

Search Optimization Program Monitoring

Well no question here it has to be Google Analytic. Reports of web site activity can be as basic or as comprehensive as you require.

The Last Word

Well those are my choices and I plan to stick with them. Of course I can’t resist trying new tools as they come available however, I do usually revert to using the tried and trusted tools I have become comfortable with.

Written by: pete@seowizardry.ca a Search Engine Optimization Consultant

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