Best way to check search phrases

[mangoprint]

Hi there,

What would you say is the best way to check how often a certain phrase is typed into Google?

thanks in advance!

 

[termsandconditions]

Several guys here use Market Samurai - they have a free trial period.

Best Regards

 

[plymgary]

This should help.

 

[MASSEY]

for the most accurate you want to use market samuri,

Generally the google tools are related to ppc impressions,

 

[Codefixer]

The best way is to run an adwords campaign, it'll tell you exactly how many times something is typed into Google.

I'd also be wary that results could be slightly skewed, for instance users might be doing keyword checking.

 

[OldWelshGuy]

use all the KW tools, then run exact match Adwords campaigns bidding yourself into the top 4 positions, with enough budget to run each search. That will then give you 100% accurate search phrase data.

 

[justinmarch]

Correct me if I'm wrong but last time I looked Market Samurai used the Google PPC impressions?

 

[zigojacko]

Correct me if I'm wrong but last time I looked Market Samurai used the Google PPC impressions?

You're correct, a lot of people on here rave on about Market Samurai, I think it's rubbish just like about 5 million of the other keyword/seo tools out there.

 

[termsandconditions]

Correct me if I'm wrong but last time I looked Market Samurai used the Google PPC impressions?

Yes, that is one of 15 separarate measures it uses to track keywords/ key phrases. I'm not an SEO expert by any stretch of the imagination but it helps me talk on near equal terms with one. It's also great fun to see where a competitor has all his back links.

Best Regards

 

[justinmarch]

You're correct, a lot of people on here rave on about Market Samurai, I think it's rubbish just like about 5 million of the other keyword/seo tools out there.

I was questioning this...

for the most accurate you want to use market samuri,

Generally the google tools are related to ppc impressions,

Glad to know I am not going mad...

@zigojacko Have not used Market Samurai myself, sounds like you have and thought it was not so good

 

[zigojacko]

@zigojacko Have not used Market Samurai myself, sounds like you have and thought it was not so good

All it does is source it's keywords from the Google apps (they have a range of various search/keyword/suggest tools), it provides nothing that cannot otherwise be sought without the application.

Thus proving inaccurate, just like tons of others. None of the other features in the software provide anything worthwhile that I cannot obtain with a few of my SEO plugins.

 

[justinmarch]

From what I can see (admittedly through the videos on the site) the software would answer some of the questions I would ask of it perhaps the word "Rubbish" is a bit strong?

 

[zigojacko]

From what I can see (admittedly through the videos on the site) the software would answer some of the questions I would ask of it perhaps the word "Rubbish" is a bit strong?

Maybe the term "rubbish" is a bit strong but it is my opinion as someone that works in the industry, for many people just carrying out some basic research for a single site, it is probably one of the better freebies available although the accuracy of the data is somewhat questionable.

 

[zigojacko]

Can you answer the OP's question then? you work in this domain so we'd like your answer (I would anyway!) - just saying something is rubbish without offering any alternative doesnt really help.

I'm a novice - I use google commands - google keyword tool - market samurai - yahoo site explorer - seoquake and cross reference them.

I always start with market samurai as its quick and easy and gives a good enough idea for someone like me to decide if something is worth further researcht.....

what do you recommend?

Sure I am happy to elaborate, as an SEO, when I do carry out extensive keyword research that relies on tools, it can completely vary on the site, industry, goals of my client and their marketing budget as well as the competitiveness.

For others that don't optimise or work with hundreds of websites, most of the tools and apps that I use would not warrant the money just for a one off (or every few months) use.

However, like I say, the tactics I can use to carry out keyword research can vary somewhat but here is a few thoughts from me:-

Keyword Discovery by Trellian (Cost: $69.95 p/m although various packages)
www.keyworddiscovery.com (Allows segmenting by country)

A whole ton of features are available with Trellian's Keyword Discovery but most importantly, it accommodates for the UK market.

Features include:-

• Keyword Research
• Keyword Trends
• Keyword Manager
• Keyword Analyzer
• Competitive Intelligence
• Keyword Permutations
• Keyword Density
• Industry Terms
• Domain Research
• Reporting

Keyword Spy (Cost: £89.95 p/m although various packages)
www.keywordspy.com (Allows segmenting by country)

Whilst this is more paid search orientated, it's another extremely useful tool for keyword research and competitor analysis. Data appears to be limited on the free version.

Features include:-

• Keyword research
• Monitor keyword performance
• Domain analysis
• Keyword analysis
• Destination URL analysis
• Ad copy analysis
• Competitor analysis
• Reporting

SpyFu (Cost: $89.95 p/m although various packages)
www.spyfu.com (Allows segmenting by country)

Very similar to Keyword Spy although originated first, purely for spying on your competition.

Features include:-

• Loads of PPC options (ad budgets/positions/cpc's etc)
• Monitor keyword performance
• Keyword ad history
• Analyse and monitor organic competition
• Analyse and monitor paid competition

Word Tracker (Cost: £28 p/m)
www.wordtracker.com (Allows segmenting by country)

One of the best for the UK market research at an affordable price for anyone.

Features include:-

• Keyword research
• Managing keyword lists/projects and exporting
• Evaluate the competition
• SEO/PPC Campaign Planning

SEOmoz Tools (Cost: Pro Membership $79 p/m although various packages)
www.seomoz.org/tools

Can't speak highly enough of the SEOmoz range of SEO tools, but in terms of keyword research, they offer:-

• Keyword difficulty
• Popular searches
• Term target
• Term extractor

Search volume accuracy doesn't get much better than theirs.

Browser plugins

SEO Book Toolbar
SEO Quake
SEO for Firefox

(Amongst a ton of others that I can't remember the name of)

I also use a wide range of Google Advanced Search Operators for analysing search patterns/volumes/backlinks

I hope this is a bit more use to you Danny, I know it doesn't go too much in depth but truth be told, a large majority of my work is the good ole' fashioned manual way, after years of experience in the industry, you kind of get a good understanding of what keywords are worth targeting, which aren't, search behavior, search volume and it becomes more of a case of monitoring trends to get the most out of the optimisation.

I shall hopefully get round to writing a blog post on keyword research and the tools available sometime soon if I can find an angle that hasn't already been covered 100 times over.

 

[christie32]

For me Adword external tool and market samurai are very helpful

 

[ReformedSinner]

You should keep in mind that the results you get from these keyword research tools are only an estimation.

I will usually use Google AdWords keyword tool to do my research. It's free, try it

 

[dottelads]

i'd have to agree - google adwords is as good a starting place as any.
served me very well over the years

and the price point is well fantastic

 

[Tin]

I always run a pilot Google ad campaign to test search data, at least I'm getting 'actual figues' instead of guesstimation figures which is what all the tools dish out.

I manage a number of PPC accounts but there's one interesting issue that pops up all the time when I use the "Opportunities" tab in my Adwords accounts. No matter what keyword or market space I check out, the search volume data in any of the accounts all match up except for one account, which persistently shows extremely low search data figures (typically 1/10th) of any other account I use.

Running pilot ads in my opinion is the only way to see accurate search volumes per keyword.

 

[zigojacko]

More relevant traffic estimates now in the updated Keyword Tool

 

[johnspells]

I will also go for Market Samurai because of many reasons like It make the market research fast and easy and because of this it is helpful in saving hours in keyword research. It also helps in finding keywords that are very familiar with buyers. The main benefit of it is that it saves time.

 

[mangoprint]

Thanks for all the feedback.

I'm running a trial with Market Samurai at the mo