Seo Websites

External Keyword Tool
Revisiting my opinion on Wordtracker's Keywords Suggestion Tool

Always a keen user of Google's AdWords keyword suggestion interface, I wasn't convinced that Wordtracker's alternative Keywords Suggestion Tool was worth it...

 

How wrong can you be ?

So, jst a week after being 'converted' to the 'Wonders of Wordpress', I am now officially a 'Wordtracker Backer'. Please feel free to suggest any other tools with 'Word' in the name ;)

Why am I writing this today ? Because I was surprised to receive Wordtracker's email telling me they have charged my credit card after my 7 day trial !

If I didn't even notice the 7 days passing, then their service must be good, surely ?

I assume it must have been last Wednesday that I signed up (it is, after all, Wednesday today). 
They helpfully sent a large number of emails 'helping' me to use the service. First downer for me was there. I read the emails, clicked on the links. But unless you are a beginner in the keywords business, the info is, for the vast majority, simplistic and stating the obvious. 

Second downer - the Wordtrcker database is actually quite limited. veri little information on the less-than-popular niche markets.

So, if you are in the travel business, or a similar high-traffic area, their tool is directly very useful, giving keywords galore. If your market is more niche-esque, you'll need to use the Google tool (limited to 150 queries per day).
Sounds a bit dumb, signing up for a paid tool that simlply queries the Adwords Keyword Tool. But, although it shows the same listing as Google, it also adds KEI and KEI3 info... and allows you to drill down (which Google's Adwords Tool doesn't)...

KEI - The KEI and the KEI3 columns each use a different formula. Both KEI metrics can help you spot niches with high popularity and low competition.

The Keyword Effectiveness Index (KEI) compares the number of times a keyword has been searched for with competition (the number of pages that contain the exact keyword phrase within at least one of its incoming links, known as ‘All in Anchor'). 
The formula for KEI is: KEI = (Searches ^ 2) / In Ancho

KEI3 combines a keyword's popularity (the number of searches) with its level of competition (In Anchor and Title) to help you find the keywords with the most potential
The formula for KEI3 is: KEI3 = Searches / In Anchor And Title 
 
Now, what have I found out ? That I was wasting about 40% of my efforts on 'unwinnable' battles, and not getting my teeth into easily winnable battles...
 
When checking competition in Google - it gives the number of pages conteining the keyword phrase, and variations of it that Google deems 'relevant'. Often a BIG number. But in reality, the vast majority are not even in the running. Lucky, really when you see a WHOPPING 226 million !!!!!
When using the Adwords Keyword Tool as a Keywords Suggestion Tool , the data refers to AdWords purchases and AdWords competition. Useful, but not accurate to the organic searches we are aiming at.
 
Wordtracker identifies how many pages are really competing for ranking - a figure MUCH more useful to me.
 
So, I have applied this to my client's sites such as
  1. SEO Website Services
  2. Clio Barnard
  3. Dr Leitch - Impulsive Eating
  4. Freight Planet
  5. Photo Booths for your event
  6. Voyagez avec Findertrip
  7. Wedding Photography Gallery - Elie Bernager
  8. Trip Finder - FinderTrip
  9. Travel Agencies
  10. Travel Reviews and Articles - FinderTrip
  11. Blog de viajes - FinderTrip
 
One word of warning : don't take Wordrackers Keyword Suggestions to the letter... some terms may have 'only' 500 truly competing pages, but do a quick Google Search, and you'll see that the first 40 are popular sites that, due to their importance, you will never beat, however good you are at SEO - an example would be "google keyword"
 
For this article, I chose "adwords external", "adwords external keyword tool" and "external keyword tool" which have less than 500 serious competitors, according to Wordtracker - both with a KEI less interesting than "google keyword".... but I reckon I have a chance. 
 
Update - ranking 7th for "adwords external", 8th for "adwords external keyword tool" and 30th for "external keyword tool". I have tweaked this page (Jan 2012). Let's see how I get on !