One of the things that I like best about the Internet is how easy it is to exchange information with other people. One of the most informative and interactive ways to do so is by becoming involved in various forums. In terms of search engine optimization, there are countless forums out there from which any person can glean tons of useful information. At the same time, you can also share your own experiences and tips. But if you are new to these things, which forum do you go to? About.com came up with a list of the best forums out there which focus on web site optimization. Let’s pay some of them a visit?

Web Site Optimization Forum #1: High Rankings
HighRankings.com is a forum put together by Jill Whalen, one of the shining stars in the Web site optimization world. I like this forum because of the variety of people that contribute, the discussions are informative and friendly, and all skill levels are encouraged to participate.

High Rankings is at the top of their list. I paid this site a visit and was impressed at the activity of its members. By the way, there are more topics than SEO. I think I shall spend more time browsing through their threads.

Web Site Optimization Forum #2: Search Engine Watch
SearchEngineWatch.com is one of the best places on the Web to get information about search, search engine technology, search engine news, search engine optimization, etc., and their forums are much the same. Danny Sullivan is one of the moderators of these forums, and I always learn something new every time I drop in. Lots of great discussions about anything from algorithms to Yahoo.

What I like about this site is how the topics are arranged. I find it very organized and easy to navigate, thus I spend less time trying to find something that is relevant to me.

(to be continued)

Photo courtesy of FredArmitage

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Trust Google to come up with something new and useful for countless users all around the world. We have talked about the Google Keyword Tool and Google Alerts in previous posts. This time, they launched a new tool called Google Insights.

So what is new about this tool? Computer World reports:

Google Inc. yesterday rolled out a new tool that it said can help marketing and advertising users better analyze Internet search patterns, while also adding new tools such as a “heat map” for graphically displaying search volumes and other data.

Google Insights for Search is an extension of the updated Google Trends tool that the company launched in June. Like Google Trends, the Insights software lets users type in search terms and then see search volume patterns over time as well as the top related and rising searches, Google said in a blog post. But it added that with the new tool, users also can compare volume trends across multiple search terms, vertical industry categories, geographic regions and time ranges.

Insights for Search is designed to be used by advertisers, small business owners, academics and others, Google said, noting that it provides added “flexibility and functionality for advertisers and marketers to understand search behavior.”

So basically, if you are looking for more specific information on what people are searching for online, you can make use of Google Insights. The added details that users can input make this tool very useful. In addition to this, the graphical user interface can also make the tool easier for those who are more visually inclined.

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It is known to many that there are a lot of tools that one can use in order to get that much needed boost for a web site. The trick, I suppose, is in knowing about these tools and determining which tools in particular could be useful. In a recent post, we took a look at Google Alerts and how this Google product can become a useful tool for you.

How about Google Web Site Optimizer? Have you heard of this Google product? Probably. To be honest, I have heard of the Google Optimizer for quite some time now. However, I have not really dabbled with it. I have focused more on Google Analytics.

Upon reading an entry over at No Doubt Marketing, however, I think I shall give this a try. They describe their experience with the Optimizer:

By far, this tool is one of the most powerful and it is free to use. You will need to set up a Google account to access it, but it is well worth it. You can use this tool to test out various configurations, layouts and page content to determine how effective they will be. Set up a test page, run the optimizer and it will provide you with the tips you need to perfect that page. With multiple test pages, you can easily see which one will have the best projected ROI.

Yup, as with many Google applications, this is for free. More so, the chances are that you already have your Google account, so there is no need to create a new one. I can’t wait to play with this tool!

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Researching the right keywords is an integral part of SEO. Ask any person knowledgeable in this field and they will tell you that you have to have the right keywords in order to make some headway into the world of SEO. Yet how do you find out which keywords to use for your particular web site? There are plenty of tools out there, one of which is WordTracker.

I personally like WordTracker for a variety of reasons. For one, WordTracker offers hundreds of millions of keywords and key phrases that are specific to particular niches. You will most certainly find the most popular and most used keywords and key phrases for your specific subject using WordTracker. It has a free version, which anyone can use without having to shell out any money. I suggest, however, that you do get the full version as it offers much more than the free version. WordTracker will give you what your target audience is using as search terms in the major search engine. More so, WordTracker will help you figure out additional key words that you can use for your web site. It is very easy to use – most everything is intuitive – so you don’t have to waste time trying to figure out the software.

If you want to find out what WordTracker can do for you, try out the 7-day trial for free. Just make sure that if you do not want to continue using it, unsubscribe before the trial expires, otherwise, you will be billed for using it.

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I recently reviewed Nichebot as a keyword research tool. This week, I’m taking a look at Keyword Discovery. I’ve never used Keyword Discovery before, except through Nichebot’s interface, so I was really curious to see how everything works from Keyword Discovery itself.

The tool itself has several impressive features, giving users access to data including KEI analysis, spelling mistakes, seasonal search trends, keyword density, and industry keywords. You can also crawl for related terms, saving yourself a lot of time from researching each particular keyword. You can even choose where to extract the data, whether it’s by country, or from specific sources such as News, eBay, Shopping, or the Thesaurus. You also have the option to access Overture data – but Overture hasn’t updated since January 2007.

The Keyword Discovery interface is simple and straightforward – which is a good thing for first time users. The other pros of the Keyword Discovery service include:

• around 1000 results for deep-digging each root keyword (and more if you get exhaustive keyword lists). This is great if you’re looking for those long tail keywords that you may want to capitalize on.
• The extensive FAQ and Help section, including the PDF manuals, make it easy for users to learn how to use the tool properly and how to apply the results to their website.
• You get a variety of data from several different databases, and it’s rumored to have the largest database around.
• Unlike WordTracker, Keyword Discovery data is relatively accurate. Here’s an excerpt from their site:

The Keyword discovery total is the TOTAL number of searches in the Keyword discovery database. That is, the total number of actual searches recorded on that term, NOT an estimate.

Now, for some cons:

• Since Keyword Discovery searches for results over a 12-month period, the basic search isn’t good for getting seasonal data. To get seasonal searches, you have to click on the “Trend” button for each keyphrase.
• Data takes a while longer to load, at least compared to other tools I’ve used.

Overall, Keyword Discovery is a good tool. Although I wouldn’t trade it for my Nichebot subscription, I’ll probably be using the Keyword Discovery 9-in-1 tool in Nichebot more often. I’m impressed with the accuracy of the results. Keyword Discovery offers a free trial, so you might want to try it out first to see if it’s the right keyword tool for you.

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Everybody’s buzzing about SEO. Like a lover it promises the earth, the sun, and the sky, which, for web masters, equates to higher ranking, higher exposure, and ultimately, higher profit. But here’s a general truth: not everyone likes to read, especially when it’s littered with technical jargon like SEO books are. If you’re the type who gets dizzy after reading the first page, I’m giving you an alternative: free online video tutorials. So get off your lazy ass and put that popcorn in the microwave. It’s time for some serious video marathon.

Eyeflow

If it’s basic you want, then it’s Eyeflow you must see. Eyeflow contains video tutorials that introduce what SEO is and what are the different basic elements involved in the SEO process. Explained by segments, it introduces the crucial players of SEO; keywords, links, and some dos and don’ts in the SEO arena.

SEOBOOK

Worthy of mention is another free video tutorial site named SEOBOOK. It features the basics of SEO as well as different topics that would help you in your quest for a higher rank. The main site itself shows only a few of the available tutorials by SEOBOOK. The bulk of the guides are housed under YouTube. Click on the YouTube profile link and view all 19 guides ranging from the most basic to the advanced techniques as well as reviews of tools to let you stay ahead in the SEO race.

GSINC

Another site with comprehensive tutorials available in the Net for free is GSINC. Here, SEO consultant Gareth Davies discusses search engine optimization basics, as well as tips and tricks to get you fast-tracked. He talks about most of the important topics dealing with SEO, from keywords to backlinks as well as search engine features, and how to use them to your own advantage.

Do you know of other SEO video tutorials that I haven’t listed? Please let me know via the comments to share them with the other readers.

(Unless you’re so secretive about your resources )

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SEO topics have taken the Internet by storm, extending its reach even on Internet radio. Experts are quick to pounce on this technology via podcasts, offering expertise, tips and tactics. However, we know that not all SEO podcasts are created equal. And so I have taken the liberty of listing a few podcasts which I think is worthy of your time (look at me talk as if I’m some big SEO hotshot). Anyway, without further ado, here they are:

Podcast #1: SEO 101: The Beginning SEO

One of the best podcasts out there, hands down. Ranging from the very basic to advanced techniques discussions, SEO 101 caters to the different levels of expertise in SEO. Tips, tactics, news – you name it, they have it. Browse their neatly arranged categories for the desired topic and listen immediately. No time to sit in front of the computer for extended periods? Then download the episodes on MP3 format and plug them in your MP3 player. Now that’s learning on the go.

Podcast #2: Daily SearchCast

Featuring the latest news on search engine giants, the anchors of Daily SearchCast brings you the newest industry gossips from Google, MSN and other major search engines without sounding like a weather report. Humorous lines and witty yet razor-sharp commentaries gives you the itty-gritty facts on how these developments could affect and eventually change the face of search engine optimization.

Podcast #3: Mr SEO

Never mind the site layout. We came here for the goodies right? Mr SEO focuses on listeners’ questions and tries to answer them via podcast. These questions range from basic ones to advanced techniques, so there’s something for everybody. Though it lacks a sense of organization (podcasts are just arranged by date, no tags, or categories) or even a podcast search function, digging through the many episodes might give you a treasure of a find.

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I’ve been using Nichebot for the past 5 months, and it’s about time that I review it. I recently recommended it to another web site publisher, and he didn’t really like it. He’ll be switching to his previous (but more expensive and limited) keyword research tool. I, on the other hand, will be sticking with Nichebot for a while. Here’s why:

It’s affordable. I live in a third world country, so the price is the first thing I look at. I subscribed to the Lite Researcher package, which costs a little less than $10.00 per month. That’s more than my water bill, and half my electric bill. Now, I’d never sacrifice quality for price, which leads me to my next point.

Read More…

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Link building is the backbone of SEO. Without an efficient link building campaign, you can’t expect much from your efforts. Contrary to popular belief, link building tools need not be expensive. Here are some of the free link building tools that I use to kickstart my campaigns:

SEO-friendly Directories List.  The MS Excel file you can download from this site contains hundreds of general directories and niche-specific directories.  If you’re going to go around submitting your site to directories, this file would be the best place to start.  It indicates the PR of each directory, and the file is usually updated to ensure a high-quality list.

SiteSub.  When submitting your links to directories, you’ll notice that each directory has its own requirements  – number of keywords, description word count, etc.  It can be really tedious to modify your link specs per directory.  SiteSub makes it easier to add your link to a website directory, blog directory, or link list by letting you type, copy & paste, and save your site details per requirement.  So if you have a 250-character site description, you don’t need to edit it every time a directory only requires 100-characters.  The official website has more details on this neat little program’s features.

Backlink PageRank Checker. This tool is native to SmartPageRank and lets you check the PR of all the sites that are linking to you.  By looking at the results of this tool, you can tell which advertisements or links are worth more to you in terms of PR.

Links Assistant.  This assistant won’t take your calls or make your coffee, but it’s a feature-rich link campaign program.  It lets you track information about your link partners, send them e-mails using templates, and update your HTML files with a single click.

SEO Spyglass.  Not all features are available on the free version, but you can find out a wealth of information on your competitors.  You can find a competitor by entering keywords that you want to rank well for, or, if you already know who your arch nemesis is, you can input his/her URL and find out a lot about what link building tricks they’re up to.  Once you figure out your competitor’s link building strategy, you can apply them to your own site and try to beat them at their own game.  Very evil and loads of fun.

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Don’t you love it when you need an SEO tool for a specific task and then you find a blog post linking to the exact tool you need? I just found a great tool that helps you determine if a site is linking to bad neighborhoods. I found this tool at mikaelrieck.com.  It’s called the Bad Neighborhood Text Link Checker Tool.

Right now, I’m doing SEO work for client’s website. He wants me to improve his rankings for a couple of keywords. I know of bloggers that are selling content-based links on their blogs. This tool is helping me evaluate their blogs.

This tool looks through a URL’s links and finds out if there are any questionable links. Also, it goes to the webpages being linked to and finds out if those webpages are linking to questionable sites.

The tool gives warnings if a webpage has a high link density, too many links from blogs (possible sign of blog spamming), or anchor text related to industries where search engine spam is common and non-family friendly industries.

Check it out: Bad Neighborhood Text Link Checker Tool

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