Keyword Research Tools:

Reviewed and Evaluated for 2011

*NOTE: All of these keyword tools have the ability to find valuable keywords and they also come with free trial versions. (Updated January 24, 2011: The Keyword Elite 2.0 free trial is no longer supported by its creator).

If you need keyword tool software that is going to WORK for you, I recommend you use one of these 3: Keyword Elite by Brad Callen, Traffic Travis by Mark Ling, and last but definitely not least, Market Samurai by the team at Noble Samurai.

Before I begin to list the features of these keyword tools and show you exactly how I evaluate products, first I’d like to enlighten you concerning several other keyword research software floating around the web. I get many questions regarding various keyword tools and thought it would be a good idea to make a “STAY AWAY” list on your behalf. I will update this list as I come across new tools.

Also, to be straight forward, using Google’s External Keyword Tool is a good option if you’re short on money. It does however have some limitations.

How I Evaluate Products?

* I have tested each of these keyword tools at some point except Keyword Elite 2.0 by Brad Callen (Because I didn’t feel the need to try it… the reason why is below).

I classify keyword tools under 3 groups: “Great Investment” (The ones I mentioned above), “Not Worth It” and “These Stink”.

First, lets start with “These Stink”:

* I define “These Stink” as NOT helping or improving your ability to make money online. In all seriousness, these tools can possibly harm your online potential.*

* NicheBOT (Stinks…monthly payments you got to be kidding me!)
* Micro Niche Finder by James J Jones (I’ve never used it, but heard bad things about it)
* Ryan Deiss’ Cherry Picker software (Not even worth the free download)
* Many others not worth mentioning

Have a bad experience with a keyword tool? Let me know and I’ll add it to the list.

Second: “Not Worth It”:

* I define “Not Worth It” as it may help, but there are better, more affordable tools available.

* WordTracker – I’ve only used the free version and it works, but I can’t get around monthly payments. Especially when you can get a great tool for a onetime investment.
* Brad Callen’s Niche Finder (Unless you want to pay $97 for a very simplified version of Keyword Elite )

Finally: “Great Investment”.

* I define “Great Investment” as something you can buy without worry. These will help GROW your online income and help you obtain your goals…whatever they may be.

Keyword Tools That Work:

#1: Market Samurai by Noble Samurai (I own and use it myself almost everyday)

You can read my full review of Market Samurai for more detailed information about it. But briefly I would like to explain the title of this page.

Reasons Market Samurai is #1:

• Support is Top-Notch

• Frequently Updated with New Features

• It’s not just a keyword tool… has many features most keyword tools neglect to include

• No other K.T. is as convenient to use and robust as Market Samurai

• Does more than most subscription based keyword tools available

• The “keyword module” is always free (even after free trial expires)

And I don’t know whether any of the Noble Samurai team will read this review or not, but I would like to thank them, because No other product owner would sell such a great product like Market Samurai for less than it’s actually worth.

Click here for Market Samurai free trial.

Downside of MS: The problem that ALL keyword tools have: Collected data isn’t 100% accurate and vary among tools.

Solution: When performing keyword research use data conservatively. For number of searches I typically divide everything in half (that’s very conservative) as a precaution. That way I’m pleasantly surprised when I get a better outcome.

Also NOTE: MS is a workhorse, and because of that it requires a 2GHz processor and at least 1GB RAM.

• Traffic Travis from Mark Ling…he makes a killing online

• Easy user interface

• Print and Save reports…this is big for keeping organized and on target
  

• Easy to compare your site with others and spy on competitors

• Has Too Many Unique Features that I can’t count here.

Traffic Travis is AWESOME, but here are a couple drawbacks (The reasons why I rate it as #2):

• Free trial has advertisements and limited to no support, but can be removed with pro version

• Free trial limits keyword listings (*Market Samurai doesn’t limited keyword results on free trial*)

• I hate the name…I know this doesn’t count

Click here for Traffic Travis free trial.

• I have never used Keyword Elite, I found Market Samurai before I was aware of it, but from my research it looks like it offers just as much if not more. Also, when first released the price tag of $197-$297 was too high IMO.

• Now $97 (onetime payment)

• Beautiful interface

• Tons of features…allows you to spy on others in your niche.

I don’t have review for Keyword Elite 2 because I have never tried it, but I may give it a shot to see exactly how well it stacks up to Market Samurai. I hear the free trial calling my name (Updated January 24, 2011: Free trial no longer supported).

Click Here for Keyword Elite 2.0

Comments are always welcome and appreciated,

Thank you.