3 Search Engine Marketing Tools Everyone Should Use

There are a lot of different search engine marketing tools on the market.  It seems like every month, another piece of software is being released that is supposed to help you improve your rankings.  With so many options and choose from, it can be difficult to tell which tools will actually help you and which ones are optional.  Here’s a quick look at the top three search engine marketing tools that should be at the top of your list.

A Keyword Research Tool

The first tool that you should get is a keyword research tool.  There are a variety of these types of tools on the market such as Market Samurai and the Micro Niche Finder.  There are also free tools you can use as well, such as the Google keyword tool.  The reason that a keyword research tools important is that it will help you identify which keywords you should target during your SEM campaign.  There are a variety of different ways that people determine which keywords will be best for their particular needs.  The two most important elements that your keyword research tool needs to have is the ability to compile the data that you are interested in and provide you with a simple way to sort and filter your results.  Some of the data that many people utilize include things like the level of traffic for each keyword and how all competitive or difficult it will be to rank for that keyword.

Website Traffic Analytics

The next most important search engine marketing tool it is some type of website traffic analytic software.  The most well known free option is Google Analytics although there are a number of other services that you can use as well.  The reason that being able to track your website traffic is important is because it will let you know how effective your campaign is.  Ideally, your software will not only be able to tell you about the level of your website traffic, but important details as well.  Some of the essential information that you should gather includes the referring website, the keyword or search turn used to find your website, and what type of device your visitors are using – such as a specific browser, type of mobile phone, or digital reading device.  The more information you can gather about your visitors, the better you can tailor your website to maximize conversions.

Rank Checker

The final search engine marketing tool you will need is a rank checker.  This tool is designed to take your set of keywords you are targeting and determine where your website ranks for each of them.  Doing this manually will not only be very time intensive, but you can also get personalized results, which means that you will not be seeing the same results as someone else.  This information can be used to help you determine which keywords you are currently ranking for, as well as provide you with any early indication of other websites which may be getting ready to take your place.

There are a number of different commercial and free search engine marketing tools that can accomplish these tasks.  The key is deciding which one is right for you based upon your specific situation.