One of the top keyword research tools – Google AdWords Keyword Tool – has undergone a drastic renovation, now known as
Google AdWords Keyword Planner. And the general consensus seems to be that this was not the best of all ideas. If you aren’t a fan of the new Google keyword tool, then here are some good alternatives to try out. None are a replacement for GAKT, but they can help ease the pain of the loss.
Moz Keyword Analysis (paid)
Moz’s
Keyword Analysis Tool allows you to enter up to 20 keywords to see their difficulty, average monthly search volume, and the top 10 websites ranking for them. This tool is a part of Moz’s premium membership that starts at $99 per month with a free 30 day trial.
Raven Tools Research Central (paid)
Raven Tool’s
Research Central allows you to complete in-depth SEO keyword and domain research with data from SEOMoz, Majestic SEO and OpenCalais in one place. This tool is a part of Raven Tool’s premium membership that starts at $99 per month with a free 30 day trial.
Advanced Web Ranking (paid)
Advanced Web Ranking’s
keyword research tool brings data from Google AdWords, Google Webmaster API, Google Trends, Google Suggest, 7Search, SEMRush, Wordtracker, and Yahoo API Related Keyword Search together in one place. Basic keyword research functionality is available with plans starting at $99 for a lifetime license. Advanced keyword research functionality is available with plans starting at $399 for a lifetime license.
Keyword Spy (paid)
Keyword Spy is a keyword research tool that helps you research your competition’s organic, paid search, and affiliate keywords. Pricing starts at $89.95 per month.
Wordpot (free)
Wordpot is a free keyword research tool that will give you keyword ideas along with daily search volume. The trade off for it being a free tool is that it says the current index of keywords was last compiled in 2011.
Keyword Discovery (free & paid)
Keyword Discovery is a tool that will give thousands of keyword ideas based on the search term you enter. You can use it for free for up to 50 searches to get keyword ideas, or sign up for the premium plans starting at $69.95 per month for additional keyword analysis features.
SEO Book Keyword Tool (free)
SEO Book’s
Keyword Tool offers suggested daily search volumes, price estimates from Google AdWords, links to other keyword tools (Google Trends, Suggest, Synonyms, etc.), links to vertical databases, and is powered by Wordtracker’s keyword tool.
Wordtracker (paid)
Wordtracker helps you find high-performing, profitable, keywords for your business. They separate themselves from other tools by helping you find the keywords that your customers are searching when they are ready to buy. Pricing starts at $69 per month.
Bing Keyword Research (free)
Bing’s
Keyword Research Tool helps you discover keywords people are searching for on Bing with up to six months of historical search data instead of averages. It is a part of Bing Webmaster Tools.
WordStream (free)
WordStream’s
Free Keyword Tool has over a trillion keywords in their database and helps you identify the most profitable long-tail keywords for your business.
SEMrush (paid)
SEMrush helps you discover your competitor’s organic and paid keywords in search. You can search by your competitor’s domain or search for competitors using specific keywords. Pricing starts at $69.95 per month, or you can access it for one month for $79.95.
Keyword Eye (paid)
Keyword Eye is a tool that lets you visualize your competitor’s organic and paid search terms. It also includes the ability to connect to Google Analytics to discover additional keyword opportunities as well as monitor incoming anchor link text. Pricing is £9.99 per month.
Long Tail Pro (paid)
Long Tail Pro helps you research keywords to find profitable niches. It includes the ability to discover domains based on keyword search results. Pricing is $97 for a lifetime license with the option to add an additional $17 per month for extended features.
Suggestions (free)
Ok, these aren’t specifically keyword research tools, but they can help with the keyword idea generation process. You can use just about any search engine to get ideas based on typing in just a word or two. For example, on Google…
Bing…
Yahoo…
Gmail…
As you can see, you can go beyond search engines and utilize a lot of different sources for keyword research, including social and personal networks.