WordStream offers a paid keyword and seo tool, which they’ve recently updated with some new features (integration with Google Analytics and their free keyword tool, analysis based on different traffic sources). I’m taking a look at the paid keyword tool for a separate review (and to see if we want to use it), but WordStream also released a free keyword tool back in September that I thought I would take a look at. I mostly use Google AdWord’s tools currently.
WordStream advertises their free keyword tool as fast – and it is that – pretty blazing fast, actually. Which is nice. You can get access to a full list of keywords much faster than Google’s keyword tool. And WordStream will email you the full list – although the value of that goes down quite a bit when you’re talking about large numbers of keywords – who wants to sift through a list of 1,108 keywords?
I’m not so sure I agree with the quality of keywords, however. For example, I did a search for “internet strategy” and the search returned keywords like “zara internet strategy”, “xenocide 3001 internet strategy game”, “what is home depots internet strategy”, “walmart internet strategy”, “ups and internet strategy”, “tigerdirect newegg internet strategy”, “tigerdirect internet strategy 2007” (among others). These were all in the top 15 results, rated based on relative volume. It’s important to realize how much search volume a particular keyword (or phrase) has, but in order to be efficient and cost-effective, you’re usually looking for good keywords that have relatively few advertiser competition – which is information that Google’s keyword tool provides (along with last month’s local search volume and global search volume).
WordStream’s keyword tool did suggest a list of related keywords, which was nice (Google will also do this), so I tried a search that included the keywords: internet strategy, internet, marketing, advertising, consulting, strategy, trends, strategies, strategic, consultant. This search came up with some interesting keywords, such as “newbies marketing guide” and “automated advertising services” that I did not see in the Google results. But, again there were pretty useless keywords in the mix, like “internet explorer”, “football ats trends” in the top 10 results (and the results from 8 to 20 were all about sports trends). The same search on Google provided more relevant results, but the keywords were mostly all very broad, with lots of competition, so not necessarily very useful either (you can narrow Google’s search or look for negative keywords).
WordStream’s information about the free keyword tool compares it to WordTracker and Keyword Discovery, which it may very well compete against (I’ve used both but it’s been awhile).
Conclusion: I’d suggest using WordStream’s keyword tool for keyword discovery purposes – when you’re looking for keywords you hadn’t already considered. Then, take those keywords and refine your list using Google’s keyword tool. Tthe WordStream paid tool may be better than Google’s tools, but I’m still playing with it. In terms of free tools, you’re going to get more information and higher quality keywords from Google’s keyword tool.
Have you used WordStream’s free keyword tool? What do you think?
Related posts:
- Interview with WordStream founder, Larry Kim
- WordStream Adds Free Keyword Grouper & Keyword Niche Finder to SEO PPC Tools
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