Top 10 free SEO & keyword tools and reports from Wordtracker by Rachelle Money, 13 February 2009

With no mention of the CC it’s a good time to remind you of all the lovely freebies we have on our website. Take a look at our free guides on keyword research, as well as our fantastic tools and videos, which should help you come up with some fresh ideas for your 2009 SEO strategy. Here's our top ten for you to enjoy.

1) Profit from Keywords Videos

This has to be the finest series of videos on keyword research out there. On every day of the week you can learn how keyword research can assist your business in achieving its maximum return on investment. The videos are easy guides on how to enhance your business online by learning all about Pay-Per-Click campaigns, how to use keywords in your linking text, how to assess your market with keyword research and how to expand into new markets.

Video 1 - Search Engine Success Starts with Keywords

Video 2 - Assess Your Market with Keyword Research

Video 3 - How to Build an Effective Keyword Strategy

Video 4 - How to Optimize Your Web Content

Video 5 - Pay Per Click (PPC) for Testing and Profit

Video 6 - How to Use Keywords in Linking Text

Video 7 - Expand into New Markets (and Beat Your Competition)

2) Keyword Basics Guide (Start finding the keywords you need to succeed online)

This four-part extravaganza gets deep into the heart of what keyword research is all about. This is really the perfect introductory step everyone should take on their journey to optimize their website. Even if you have been using Wordtracker for some time and think you know enough about the subject, I urge you to read this because you may uncover some new gems of information.

In Part One, our Chief Marketing Officer Ken McGaffin takes you through how search engines work and how they determine which website gets top of their results.

Part Two is all about discovering the Keyword Matrix, where Ken explains how Wordtracker can be used on a practical level with a step-by-step guide on how to use the tool, and what to do with the keywords after you get them.

Part Three focuses on how to choose the best keywords, when you should expand your keyword list, and how they inform your overall SEO strategy.

Part Four gets down to the nitty gritty with a final chapter on how to use keywords in website copywriting. Once you have all your keywords how do you start writing the keyword-rich content? Read this, and you'll soon find out!

3) Keyword Research Guide

If you haven't read this free guide, do it now. This is a must-have to help Wordtracker clients get a good handle on what keyword research can do on a practical scale.

We created a fictional company, Virginia Veg, and asked experts to provide real answers to the problems facing its CEO, Susan Webster. The results are in this e-book which is packed with insight, tips and techniques on keyword research that you can apply easily to your own website.

It's well worth taking the time to read through the 13 chapters which show you why keywords matter, what you can achieve with Wordtracker, how to boost your online traffic and how to design an online marketing strategy.

4) Using Keywords Guide (A 9-point plan for growing your website revenue)

This is another chunky guide on how to use keywords and has been divided into three parts.

The first chapter looks at how you can use keywords to optimize your current content.

Then the second chapter lifts the lid on how to generate search-engine friendly content for your site.

Finally, the third chapter of Using Keywords is an insightful guide on how the Wordtracker tool can uncover useful niches in your market for you to exploit.

5) Keyword Creativity In Web Design

"Bob Arden is young and ambitious enough to believe that he can still make it big with his website design company.

"He's determined to make big changes, and make them happen soon.

"The latest new business pitch sounds just the right opportunity to try new ways of working, especially as it demands a high level of keyword research skills, something he really wants to get on top on."

Read Bob's story and learn about how the power of keyword creativity can help your website find you more business.

6) The Keyword Questions Tool

The Keyword Questions Tool allows you to enter a 'seed' keyword which is then paired up with a host of top questions asked in search engine queries. So if you want to know what kind of questions people are asking around your business just enter your important keywords and hey presto! This is also a great tool if you want to find inspiration for new content.

7) Free Keyword Suggestion Tool

This is a really simple tool for those who are still contemplating purchasing a full Wordtracker license. This free tool means you can enter a keyword and it will generate around 100 related keywords and an estimate of their daily search volume.

8) Keyword Expert Newsletter

Every month you can find the latest discussions and debates around keyword research and search engine optimization on the Wordtracker Academy site. It gives a great opportunity for experts from all fields to talk about what they think are important lessons, tips and ideas our clients should know about. We also have a fantastic library of case studies which show how Wordtracker has helped a variety of online businesses.

9) SearchStatus Firefox plugin

Not a Wordtracker tool but used and recommended by Wordtracker's SEO expert, Mark Nunney, who tells me: "The SearchStatus Firefox plugin is packed with '2-click' features including (for the page and site you are browsing) finding: inbound links (excluding from current site) as measured by Yahoo; old versions of the site in the WayBackMachine; untold WhoIs options so you can explore who owns the site; and Alexa Rank and traffic estimates."

10) SEO For Firefox plugin

Mark Nunney says: "Aaron Wall's SEObook has a bunch of free tools but my favorite is the 'Look up this page' feature on the SEO For Firefox plugin. With two clicks you are shown a collection of useful facts about the page (and site) you are browsing including: Yahoo inbound links, site Age and a collection of indicators of the site's social profile on Del.icio.us, Digg, StumbleUpon, Twitter and Technorati. Marvelous stuff."