I would consider this a big issue. I have used many paid tools for this and the results are never going to be accurate IMO. It's just to easy for the SE's to pollute the data that these tools use.

Grand for finding keywords and estimating relative performance but I wouldn't be betting the house on any results. Using three or four different services and comparing/combining results is an option.

I am testing some nice tools that spider entire niches to extrapolate data about keyword usage across a large number of sites. They are quite resource heavy though.

Back to the main topic, you could try turning the tables so to speak and try to explain how SE's index and rank websites. If you give an overview of what the SE's are looking for it can sometimes be a better way to explain how to rank well.

Just my $0.01 (I dont think it's worth 2 cents ).

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It's the basis of any successful SEO work so any company that is offering SEO services should know how to do this. And I mean really know - IE not just download "Cool Keyword Finder Pro" for 200 Euros etc.

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The big problem with any database is the data sources used to compile their figures. They are prone to error and the SE's are known to inject info to pollute the data.

I'm not saying KW research isn't important - it really is. You can surely outrank your competitors using the right KW research.

I am wondering if anyone else has thoughts on the pros and cons of the various keyword research methods.

Rgds

Richard

I've found that running an AdWords campaign for a few months helps give an idea of the best keywords. Obviousyl, we eventually pare this down to very targetted keywords but intially it can be valuable to have a broad mix and see what kinds of words are most active.

So would using competitors sites / code / results be a common way of tracking?

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In terms of tracking competitors the only thing I am interested in is their backlinks and some info about their domain (age) and site (size and architecture).

If you mean tracking keywords the most common way would be through keyword services (Wordtracker, Keyword discovery, a couple of other smaler tools, and a few free tools).

There are a number of (very expensive) corporate services that do 'reputation tracking' which is a slight slant on the SEO stuff.

Oh, and there are a number of automated ways to track compeitor site SERPs.

Not sure if I'm answering your question.

How can you track the age of a domain if it is a .ie?

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Whois data - I have a plugin that grabs it automatically for me.

I've a feature that I'm going to be adding to .ie records on WhoisIreland.com that will give the new/deleted dates for .ie domains since 2001. I've a few other things to finish but I should be integrated by the weekend.

Regards...jmcc

That would be handy, though I wonder how much weight the search engine apply to ccTLD domains that don't carry that info in whois .. Maybe they simply rely on the first "mention"....

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