One of the things I love most about it is that it's completely web-based, which means I can use it from anywhere and any device - anytime.
The only real drawback (in my opinion) was that you could only perform 20 searches a day (um, per account, lol). But that wasn't a big deal to me, and that's no longer the case...
WordTracker released a MAJOR update to their Free Keyword Tool, which just rolled out this week. Their free tool now works more like the paid version of WordTracker, with a few minor restrictions...
I really loved the simplicity of the original Free Keyword Tool.
You typed in a word or phrase, and got up to 100 results. Each result was hyperlinked, allowing you to simply click on it to explore that phrase further - which was great for finding long tail keyword phrases easily!
Here's a screenshot of the original free tool to show you what I mean:
You could then click on "ipad apps" or "ipad accessories" to get new results containing those phrases specifically.
Their new/updated Free Keyword Tool looks and functions just like their paid tool, minus access to a few features you get by purchasing a subscription.
Here's what the free interface looks like now:
I do miss the simple interface. It was really great for super-fast keyword research, and a quick glance at market depth. The new tool is a tad bit slower - and doesn't include hyperlinks to "dig deeper" on phrases that interest you in the results.
What IS cool about the update is that you can now download the results into a spreadsheet, search by "exact match" or "any order" etc, and you now get competition data (which I don't personally use).
Take it for a spin and see for yourself!
All you have to do is register and you can start using the free tool.
Note: If you have ever used WordTracker's paid tool in the past, you may need to register for the free tool with a different email address.
I know a lot of people were using Google's Free Keyword Tool, which Google is shutting down in favor of their new "Keyword Planner" tool for Adwords advertisers. I was never a fan of their free tool myself, for a number of reasons.
If you have an Adwords account, or want to set one up just to use the tool, you can use Google's free tool for research, but I'm definitely sticking to WordTracker myself.
This update gives us a lot of new features and data to work with - and WordTracker does not own a search engine or sell advertising, if you catch my drift.
I would love to hear what you use for keyword research, how you feel about the new Google Keyword Planner in place of their free keyword tool, and would really like to know your thoughts on the new updates to WordTracker's Free Keyword Tool now that it offers so much more functionality.
Again, this keyword research tool is completely free, not to be mistaken for the free trial of their paid tool. They do make it tricky!
Leave a comment below and let us know what you think...
Best,
* I am an affiliate for WordTracker and used my referral links in this post. That said, the free keyword research tool is completely free to use, and is the tool I use every day myself. Enjoy!
