{"id":38,"date":"2011-03-25T10:32:57","date_gmt":"2011-03-25T18:32:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/themanwhosoldtheweb.com\/blog\/?p=38"},"modified":"2011-04-01T20:31:03","modified_gmt":"2011-04-02T03:31:03","slug":"3-tools-i-use-on-a-daily-basis-to-help-me-focus-my-seo-efforts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/themanwhosoldtheweb.com\/blog\/2011\/03\/3-tools-i-use-on-a-daily-basis-to-help-me-focus-my-seo-efforts\/","title":{"rendered":"3 tools I use on a daily basis to help me focus my SEO efforts."},"content":{"rendered":"

The key take-away from a number of very popular business strategy frameworks is to FOCUS.\u00a0 This includes Porter’s Five Forces, Blue Ocean Strategy, Bowling Pin Strategy, etc.\u00a0 This same principle holds true for SEO strategy.<\/p>\n

Like myself, I assume you are also a one-man team.\u00a0 You have a lot of priorities, and so your time and energy is limited.\u00a0 You may want to conquer your niche, but to do, requires focus.\u00a0 In conducting SEO, take down a handful of keywords at a time.\u00a0\u00a0 Once you have them ranked high, or at least with upwards momentum, expand your list of keywords.<\/p>\n

To help myself focus, I use 3 tools (pretty much on a daily basis).\u00a0 They are all free. \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 These tools are listed and explained below in the order that I use them.<\/p>\n

1. Google AdWords: Keywords Tool<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/adwords.google.com\/select\/KeywordToolExternal<\/a><\/p>\n

This is an incredibly useful tool that Google provides for free.\u00a0 You don’t need a Google or AdWords account, btw.\u00a0 To use this tool, first brainstorm a list of keywords you would like to target.\u00a0 Enter them into the ‘Word or phrase’ text box, check off ‘Only show ideas closely related to search terms,’ complete the CAPTCHA<\/a> (if applicable).<\/p>\n

Hit the ‘Search’ button and Google will return an expanded list of search terms with key metrics that provide insight into the attractiveness of those keyword search terms.\u00a0 See the screenshot below.\u00a0 In this example, I search for keywords like “submit to Google<\/a>,” because I want to promote my free Rapid Google Indexer tool<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/center><\/p>\n

Check off all the keywords that have a worthwhile number of global searches for you to pursue ranking.\u00a0 (Note, however, that these are merely estimates made by this Google tool.\u00a0 They may or may not be that accurate.)\u00a0 Next, go to the ‘Download’ dropdown, and click ‘Selected (#).’\u00a0 See the screenshot below.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/center><\/p>\n

A prompt will appear; select ‘CSV for Excel.’\u00a0 A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet should be downloaded and open automatically. This brings us into the next tool.<\/p>\n

2. SEO Keyword Management Dashboard (Excel document)<\/strong>
\nhttp:\/\/themanwhosoldtheweb.com\/downloads\/seo-keyword-management-dashboard\/<\/a><\/p>\n

The SEO Keyword Management Dashboard is an Excel spreadsheet I created to help track and monitor the progress of my SEO efforts against specific, targeted keywords.\u00a0 The first thing to do is copy the values from the Excel CSV file (from the previous tool) starting on row 2 and paste these values into the Dashboard.\u00a0 Continuing on the same example, let’s look at the screenshot below.\u00a0 Click on the image to view the full image.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/center><\/p>\n

The first 4 columns (Keyword, Competition, Global Monthly Searches, Local Monthly Searches) were copied as is from the Excel CSV file (generated by the Google Tool).\u00a0 Here are explanations of those 4 columns:<\/p>\n