Google Keywords Part 2: Tools

The next step in our continuing series on Google keywords consists of assembling the tools we’ll be using for research. This is very straightforward and easy, and we’ll be sticking with free tools, for those just getting started.

1. Download Firefox. This is not a matter of personal browser preference; it’s the only browser compatible with the tools we’ll be using to research and refine our Google keywords. The fact that it’s also the best browser around is coincidental.
    
2. Download the SEO For Firefox add-on. This browser extension will add all the research capabilities we need, and then some. Click “Install” when the dialog box opens, and then click “Restart Firefox” when you are given the option. When Firefox restarts, you’ll see an SEO icon in the lower right corner of the browser. Left- or control-click this, and choose “Options..”. 
    
         

   In the SEO for Firefox preferences, uncheck “Enable/Disable SEO For Firefox”. Yes, we want this disabled by default until we turn it on. We’ll be setting this to automatically pull some information, so if we leave it on for normal browsing, we risk having our IP banned. We can activate it with one click when we need it.

   For now, you can leave the next box, enable/disable of ‘nofollow’ links unchecked.

   Finally, in the “Mode” column, change “PR” and “Age” to “Automatic”. Everything else can remain as is. Close the Preferences window.

3. In the top Firefox menu, click “Bookmarks > Organize Bookmarks..”. Click on “Bookmarks Toolbar”, and then in the drop-down menu above, choose “New Folder…”. Name this “Google keywords“, or the term of your choice. You’ll see the entry in your toolbar. If you don’t, click “View > Toolbars > Bookmarks Toolbar”.
    
4. Navigate to each of the following sites (it will be easiest to open the page you’re reading now in Firefox, so the links open there). Upon reaching each one, click “Bookmarks > Bookmark This Page”. In the dialog box, look for “Folder”, and click the down arrow, choose the “Google keywords” folder you made in the previous step, and click “Done” to add the bookmark to that folder.Go to each of these pages, and bookmark into the new folder:

   Google Search-based Keyword Tool
   Google AdWords Keyword Tool
   Google Search (with quotation marks)
   Wordtracker GTrends
   Keyword Difficulty Check Tool
   SEO Book Keyword Tool
   Nameboy Domain Name Generator
   Ontology Finder – Related Keywords Lookup Tool
   Synonym.com  

   We’ll only be using Nameboy if we happen to need a domain name, but it’s good to have it in there just in case.

5. Finally, you will need to keep track of your research. I highly recommend using a spreadsheet program. There are a variety of them out there, including free, open-source choices. You won’t need to be a wizard with them for our purposes. All we’ll be doing is some entering and sorting.

That’s it for today. Next time, down to business.

Note: this post is exactly 500 words, and mentions “Google keywords” five times. Are you getting the idea?