Market Samurai? Best out there?

[Kuan]

Is Market Samurai the best out there? Just wondering what you think.

Kuan

[packerfan]

Best for what? Personally I think there's a way better ways to the research manually than what 99% of these tools offer.

It's always been flaky for me too, takes forever, etc.

I do like it's SEO competition feature (assuming it still has it) but Traffic Travis has the same thing for free.

[BigNorm]

I dumped MS for SECockpit. That being said, I do miss the fact I could copy and paste a KW list up to 800 words into MS which you can't with SECockpit. But thats pretty much where it stops for me.

[ethel51]

Yeah market samurai is the good ..

[NYC SEO]

SECockpit has been sounding nice, but is it hard to use in your opinion?

[Nicky Papers]

I've been using Market Samurai since 2009 and it's become progressively worse over time with respect to bugs and the program becoming temperamental at times.

For me, speed is key when it comes to research and I made the switch to SEMRush this summer for keyword research. While it didn't generate and filter keywords like Market Samurai did, I was still able to get data quickly and with less resistance when compared to Market Samurai.

This week I started using Ultimate Niche Finder and have had great results so far. It reminds me of what Market Samurai used to be, but without all the bugs. You'll have to source your own proxies to use for UNF, but it's definitively worth the money.

[MikeFriedman]

Market Samurai is a waste of money. If it was free, I would ask for a refund.

[seolvl1]

i use MS and it's quite good, not sure about others though.

[packerfan]

Originally Posted by MikeFriedman

Market Samurai is a waste of money. If it was free, I would ask for a refund.

Pretty much sums it up. Along with about 99% of other keyword research tools.

If someone would make a tool I could paste in 10,000 keywords and analyze the top 5 serp results base on criteria I set, then I think we'd be onto something....

[packerfan]

Originally Posted by Nicky Papers

For me, speed is key when it comes to research and I made the switch to SEMRush this summer for keyword research. While it didn't generate and filter keywords like Market Samurai did, I was still able to get data quickly and with less resistance when compared to Market Samurai.

SEMRush is IMO the best research tool in the business bar none. IF you're someone who knows how to analyze large data sets efficiently. In less than 30 minutes I can typically build a list of about 300,000 keywords (yes that many) and then I use really fancy stuff like excel to get at exactly what I want out a keyword.

Like I said, if there was a tool I could input a huge keyword list and get the data back I want on those keywords, I'd be a happy man

[guy11]

I have used market samurai and its really awesome...

[oneshotmarketing]

As an alternative, try out Majestic SEO

[Nicky Papers]

Originally Posted by oneshotmarketing

As an alternative, try out Majestic SEO

Majestic SEO is used primarily for backlink analysis. In this case, it really won't be of much help for keyword research. However, it's a great tool!

[All Night Cafe]

I find MS works for my needs fine. I always double
check any results. I had it since it first came out.

I stilled using it today.

[faceblogger]

Market Samurai, not anymore

[Barry Unruh]

I believe you are only going to find one tool which consistently stays up to date and on target with all of the constant changes and gyrations by Google...

Google's Adwords Keyword Tool

I still use Market Samurai because it makes it easier for me to harvest keywords and organize them, but I will not say it provides the best information since the demise of Yahoo Site Explorer.

The tool I hear the biggest rave reviews for is SECockpit, but I'll be curious to see how that goes over the next 6 to 12 months as they deal with Google's constant changes.

The best tool in the end is the one between your two ears. Use the other tools to grab basic data and then turn it over to your mind for the final analysis.

[outwest]

Market samurai the guys btc hing about it, I think use it to find kws
I used to do that but it takes 10 mins to do one kw search

use Google kw tool for that, lightning fast, same database

but for analyzing Google top 10 competition?
IMO Market samurai cannot be beaten...................and that takes only about 15 secs per kw on Market Samurai, VERY FAST

Traffic Travis I cannot even get it to pull up backlinks

[SeoMonster1]

Market Samurai, not again. Try to avoid it.

[outwest]

Originally Posted by SeoMonster1

Market Samurai, not again. Try to avoid it.

and what would take its place?
traffic travis?

[markw89]

It is great. Keyword research is awesome, and analyzing competition is even better, with a couple of clicks you can get number of backlinks, their PR, anchor text used, and the backlinks themselves!

[packerfan]

Originally Posted by outwest

and what would take its place?
traffic travis?

Are you using version 4 of traffic travis? I use only the free version and it's awesome for a quick look at the top 10 for on-page. Then I use SEO Spyglass for analyzing backlinks.

MS sucks IMO, but to each their own.

[seomarketinggurus]

I have used word tracker and have been satisified, within google it doesn't always give complete information but I think they are fixing that now.

[outwest]

I looked at the free version of traffic travis
sory but it looked like a high school kid had designed it after a 2 day internet course, very amateurish and lacking in information, no comparison at all to Market Samurai

[ZakGottlieb]

Hey packerfan, thanks for the post. Would you mind summarizing your process for using SEMRush for keyword research? Currently I'm exporting lists of common keywords between competitors, but I'm not too sure where to go from there...

Part of me thinks these could be valuable keywords since competitors are optimized for them, but then I also think that I might be better off researching keywords that competitors don't rank for, in order to outdo them that much more easily.

Anyway, any insight you could provide would be much appreciated.

[serenin221]

I have been using both MarketSamurai and SECockpit but my favorite one would always be SECockpit. If you are not very familiar with it, you can visit their homepage and play the tutorial video. It explains everything you need to know about the tool.

[packerfan]

Originally Posted by ZakGottlieb

Hey packerfan, thanks for the post. Would you mind summarizing your process for using SEMRush for keyword research? Currently I'm exporting lists of common keywords between competitors, but I'm not too sure where to go from there...

Part of me thinks these could be valuable keywords since competitors are optimized for them, but then I also think that I might be better off researching keywords that competitors don't rank for, in order to outdo them that much more easily.

Anyway, any insight you could provide would be much appreciated.

I use SEMRush to gather HUGE amounts of data (I create spreadsheets with 500,000-1,000,000 keywords) and then analyze that data in excel. That's the brunt of it.

I've yet to find a tool that can do that as well I can, but I guess it depends on an individuals level of experience dealing with lots of data.

Not to pimp my thread, but I cover most of what I do in a video if you want to opt-in to my list. I show how to do it using the adwords tool there because SEMRush is pricey, but same principles.

[glacey]

Hi Kuan, Why not download the free trial of MS and give it a spin?

[serenin221]

I do enjoy using MarketSamurai as they provide a really good guide for their users. However, the best one for me now is SECockpit.

[JSProjects]

Not a big fan of MS to be honest. At least not anymore. I'm finding that the Google Keyword Tool + some of the features from the free version of Traffic Travis 4 is much better. Grabbed it yesterday and it's a HUGE improvement over version 3. MS just feels bloated and archaic.

[outwest]

Traffic travis free version pulls no backlinks at least the one I downloadedi
updated it. didnt help at all
0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0

[ukcarl]

I have to say I am still happily using Micro Niche Finder. in my opinion it doesn't get enough mentions I have built a good majority of my income off the back of this tool and have no complaints, it delivers what it promises and whats more its faster than MS, simpler to use and cheaper. Happy Days

[imdomination]

I love market samurai and use it exclusively for competition analysis and rank checking. But mostly competition analysis. It's amazing for that purpose.

[wordsofmagic]

I use both market samurai and traffic travis for seo and adwords purposes.

[mdmarketingexpert]

i use market samurai.i love it and am a loyal user

[1st Degree Freebies]

The thread has a lot of valuable information. I am not familiar with many of the tools that are mentioned, but with that being said. I sure need to start researching more.

Traffic Travis sounds like a good place to start. Thanks for that!

[hustlinsmoke]

Originally Posted by packerfan

Best for what? Personally I think there's a way better ways to the research manually than what 99% of these tools offer.

It's always been flaky for me too, takes forever, etc.

I do like it's SEO competition feature (assuming it still has it) but Traffic Travis has the same thing for free.

I am with him. I have bought the software, but when it comes down to finding the keywords and niche I want, I only trust myself.

Just some things I don't cotton too, one is not compete with .gov or .edu. I have had a few domains compete with these extensions and do really well.

Things like that I just have to do myself is all.

[lukedidit]

I am new to IM, but so far I am quite happy using SEOQuake, Google Search and Google keywords tool. I also use scrapebox (my only purchase so far) for further competitive analysis and some good keyword suggestions.

[JSProjects]

Originally Posted by outwest

Traffic travis free version pulls no backlinks at least the one I downloadedi
updated it. didnt help at all
0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0

Mine is. I think it pulls the data from Majestic.

[BigGameHunter]

I have them all.. MS, paid version of Traffic Travis and Micro Niche Finder. The problems with these tools are they are all desktop and slow. I believe the glitches with MS has to do with different IP's and different speeds. Explains why some love it and others experience terrible hang ups and other problems.

With MS you pick from a list provided from your seed word, the keywords you think are the best to analyze. Then you go find the top 10 sites and their metrics for a single word at a time.

SECockpit operates in the "Clouds". This means its on a server and not on your desktop. What a difference. Its so fast you don't have to pick keywords to analyze (guess) like MS, SECockpit just runs all the keyword phrases.

Also, everyone of them draw from Google. SECockpit... uses SEOmoz as well as google. Best interface in the business. It costs... monthly fee. Apply business investment and ROI and you will find its a bargain.

The best tools are not to be afforded by everyone. The automotive repair business has similar software Alldata and its over $300 per month. SECockpit is not even close to this amount.

Just my two cents.

[JSProjects]

I actually think Traffic Travis is pretty fast. At least, compared to MS.

[Gary Richards]

I am personally using keywordcountry and its working awsome.They provide 12 plus internet marketing tools and you are able to perform any keyword research according to your preference.Additionally, I get LSI keywords, real time results and several other features which helps a great deal.

[Morbrook]

I use market Samurai and love it although I haven't tried anything else.

[Frigid]

I've been having a lot of success with Longtail Pro. It allows you to search for 5 keywords at a time instead of just one. It also lets you select all of your parameters upfront (Ex. CPC, Title Competition etc.), which allows it to pull up results much faster. It will even show you if an EMD is available for each keyword, which saves a ton of time. It is definitely worth a look.

[stodog77]

I mainly use Market Samurai for the Rank Checker and PR and Anchor text module. It has been so buggy and the rank checker is up and down lately. Thinking of moving.

Is anyone having the same issues with the rank checker in the last 2 days?

[e21 SEO]

Originally Posted by wordsofmagic

I use both market samurai and traffic travis for seo and adwords purposes.

Agree. Use both for more consideration for your keyword research

[Timothy Ellis]

Market Samurai is probably the best (slow as he$$) but it works. I use a combination of it and the Google keyword tool. But you should always use common sense as well, especially for keyword research. I do mainly Google Adsense Mini sites. All my keywords most follow a strict criteria. So it's okay to use automation for keyword research, however make sure you always do a manual cross reference before pulling the trigger on a keyword.

[danlew]

Market Samurai is one of the best, no doubt about it. But if you're looking for other "best" keyword research software, Brad Callen's Micro Niche Finder and Niche Sensei will be your alternative options.

[ramdom123]

I really like it the best part is the seo competition and also you can get the 40 day full trial.

[homebizoutlook]

I love Market Samurai too, but it is not working tonight for me. Anyone else having problems?

I am getting a message similar to 'retry error, timed out, try again later'

[Targeted Traffic]

Generally I use several tools together to do my research as I find each has its strengths and weaknesses.

SemRush - for me is the best tool
Market Samurai
Wordtracker
Adwords