Every single one of us in the online marketing space is here for a reason. Whether you are talking about Andy Beal, Aaron Wall, Heather Lloyd Martin, Lee Odden, Jill Whalen, Danny Sullivan or any of the other 100 or so web marketing leaders out there, we all have a strong desire to help other companies become more efficient and sell more products and services. Of course, all of us are passionate about the web, love to know what makes consumers buy and enjoy building online communities. But each of us also has a treasure chest of resources that we have gathered over the past few years that have lessoned the learning curve and help us help others every single day.
So, for the first time ever, I put together a list of my personal favorite online marketing tools and resources for you to take a look at. In total, this is a very large, very comprehensive and very good list. We’ll break it up in groups of 10 and do a series of these over the next couple months. I truly believe they are ALL bookmark worthy and will help you at some point along the way in your marketing journey. As for me, these key resources are a big reason for my success. Over the past few years, I have leaned on them for support and guidance and stood on the shoulders of geniuses to become one of the most successful and sought after SEO copywriters in the world. Trust me, they will help you too. Take a look at these sites and let me know what you think!
1. Link Popularity: www.linkpopularity.com
I have been using Link Popularity for a long time. Why? It’s easy, it’s comprehensive and it gives you a quick look at how you and your competitors are doing in the all important measurement of linking. It shows you results in Google, Yahoo and MSN. If you’ve used other link analytics tools, try this one for size.
2. WordTracker: www.wordtracker.com
The grand daddy of them all when it comes to keyword research. It was the first and in my opinion, still the best. The other great thing about Wordtracker is the free keyword tool they have where you can find the search results of any keyword phrase, very quickly. If I am pressed for time, I take a quick look at this to see what the landscape looks like.
3. Search Engine Marketing, Inc – Mike Moran and Bill Hunt
A phenomenally good book on SEO…it’s big, comprehensive and is filled with case studies and great examples. I read this a couple years ago and was very impressed. It’s a bit out of date, but most of what’s in here still applies. It’s not just a book, it’s an encyclopedia… a real resource.
4. Google Analytics: www.google.com/analytics
Is there a better free online marketing tool on the planet? I love how Google Analytics shows you almost anything you need to know…at least all the basics, without costing a dime. Plus, it’s very easy to use…it’s formatted well, has integrated graphs and is very straightforward. Seems like it was almost set up for marketers.
5. Stumble Upon: www.stumbleupon.com
A new favorite of mine, Stumble upon is a great place to not only discover a ton of great websites and articles in my industry, but it’s an even better place to meet and network with others who share similar goals and interests. In the short time I’ve been a “stumbler” I’ve learned a lot, made some great contacts and already seen an increase in my web traffic! A big “thumbs up!”
6. MyBlogLog: www.mybloglog.com
For anyone with a blog, MyBlogLog is essential. Similar to Stumble upon, it provides great networking opportunities, but where it really shines is in the widget department! They make it easy to place a stylish widget on your blog, so that you can track recent visitors and build your very own blog community… a great feature for anyone interested in link building and increasing targeted site traffic.
7. Exact Target: www.exacttarget.com
The best email marketing vendor I have found. Why? It’s super intuitive. It wasn’t designed by techies, that’s for sure. It’s laid out very well, and is very easy to use. Some email marketing vendors can make the console confusing. Others are more expensive. Exact Target is just about “right”.
8. Article Marketer: www.articlemarketer.com
I have been singing the praises of Article Marketer for years now. If you are looking to get in the game of article distribution, no one makes it easier and provides more than these guys. In fact, they do most of the work for you. Write the keyword rich articles and they will practically do the rest.
9. Maria Marsala: www.coachmaria.com
Maria is a guru of gurus…a real asset to the small business community. I first worked with her five years ago on some article distribution. I could tell then that she was a total pro. Her services come very highly rated. Check her out!
10. Marketing Pilgrim: http://www.marketingpilgrim.com
I absolutely love Andy Beal’s blog, Marketing Pilgrim. When it comes to the latest online marketing info and opinion pieces, it always has what I’m looking for. Plus, Andy is a great guy, always helping others coming up in the industry.
So, there you have it, 10 keys to the online marketing kingdom. Walk through the doors of these sites often to get the latest tips, tricks and to realize the success you have been trying to find. As you progress through your journey, you’ll find many sites like these that have made a difference. Good luck and stay tuned for more great tools!
