What's the best way to estimate traffic?

[Cindy]

So, let's say you found a few keywords that you like and they ran through some keyword competition programs and they look good to target, what's the best way to (or software) to estimate the amount of traffic you'll receive if you rank for them?

Thank you!

 

[boobooboy]

I would take both Google Adwords Tool and Keyword Tracker Results into account. Make sure when you are using Google Adwords, you are using the "exact" option when viewing results. In the end, you are going with your gutt instinct because I have read few posts where someone found a keyword with tons of traffic according to Google but they are barely getting any hits even with high ranking.

I guess any keyword that is showing double digits in Word tracker is worth a try

 

[blackdan]

Test it will adwords, see if the keyword is there in google suggestion tool and then the experiance.

 

[woodstuck]

This guesstimate would be just that, a guess.

You cannot assume anything. What spot on the first page are we assuming we are on to guess as to the traffic?

If you are first on the first page you get one result, if you are fifth, you get another number (guess)...if you only make it to the third page, well we get a much different number.

All I wanted to point out was that your guess assumes a great deal - You should worry about that when you have arrived on the first page... Then you can come up with some 'real' numbers... These traffic guesses have to be based on something solid... like which position am I checking from? Am I assuming I will make the first page for my phrases? Well now you're just being naive... to assume you will make top rankings on all your phrases and take a guess at the traffic based on this - IMO - that is backwards.

But that's just me -

It also helps at this stage to see who is holding the top spots for these phrases and then maybe check Alexa and Compete or Quantcast and see how they are doing with traffic too. It will give you an idea... but that would only help if they are targeting the same KW phrases as you are.

 

[yuppy]

cpanel and awstats.

 

[Cindy]

All I wanted to point out was that your guess assumes a great deal - You should worry about that when you have arrived on the first page... Then you can come up with some 'real' numbers... These traffic guesses have to be based on something solid... like which position am I checking from? Am I assuming I will make the first page for my phrases? Well now you're just being naive... to assume you will make top rankings on all your phrases and take a guess at the traffic based on this - IMO - that is backwards.

The idea behind this post (and in my way of thinking) is the exact opposite. Why waste time money and effort to rank on the first page and then find out that the keyword sucks after you've worked to create original content, links etc.?

It also helps at this stage to see who is holding the top spots for these phrases and then maybe check Alexa and Compete or Quantcast and see how they are doing with traffic too. It will give you an idea... but that would only help if they are targeting the same KW phrases as you are.

Great idea, I'll try that!