New Wordtracker Tool is on Shaky Ground for Accuracy
What Happened to Wordtracker?
Speaking as one of Wordtracker’s biggest fans for over 10 years now, I’ve just had a look at their latest new keyword research tool. As we all know in the SEO world, keyword research is one of the most important aspects to creating high traffic strategies. In my books, Wordtracker has been the tool to lead the way with it’s cool KEI (Keyword Effectiveness Index) to swiftly sort the best windows of opportunity. The IAAT metric that allows you to know more accurately how competitive a phrase is based on pages that have 2 basic SEO influences. Then there was the fact that you can sort data by popularity. Another benefit is that that you can enter singular terms and Wordtracker would pick up the plurals and add them automatically.
So what just changed in Wordtracker?
The new Wordtracker tool seems to be eliminating all of the most useful metrics and a quick testing of the tool will leave most people completely lost, with no useful data. Gone are all of the useful metrics and supposedly Wordtracker is coming up with some new more advanced metric, but of course it is top secret and they don’t talk about what it is or when it will arrive.
The old Wordtracker used the KEI score and then later introduced a new KEI3 score that was supposed be better than KEI, but in my books KEI 3 was a failure and never produced anything reliable. KEI in the old tool still works well to quickly sort results, but of course the old tool will someday disappear.
Another very huge benefit is the way the old Wordtracker would let you search for hidden user behaviors and it often revealed very telling keyword phrases. The new tool has some interesting ideas but right now, without any useful metrics you are still better off using the old tool to quickly find meaningful data quickly.
What can you do about the changes in Wordtracker?
For me, I will continue to use the reliable old tool as long as they leave it online (which will hopefully be for a few months.) The new tool has some very serious flaws in accuracy, revealing phrases that are supposed to be lower competition, but in reality are highly competitive. I will wait to see what new “more advanced” metric they introduce but right now, Wordtracker seems to be on fairly shaky ground as far as accuracy goes. Of course there are plenty of other excellent keyword tools out their that do offer more reliable data.
About John Alexander
Agreed, I don’t like it either, Some parts are interesting and will take time to digest, others leave me cold.
Hi Keith,
we’d be interested in hearing more about your thoughts – please feel free to drop us a line at support@wordtracker.com.
All the best,
Mal
Hi John,
Thanks for your interest in the Wordtracker tool, and for taking the time to share your thoughts. Your frustration at having a feature such as KEI taken out without clear explanation is understandable (we clearly could have done better with this). The new tool is still in beta, and we have other features that we’re preparing to introduce to improve workflow and functionality. The old tool will remain fully supported and linked to from the new tool whilst this is the case, so don’t worry, it’s not going anywhere soon.
Feedback is always much appreciated and this post has sparked further discussion about KEI within the team. The new filters and the implementation of a more advanced competition metric (which is coming soon) will allow you to quickly find those ‘low hanging fruit’ keywords with high volume and low competition. If this doesn’t prove to be a robust replacement for KEI when fully implemented then that may prove a strong case for its reimplementation.
The data sources have not changed and so accuracy shouldn’t be any more of an issue than previously. The data sources remain the same (the main change to the data we present is that the default Google serach volume is now presented in Exact match rather than Broad, to give a more focused view of the searches), and we have improved our Related Keywords tool to provide as relevant suggestions as we can.
The Competition figure is the same IAAT data that you’ve been working with, and has been factored onto a scale of 1 to 100 to make it more manageable, as the data was given on such a broad scale that some users where finding it hard to work with. We have been careful to preserve the accuracy of data and are always looking for ways to improve this.
We are commited to providing a tool which gives even the most inexperienced users the best keyword research possible. As always, this has to be balanced against the needs of more experienced users such as yourself.
Please feel free to contact us with further feedback as this is always most appreciated – this of course extends to anyone you’re working with as well.
All the very best,
Mal
Thanks for the article, John. I just got into the new Wordtracker Keyword tool and could find no documentation on what the metrics mean or how to use it. I followed the interactive tour, but was lost as well. A PDF link to a users guide in an obvious place inside the new tool pages would be very helpful. It should highlight the differences between old and new tool and give some how-to instructions for current subscribers (not a sales tool since we are already subscribed).
Hi Mary,
Thank you for your comments. As I understand it, the new tool is supposed to have some new keyword metrics that will be introduced at some point. I know the folks at Wordtracker are monitoring this Blog so they no doubt will see your suggestions. While I was initially taken by somewhat of a surprise, I am happy to hear that they will be leaving the old tool functional online, until all features are complete in the new tool for us to understand and evaluate.
I still use the old tool with great effectiveness.
Thank you for taking time to write to us with your thoughts.
Highest regards,
John Alexander
Hi John,
Were can we get your updated ebook on how to use Wordtracker Your old book does not match how the Wordtracker keyword tool looks now.
Thank you.
John,
Great post. Couldn’t have said it better than that. They completely removed everything of real value from their latest release.
Wondering if had any luck finding the link or URL for the old tool? Cant seem to locate it.
Thanks!
-Christian
Hi Christian,
Wordtracker’s old tool is still accesible on a link at the top of the page after you log into the members area.
If you still don’t see it, try logging in and once inside, cut and paste this URL in the browser:
https://oldkeywords.wordtracker.com/
Best regards,
John
I strongly suggest everyone check’s out Wordtracker’s webinar on the new tool – if you haven’t already.
One thing that the new tool does do well is force the need to think of the use of keywords in website sitemap’s and the types of pages that keywords will be used within- something that most experienced SEOers do anyway, but great for those new th SEO who will be doing it themselves (ie small firms on a budget).
Plus the KEI will return but in a different format – watch this space.
The webinar from Wordtracker will be available in both slidedeck and audio.