At a recent local SEO meetup, I discussed many tools that I use that help me with my SEO projects. Below is a list of the tools mentioned. If you are new to SEO, I recommend using the free tools first to learn and discover if each is a fit for your process/methodology.

Keyword Research Tools

Paid:

• WordTracker (http://www.wordtracker.com/)
• Compete (http://www.compete.com)
• SEMRush (http://www.semrush.com)
• Trellian Keyword Discovery (http://www.keyworddiscovery.com/)

Free

• WordTracker.com (http://freekeywords.wordtracker.com/)
• Google Adwords Traffic Estimator Keyword Tool (https://adwords.google.com/select/TrafficEstimatorSandbox)
• Google Adwords Keyword Tool (https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal)
• Google Search-based Keyword Tool (http://www.google.com/sktool)
• Google Trends (http://www.google.com/trends)
• Trellian Keyword Discovery (http://www.keyworddiscovery.com/search.html)
• Wordtracker Keyword Questions (http://labs.wordtracker.com/keyword-questions/)

Local Optimization

• Verified Google Business Listing (http://www.google.com/local/add )
• Yahoo Local (http://listings.local.yahoo.com/)
• Data providers that are relevant to local search engines: infoUSA; Localeze; Yahoo; Best of the Web; OpenList; CityVoter; InsiderPages; SuperPages;
• Learn more: Get Listed (http://getlisted.org)

Analytics

• Google Analytics (http://www.google.com/analytics) [Free]
• Alterwind Log Analyzer Pro [log Analyzer: Paid] (http://www.alterwind.com)

Link Checking

• Sites that mention your company, but don’t link: Search www.yahoo.com for: YourCompanyName -linkdomain:yourcompanydomain.com
• Domain BackLink Analysis (http://www.seomoz.org/backlink-analysis )

Site Keyword Ranking

• SEOBook RankChecker [free] (http://tools.seobook.com/firefox/rank-checker/)
• Advanced Web Ranking [paid] (http://www.advancedwebranking.com/)
• Google Analytics SERP Page Modification (http://yoast.com/new-seo-reports-for-google-analytics/)

Toolbar

(#of backlinks; pagerank; traffic; domain age; highlight nofollow links; rank checker; etc.)Â

• SEOBook (http://tools.seobook.com/seo-toolbar/)

Check Domain

(WHOIS, number of sites on IP, geolocation of IP; domain age, etc.)Â

• DomainTools (http://domaintools.com) [Free & Paid]

On Page

• HTTP Header Viewer [301,302,404,200 status] (http://www.rexswain.com/httpview.html)
• Page Size (http://websiteoptimization.com/services/analyze/)