SEO Software how do you know whether it's worth the money?

In the search engine wars where thousands of websites are struggling to hit the first page, first spot and get all the traffic, a pair of hands is no longer enough to survive (not to say win). SEO software has become a major weapon that determines the winner of the online battle. The cutthroat competition is pushing you to get the biggest gun, the most accurate barrel that won't let you down when you face your enemy. All right I'm scared myself all right already. Let's keep it simple.

SEO software is one of your crucial instruments to winning the competition online, getting customers and growing your business. Just like everything else good SEO software tools tend to be on the pricey side. Knowing that you get what you pay for saving a couple of bucks on SEO solution can seem as a short turn gain but ultimately it will end up as a long term loss for your business. SEO software is not a purchase, it's an investment. You invest in better visibility, larger exposure, future clients and business growth. In simple terms you invest in a money-making mechanism. So economic solutions are not always the best way out. On the other hand the most expensive doesn't mean the best either. So how do you estimate whether the software's worth the money asked?

The first thing that comes to mind is go online, and ask in forums, chat groups and so on. Explore other peoples' experiences and decide whether the product is really what it's sales copy claims it to be. This approach can work, but it has a number of downsides:

1. People don't always tell the truth. Some may be ashamed to admit they got fooled into a scam, recommend it to you and be happy they are not alone in their misery (yes there are really weird fruit out there).

2. There are affiliates who will recommend you whatever makes them money.

3. There are people who simply don't understand what SEO is about but pass themselves off as experts.

4. And finally what works for one niche is not guaranteed to work for you as well.

And here's how you can deal with them:

1. Check and double check the results others claim to have reached with this or that SEO software package. They claim to rank #1 for some search term? Ask them what it is and check. Go to Compete or Alexa and check their sites traffic. No one will disclose their earnings of course, but the traffic they get is alone enough of a metrics.

2. Check whether the link you get to a recommended product is an affiliate link. Affiliate links usually end with something like ?id=johnsmith or something like that. There's nothing wrong with the affiliate marketing model. But be sure to ask whether the affiliate has really tried the product they are pushing.

3. This one is obvious. When someone talks about the things they don't understand that's easy to spot.

4. If you're getting a recommendation from someone. Do some research on their niche: how competitive it is, how many people are bidding on the related keywords and how high the bids go, what's the average product price and how it all compares to your own niche.

Another great way to explore the products before buying is seek for reviews. There are a lot of SEO software reviews out there but be sure to make the same precautions when reading them. For more info on how to tell honest reviews from fake ones read my article: True and Fake SEO Software Reviews - How to Tell the Difference. Just Google the title and you'll find it.

And finally download the SEO software you're considering to buy and check it for yourself. Most SEO software providers have free basic editions or trial versions available.