So here, in no particular order, are my most useful free marketing tools of 2010:

1. SeoQuake for Firefox

This invaluable SEO tool will give you vital stats about your site and those of your competitors. I use this extensively to check out my linking partners and how I can better challenge my competition. Besides checking the traffic ranking, Google indexed pages, age of site… the most important stats for me is the SEMRush numbers, these will roughly tell you the worth of the monthly keyword traffic a site is receiving. Very helpful.

2. Google Analytics

Getting traffic is only half the battle, knowing what that traffic does on your site is extremely important. I use this program to make my pages perform better and bring in more sales. Knowledge is everything on the web. I find Analytics good for fine-tuning my “money pages” on all my sites. I use it to build the conversion rate of my traffic. And that as they say has made all the difference in the world.

3. Microsoft’s Commercial Intention Tool

Picking the right profitable keyword phrases is the first step to earning revenue from the web. This very useful tool from Microsoft will tell you the probability, or how likely, your chosen keyword will have commercial intention or results. This tool will give you some indication if the niche market you’re considering will be worth it.

4. Addthis Social Bookmark Button

Social bookmarking has become very important for getting targéted traffic and for getting higher rankings. You simply must have an easy way for your visitors to bookmark your content in all the social networking sites. I find the Addthis button extremely useful for this purpose. The more social bookmarks your content has in these networks, the higher they will rank in the search engines, not to mention all that traffic.

5. WordPress Blogging Software

Using WordPress blogs are very beneficial because they are SEO friendly and search engines really like and favor them. This is one of the easiest ways to create profitable websites and adding helpful “plug-ins” makes them even more useful. One marketing strategy is to use a WordPress blog with its own domain to complement your main site; make sure to have them keyword related.

6. YouTube Videos

Videos are the future of marketing on the web, so using YouTube videos to promote your site or product is a no-brainer. I have also found videos are very important for SEO reasons mainly because Google will place a popular video on their first page listings, almost instantly. Some webmasters suggest you shouldn’t use YouTube videos because it will draw traffic away from your site, but I find it’s a good trade off for me.

7. Twitter

Simple, direct and very effective for getting your message on the web and into the search engines. You must include this social bookmarking/messaging site in your campaign and marketing. You have to make sure you integrate your Tweets into all aspects of your marketing… web content, articles, videos, pdf downloads, etc. … tweet them all.

8. Alexa

Surprisingly, along with sites like Compete, I have found myself using Alexa as one of my most valuable information gathering tools. While not entirely accurate, it does give you information you can use to further your marketing goals. Especially for very competitive keywords, finding the links your competitors have on the web is invaluable information.

9. GoArticles | Ezinearticles

Article marketing is still my most effective marketing tool on the web. I find using sites like Ezinearticles and GoArticles vital to my whole online campaign. I know using articles is considered “old school” but this method still works, especially using unique articles.

10. Search Engines

Hands down, getting top rankings for your lucrative keywords in the major search engines, is still the most valuable marketing tool you can have in your tool-kit. I find gearing my marketing and promotion towards Google has paid off handsomely for me. Achieving and maintaining those top rankings in Google will make or break your online endeavors in 2010 or in any year for the foreseeable future.

All these marketing tools are free to use and are very easy to implement on your site or sites. Using and having all these free tools at your disposal will greatly benefit all your online pursuits. Just use them.

About This Article
This article was originally posted by Titus Hoskins, a full time online affiliate marketer who operates numerous niche sites, as well as two sites on Internet Marketing: marketing tools or try here free marketing tools. Titus Hoskins Copyright 2011.

Due to the usefulness of these tools I though it appropriate to re-post his article.

As a child I remember taking that long and arduous trip up to our cottage for a summer vacation. I really didn’t know how long the journey would take and had no idea how to get there. I realize now that I must have worn the patience of my parents thin when I would ask, “Are We There Yet?”

2011 is arrived sooner than many of us expected – many of us are asking how did we get here? We really had no idea where we were going and how we were going to get there. Now that 2011 is here, it is time to start thinking about a marketing plan for your business.

As with most projects, deciding what to do in marketing is the hardest part. But once you are clear in identifying a game plan, execution will be easy. Take a few moments to put your ideas on paper. This will go a long way in making sure you arrive at your final destination in 2011..

Here are six tips to help you develop and implement a great marketing plan for your business:.

1. Clearly define your expectations

Your marketing plan isn’t complete without clear goals and expectations. This is your chance to define exactly what you would like to see in the coming year. A clear goal could be to sell a certain number of new units each quarter. Or it could be to increase revenue numbers by a certain percentage. It could also be to increase website conversion rates throughout the year.

Whatever the expectations, be sure to break them down to monthly or even daily goals. This will help you know exactly what you need from your marketing to hit your big picture goals.

2. Plan for the entire year

Things change all the time in your business: staff, market dynamics, budget, etc. But even though things will change throughout the year, it’s important to have a year-long marketing plan. You’ll be able to identify upfront what you will need to do throughout the year to hit your sales and revenue goals. Plus, planning for the entire year allows you to take into consideration any seasonal changes or trends that are common to your business.

3. Do your research

As you develop your marketing strategy for the new year, be sure to reference statistics and data you have already gathered. Taking a moment to identify your very best customers and their common demographics will help you target your messaging. It’s also important to evaluate the current and projected market temperature for your industry – this includes making note of what your competitors are doing and what you can do to stand apart in the crowd.

4. Sketch some campaign ideas

Your marketing plan should also include specific examples of what you will do to drive sales and revenue. Be sure to list what types of marketing you will utilize (i.e. print media, email marketing, website traffic, pay-per-click ads, etc). You may even want to pinpoint specific campaigns (such as holiday discounts) that you will use throughout the year.

This is also a good time to identify your overall marketing budget and to allocate it according to your strategy.

5. Involve everyone

It’s important to get feedback from as many interested parties as possible. Consult your people in sales, finance, operations, and other advisors. This will help you keep the big picture in mind as you develop your marketing plan. It will also ensure that others on the team have a vested interest in more than just their corner of the business.

6. Develop a mechanism to measure results

If you don’t measure your performance, you won’t know what needs to change. This is no time to shoot from the hip because you have a hunch. Accurate reporting will help you make educated decisions in your marketing. Use a system (like Google Analytics or another measurement tool) to measure the success of each campaign. Make adjustments to your methods and continually strive to improve your marketing ROI.

Onward to your success!

Your marketing plan is the first step in making 2011 an amazing year for your business. Take the time to create a plan – then hold yourself accountable. You’ll be amazed at what you can do with a little careful planning.