1. Trends
Google Trends
=> http://www.google.com/trends
TrendWatching
=> http://www.trendwatching.com/trends/
2. Directories
Directories are where search engines where born, and can give you great insight into categories and niches both by seeing who is there and visiting them.
Open Directory Project
=> http://www.dmoz.org/
Yahoo Directory
=> http://dir.yahoo.com/
3. Mega Ideas Generator
Google Suggest
=> http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=1&hl=en
Lycos Movers and Shakers
=> http://50.lycos.com/
Alexa Top 500 Movers and Shakers
=> http://alexa.com/site/ds/top_sites?ts_mode=globalā©=none
Amazon Bestsellers
=> http://amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/books
WikiSuccess
=> http://www.wikisuccess.org/wiki/Main_Page
Barnes and Nobles BestSellers
=> http://www.barnesandnoble.com/gateway/bestsellers.asp?z=y
43 Things
=> http://www.43things.com/
Squidoo Top Lenses
=> http://www.squidoo.com/browse/top_lenses
Magazine.com
=> http://www.magazines.com/ncom/mag?redirect=1
Ebay Pulse
=> http://pulse.ebay.com/
Shopping.com Top Searches
=> http://www10.shopping.com/top_searches
Yahoo Recreational Hobbies
=> http://dir.yahoo.com/recreation/hobbies
Google Groups
=> http://groups.google.com/
Yahoo Groups
=> http://groups.yahoo.com/
Google Blogsearch
=> http://blogsearch.google.com/
BlogCatalog
=> http://www.blogcatalog.com/
Google Catalogs
=> http://catalogs.google.com/
Yahoo Buzz Index
=> http://buzz.yahoo.com/
Technorati Top Searches
=> http://www.technorati.com/
Thesauraus, Dictionary, and Encyclopedia
=> http://thesauraus.reference.com/
4. Affiliate Programs
Not only can you research lucrative affiliate programs you can promote, and get ideas for products to fill a niche, but all the affiliate networks will show you what their hottest offers for you to promote. This also tells you what niches are hot, or you can use those to suggest products to create yourself.
AzoogleAds
=> http://www.azoogleads.com/corp/index.php
Joe Bucks
=> http://www.joebucks.com/
MoreNiche
=> http://www.moreniche.com/
ClickBank Marketplace
=> https://www.clickbank.com/marketplace.htm?s=&method=Sort&c=65&keywords=#
PayDotCom
=> http://www.paydotcom.com/homepage.php
FreeIQ
=> http://beta.freeiq.com/index.dhtml?a=1
Associate Programs
=> http://www.associateprograms.com/
LifeTimeCommissions
=> http://www.lifetimecommissions.com/
2 Tier
=> http://2-tier.com/
Affiliate Directory
=> http://www.affiliatesdirectory.com/
5 Star Affiliate Program
=> http://www.5staraffiliateprograms.com/
5. Free Keyword Tools
Google Adwords Keyword Tool
=> https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal
Webmaster Toolkit Keyword Research Tool
=> http://www.webmaster-toolkit.com/keyword-research-tool.shtml
SEO 20/20
=> http://www.seo2020.com/seo-tools/keyword-research/keyword-research-tool/
WordTracker FREE Keyword Tool
=> http://freekeywords.wordtracker.com/
Digital Point
=> http://www.digitalpoint.com/tools/suggestion/
Nichebot Classic
=> http://www.nichebotclassic.com/
DomainCountry Keyword Tool
=> http://www.domaincountry.com/
NicheTaxi
=> http://www.nichetaxi.com/
WordPot
=> http://www.wordpot.com/
Freeaddlink
=> http://freeaddlink.com/domain/research.php
6. Answers, “How To” and Self Help
Great for for niche research, you can contribute and leave your link for traffic generation.
eHow
=> http://www.ehow.com/
WikiHow
=> http://www.wikihow.com/Main-Page
AnswerBag
=> http://www.answerbag.com/
How Stuff Works
=> http://www.howstuffworks.com/
So You Wanna?
=> http://www.soyouwanna.com/
About.com
=> http://www.about.com/
Yedda
=> http://yedda.com/
Yahoo Answers
=> http://answers.yahoo.com/
Tips and Answers
=> http://www.tipsanswers.com/
This is a good gem to look out for. Use this to create custom reports and offer to your list and add value to your subscribers, or as opt-in incentives:
=>Find All About –> http://www.findallabout.com/index.php
Here is some great “How To” materials that will also generate loads of useful ideas:
Must watch => VideoJug -> http://www.videojug.com/
“Early To Rise Health, Wealth, & Success Ezine” with loads of great info:
=> http://www.earlytorise.com/
“MyGoals” pre-made and customized goal-attainment:
=> http://www.mygoals.com/
7. Article Directories
Great source for information and ideas, as well as traffic genetation.
EzineArticles
=> http://ezinearticles.com/
iSnare
=> http://www.isnare.com/
Associated Content
=> http://www.associatedcontent.com/
SearchWarp
=> http://searchwarp.com/
Article Dashboard
=> http://www.articledashboard.com/
GoArticles
=> http://www.goarticles.com/
ArticleBase
=> http://www.articlesbase.com/
ArticleDepot
=> http://www.articledepot.co.uk/
ArticleCity
=> http://www.articlecity.com/
8. Public Domain
Wikipedia list of public domain directories
=> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain_resources
Gutenberg
=> http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page
Online Books Page
=> http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/
Creative Commons
=> http://creativecommons.org/
Google US Government Search
=> http://www.google.com/ig/usgov
Public Domain Books Online
=> http://www.pdbooksonline.com/
ibiblio
=> http://www.ibiblio.org/
Health Research Books
=> http://www.healthresearchbooks.com/
Bibliomania
=> http://www.bibliomania.com/
Electronic Text Center
=> http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/
9. Interesting Facts
Amusing Facts
=> http://amusingfacts.com/
Strange Facts
=> http://www.strangefacts.com/
10. Forums
Forums can be some of the best resources for specific end-user answers, and allow you to ask specific questions.
WarriorForum
=> http://warriorforum.com/forum
Big Board
=> http://www.big-boards.com/
Digital Point
=> http://forums.digitalpoint.com/
Sitepoint
=> http://www.sitepoint.com
A Best Web Affiliate Marketers forum
=> http://abestweb.com
ZamDoo
=> http://www.zamdooforums.com
GCD ‘Unofficial’ forum
=> http://www.gcdforum.info/forum/
IM4Newbies
=> http://www.im4newbies.com/forum/
** Special thanks to Foo Yong Sing aka “Jag” http://emoneymarketing.com/
5 responses so far ↓
1 Melanies Tips #16 - Research Tools, More on SpeedPPC, plus More Goodies! | Improve Your Internet Marketing // Aug 14, 2007 at 8:35 am
[...] Research Resources & Tools [...]
2 Larry Slipko // Aug 14, 2007 at 8:38 am
thank you for sharing all your hard work with us, I have some of the sites you have listed in my saved documents, but you have a ton.
I read all your e-mail and tips.
thanks again
3 admin // Aug 14, 2007 at 8:42 am
Thanks, Larry - I appreciate your support!
Melanie
4 It’s the BEST Keyword Research Tool, and it’s FREE! | Improve Your Internet Marketing // Sep 24, 2007 at 11:14 pm
[...] We do a LOT of PPC, spending over $100,000 of our own and other people’s money. And so we spend a LOT of time and effort on Keyword Research. We’ve even devoted a section of this blog to the matter: we even have a category “Keywords”, plus an exhaustive list of research sites & ideas: http://www.improveyourinternetmarketing.com/research-resources-tools/. [...]
5 Vijay Teach Me $$ // Sep 27, 2007 at 11:48 am
Thanks a very useful list, will save a lot of time and energy, so I am sending the energy to you..
Vijay
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