Understanding and using the power of keywords is crucial in the world of digital
marketing. The link between your online content and potential clients is provided by
keywords. They are essential for increasing search engine ranks, boosting organic
traffic, and eventually enhancing the performance of your online projects. Google
Keyword Planner is a standout tool for keyword research and optimization among the
variety of tools accessible. In this article, we’ll cover the nuances of the Google Keyword
Planner tool and how you can use it to boost your online visibility.
What is Google Keyword Planner?
A free tool included in Google’s Google Ads network is the Google Keyword Planner.
This tool has developed into a priceless tool for content writers, SEO experts, and digital
marketers. It was initially created for advertisers looking to create and improve their ad
campaigns. Its main objective is to help customers find pertinent keywords and
determine how well they might perform in terms of search traffic, competition, and cost-
per-click (CPC) information.
Key Features and Functions
The following are the main attributes and capabilities of Google Keyword Planner:
Keyword research: identifying the most appropriate words and phrases to describe
their goods, services, or subjects. To generate a list of suggested keywords, users can
provide seed keywords, URLs, or product categories.
Keyword Suggestions: Based on the user-entered seed keywords or subjects, the
program offers a list of suggested keywords. It provides details on each keyword’s
estimated bid, the level of competition, and the typical monthly search volume.
Search Volume Data: Advertisers can assess the popularity and potential reach of their
chosen keywords by using Google Keyword Planner, which provides information on the
average monthly search volume for a certain keyword.
Competition Level: The tool indicates the degree of competition advertisers can
anticipate for a specific keyword. This aids advertisers in comprehending how difficult it
may be to appear for particular keywords in sponsored search campaigns.
Bid Estimates: In order to give users insight into the anticipated cost per click (CPC)
for advertising on a certain term, Google Term Planner presents estimated bid ranges
for various keywords. Setting realistic campaign costs is made easier by using this
information.
Historical Metrics: The tool may show historical performance information for a certain
keyword, such as yearly trends in search volume and bid projections. Advertisers can
use this information to recognize seasonal trends and tailor their advertising
accordingly.
Keyword Grouping: To keep their ads organized and targeted, advertisers can
categorize their keywords. Ad performance and relevancy may be enhanced as a result.
Filtering and Sorting: Keyword suggestions can be filtered and arranged by users
according to many factors, including search volume, amount of competition, bid
estimates, and more. This helps advertisers to concentrate on keywords that match the
objectives of their campaigns.
Location and Language Targeting: Advertisers can define the countries and
languages they want to target in Google Keyword Planner. This makes keyword
suggestions more relevant to particular target markets.
Campaign Planning: Beyond just researching keywords, Google Keyword Planner also
lets users build and organize Google Ads campaigns. Based on the chosen keywords
and bid amounts, users can predict probable clicks, impressions, and expenditures for
their campaigns.
Integration with Google Ads: Due to the seamless integration of Google Keyword
Planner with the Google Ads platform, it is simple for marketers to move from
conducting keyword research to developing and managing campaigns.
How to Use Google Keyword Planner
Google offers a tool called Google Keyword Planner that aids in keyword research and
analysis for your online advertising campaigns, notably for Google Ads. You can use it
to locate pertinent keywords and learn more about their search volume, level of
competition, and potential success. How to utilize Google Keyword Planner is as
follows:
Access Keyword Planner:
Enter your Google Ads account information (or register if you don’t already have one).
After logging in, pick “Keyword Planner” from the “Planning” section of the “Tools &
Settings” menu (the wrench icon) in the top right corner.
Choose a Goal:
The two major choices provided by Google Keyword Planner are “Find new keywords”
and “Get search volume and forecasts.” Select the strategy that best supports your
present objective. Choose “Find new keywords” to create a new keyword list.
Enter Keywords or Website:
Depending on your objective, you will either provide a list of keywords associated with
your company or the URL of your website. These will serve as a springboard for coming
up with additional keyword suggestions.
Customize Targeting:
Indicate the language, location, and other pertinent settings for your target. This makes
it easier to tailor the keyword suggestions to your intended market.
Filter Keywords:
The keyword ideas can be filtered depending on factors like search volume,
competition, and more. To find terms that suit your campaign objectives, change these
filters.
Review Keyword Ideas:
You’ll receive a list of keyword recommendations from Keyword Planner along with
crucial statistics like the number of searches each month, the amount of competition,
and more. Look over these ideas and pick the ones that apply to your campaign the
most.
Keyword Grouping:
Sort the chosen keywords into categories or themes. You can use this to develop
targeted ad groups for your Google Ads campaigns.
Get Search Volume and Forecasts (Optional):
If you initially selected the second objective, you can now obtain additional in-depth
information about the search volume, competitiveness, and performance projections for
your chosen keywords.
Plan Your Budget and Bids (Optional):
With Google Keyword Planner, you may obtain predicted click and cost information for
your keywords. You may more successfully plan your budget and bids with this.
Download or Add to Campaign:
You have the option of either adding the keyword suggestions directly to your Google
Ads campaign or downloading them as a CSV file.
Refine and Experiment:
Although it’s a tool for inspiration, Google Keyword Planner isn’t the last word. Start with
the suggested keywords, then keep modifying your keyword list in light of performance
information and ongoing study.
What To Do With Your Google Keyword Planner Results
The Google Ads tool known as Google Keyword Planner aids in the study and analysis
of keywords for your advertising campaigns. There are various actions you may do to
maximize your results after gathering keyword ideas and information from the Keyword
Planner:
Keyword Selection and Refinement:
Analyze the keyword list the Keyword Planner produced. Choose keywords that are
pertinent to your enterprise, your offerings, or your services.
Eliminate keywords from the list that are too general, too competitive, or not specifically
relevant to your products or services.
Grouping Keywords:
Sort keywords into groups or themes. You can use this to make ad campaigns and ad
groups that are more focused.
Keyword Volume and Competition Analysis:
Pay close attention to the Keyword Planner’s indicators on search volume and
competitiveness. High competition and popular keywords are both indicated by the high
search volume. It might be simpler to rank for keywords with little competition.
Long-tail Keywords:
Concentrate on long-tail keywords, which are more precise and descriptive. Despite
having a lesser search volume, they can be more focused and convert more effectively.
Negative Keywords:
Find irrelevant negative keywords for your business and include them in your campaign.
This enhances the quality of your clicks and aids in filtering out unnecessary traffic.
Keyword Match Types:
Choose the keyword match types (broad match, phrase match, precise match, modified
broad match) that are best suited to achieving your campaign’s objectives. The degree
to which a search query must match your chosen term varies depending on the match
type.
Content Creation:
Use the keyword suggestions to develop informative and worthwhile content for your
website or blog. This can raise your ranks in organic searches and draw customers who
are interested in your products.
Ad Campaign Creation:
Create ad campaigns and ad groups based on your chosen keywords if you’re using
Google Ads. Create ad copy that is consistent with the keywords’ purposes.
Budget Allocation:
Base your budget allocation on the volume and difficulty of the keyword market. Low-
volume keywords may be more cost-effective, whereas high-volume, high-competition
keywords may call for a bigger budget.
regular optimization and monitoring
Regular Monitoring and Optimization:
Keep an eye on the effectiveness of your campaigns at all times. Based on the actual
data and performance indicators, change the bids, the ad copy, and the keywords.
Optimizing the landing page
Landing Page Optimization:
Make sure the landing pages you provide users to are pertinent to the search terms
they entered. Conversion rates are increased by a seamless user experience.
Experimentation and Testing:
To determine what is most effective for your company, experiment with numerous ad
versions, keywords, and targeting settings. Your campaigns can be improved over time
with A/B testing.
Optimizing Your Strategy with Google Keyword Planner
After going over the fundamentals of Google Keyword Planner, let’s explore how you
can use it to your advantage in your digital marketing strategy:
1. Content Creation and Optimization:
Keyword Integration: Use the keyword suggestions from Google Keyword
Planner to naturally incorporate relevant keywords into your website’s content.
This helps search engines understand what your content is about and improves
your chances of ranking higher in search results.
Long-Tail Keywords: While high-volume keywords are important, don’t overlook
long-tail keywords. These are more specific phrases that often have lower search
volume but higher conversion potential. They can attract users who are closer to
making a purchasing decision.
1. SEO Strategy:
Competitor Analysis: Utilize the tool’s competition metrics to identify keywords
that might be less competitive but still relevant to your niche. This can give you
an edge in targeting less saturated areas.
Location and Language: If your business targets specific regions or languages,
adjust your keyword research settings accordingly to uncover keywords that
resonate with your target audience.
1. Paid Advertising Campaigns:
Budget Planning: For those who use Google Ads for paid campaigns, the tool’s
CPC and competition data can help you determine which keywords align with
your budget and objectives. Focus on keywords that strike a balance between
relevance and cost.
Negative Keywords: While planning your ads, take note of irrelevant or low-
performing keywords that you might want to add to your negative keyword list.
This prevents your ads from showing up for searches that are unlikely to convert.
1. Content Calendar and Strategy:
Seasonal Trends: Google Keyword Planner can help you identify seasonal
keywords that experience spikes in search volume during specific times of the
year. Incorporate these keywords into your content calendar to tap into timely
trends.
Evergreen Content: While focusing on trends is important, don’t forget about
evergreen content. These are topics that remain relevant year-round. Use the
tool to find evergreen keywords that can drive consistent traffic.
1. Tracking and Adjustments:
Monitor Performance: Continuously track the performance of the keywords
you’ve incorporated into your content. Tools like Google Analytics can provide
insights into how well these keywords are driving traffic and conversions.
Adjust Strategies: Based on the performance data, be ready to adjust your
strategies. If certain keywords aren’t delivering the expected results, consider
tweaking your content or promotional efforts.
Pros and Cons of using Google Keyword Planner
In the context of Google Ads campaigns, the Google Keyword Planner is a well-known
tool for keyword planning and research. Estimating their prospective success in terms of
search volume, competitiveness, and cost per click, aids advertisers in locating
pertinent keywords. The pros and downsides of using Google Keyword Planner are
listed below:
Pros:
1. Data from Google: Since Google is the largest search engine, the data provided
by Keyword Planner is directly sourced from Google’s search engine, making it
highly relevant and accurate for planning Google Ads campaigns.
2. Search Volume Estimates: Keyword Planner provides estimates of monthly
search volumes for specific keywords. This information helps advertisers gauge
the popularity of different keywords and tailor their campaigns accordingly.
3. Keyword Suggestions: The tool offers keyword suggestions based on the initial
keywords you provide. This feature is especially useful for discovering related
keywords and expanding your keyword list.
4. Competition Analysis: Keyword Planner provides an indication of the
competition level for keywords, helping advertisers understand how difficult it
might be to rank for those keywords in Google Ads.
5. Bid Estimates: The tool offers estimates of the cost per click (CPC) for
keywords, allowing advertisers to get an idea of potential costs associated with
running ads for specific keywords.
6. Geo-Targeting: You can customize search volume data and other metrics based
on specific geographic regions, helping you tailor your campaigns to specific
markets.
Cons:
1. Focused on Ads: Keyword Planner is primarily designed for Google Ads
campaigns. While the data can still be useful for organic SEO purposes, some
metrics, such as competition and CPC, might not be as relevant for non-
advertising purposes.
2. Limited Keyword Data: Keyword Planner provides ranges for search volumes,
which can be quite broad. This can make it challenging to precisely estimate the
popularity of specific keywords.
3. Narrow Focus: The tool’s primary focus is on search volume and CPC data,
which might not cover all aspects of keyword research, such as keyword
difficulty, trend analysis, and competitor research.
4. Dependent on Google Ads Account: To access some of the more detailed
data, you need to have an active Google Ads account and campaign. This might
be a limitation for those who don’t intend to run Google Ads campaigns.
5. Limited Long-Tail Insights: While Keyword Planner is good at suggesting
common and popular keywords, it might not provide as much insight into long-tail
keywords, which can also be valuable for targeting niche audiences.
6. Competitive Landscape Changes: The competition level and CPC estimates
provided by Keyword Planner can change over time due to shifts in the
advertising landscape. This can impact the accuracy of your planning.
Conclusion
A powerful and user-friendly tool, Google Keyword Planner has a lot to offer those
working in content development and digital marketing. This tool equips you to make
wise choices whether you’re a blogger, business owner, or SEO expert by giving you
useful information on keyword trends, competition, and performance. You may improve
your online presence, draw in niche traffic, and accomplish your digital marketing goals
by incorporating Google Keyword Planner into your daily routine.