Keywords are essential to any SEO strategy. They’re what people use online to find what they need, and it’s how they’ll discover your website. That’s why it’s crucial to maximize your SEO efforts by taking the time to research and find the right keywords to boost your site.
Google Keyword Planner is a free, AdWords keyword tool that allows you to research keywords you can use for your website content. However, for people new to the platform, it can be confusing to navigate. To help simplify the process for you, and get you on the road to higher rankings and more sales, we’ve provided a quick “how to” guide.
What is Google Keyword Planner
Google Keyword Planner is a keyword tool that provides keyword suggestions along with estimated website traffic to assist you in building a robust SEO strategy.
With Google Keyword Planner, you can:
- Search for ad groups ideas and keywords that describe your service or product
- Get statistics, such as the competitiveness of the keyword or the number of times it’s been searched
- Look at traffic estimates, such as the number of clicks and impressions your chosen keyword will get, considering the given budget and bid amounts
How To Use Google Keyword Planner
Getting Started
First, you need to log in to Google AdWords.
Then, navigate to the tools option and choose Keyword Planner. Here, you will see three options. Since you’ll be doing keyword research, you’ll click on the top option which says ‘search for new keywords….’
Again, you will have numerous options. Try entering keywords that are related to your services or products. For instance, if you own a landscaping business in Tampa, FL, and want to drum up more business, you would enter terms such as “landscaping services” and “landscaping services in Tampa, Florida.” Doing so will generate other related keywords you can use to map out your SEO strategy.
Similarly, you can put in landing pages, such as your homepage or a page where you’d like people to land when they search that particular keyword.
Setting It Up
Once you enter your keyword, you’ll know the exact average search volume it gets each month. Remember, your goal is to find keywords that will allow a good, global search volume for your article or landing page. Similarly, if you are choosing your own keyword, it is crucial that you select a less competitive one so you can quickly rank on Google for those targeted keywords.
There are a number of ways to filter your options as well.
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- Geo-Targeting
The first option is geo-targeting which allows you to target a particular country, language, or even search engine. If you only provide products or services in a particular area, you can enter that location as your focal point.
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- Customization
You have the option to ‘customize your search’ by filtering keywords based on average monthly searches, suggested bids, ad impression share, and competition. Similarly, you also have the option of hiding keywords that are already present in your AdWords account or those you think are relevant.
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- Customization
There is also a Data Range option which allows you to see the average monthly search for selected ranges. Using this can be useful in comparing different data ranges to determine what is working and what isn’t.
Understanding the Results
Once you’re done adjusting the settings and the necessary targeting, you can continue by selecting the ‘Get Ideas’ button. This will take you to the actual Google Keyword Planner tool. Once you are on this page, you can continue to research your keywords, selecting which you’d like to use and downloading them to build your list. Each keyword displayed will show an average monthly search, competition level, and page bid (low and high). Remember, the higher the competition of the keyword, the harder it is to rank for – but it can be done.
As an example, we used “landscaping services” as our keyword. As you can see, it provides a list of related keywords you can use. You can also select any one of the keywords listed to find keywords related to that specific keyword as well.
Other Benefits of Using Google Keyword Planner
Trends
Researching trends is very important to your SEO strategy. To use this feature in Google Keyword Planner, go to the main Keyword Planner page and select the option, “Get search volume data and trends.”
Once you select “Get search volume,” it will provide the monthly searches for that term in the last twelve months. You also have the option of attaching a CSV, TSV, or text file of the keywords you want to review.
Competition
The Keyword Planner tool also helps you to see keyword competition. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the competition displayed doesn’t refer to search engine competition. It’s actually the competition for businesses advertising with AdWords. However, this can provide helpful insight. For instance, if there is high competition, it’s an indicator that it will be difficult to rank for and see conversions with just basic SEO practices.
Your Next Step
Google Keyword Planner is a useful tool for anyone trying to improve their SEO strategy, website rankings, and conversions. Sign up for an account today. Create a spreadsheet of keywords you’d like to rank for and start plugging them in. See what you come up with. It’s trial and error. And if it doesn’t work out for you, there are plenty of other keyword tools out there for you to try.
If you’re struggling to rank on Google, try working with an SEO agency. Oyova offers a variety of SEO and digital marketing services to help you outrank your competitors and grow your business. Contact us today to discuss your goals and begin customizing a marketing plan that meets your needs.
