Getting the Most Out of Keyword PlannerWhat is Keyword Planner?
Google Keyword Planner is a handy tool for marketers and advertisers to find the best keywords for their search campaigns. Launched in 2013 and revamped in 2018, it’s part of the Google Ads toolkit. This tool helps you figure out which keywords will get you the most bang for your buck in both paid and organic searches.
To use Keyword Planner, you need a Google Ads account. It’s free and can be found under “Tools” > “Planning” > “Keyword Planner” in Google Ads. If you need help setting up a Google Ads account, check out our guide on .
Why Use Keyword Planner?
Keyword Planner is your go-to for keyword research. It gives you the data you need to plan and optimize your search campaigns. Here’s what it can do:
- Find New Keywords: Discover keywords that are relevant to your business or niche.
- Estimate Search Volumes: See how often people search for specific keywords each month.
- Cost Estimates: Get an idea of how much it will cost to target certain keywords with paid ads.
- Competition Insights: Understand how competitive a keyword is, especially for PPC campaigns.
Here’s a quick look at what Keyword Planner offers:
Feature | Benefit |
---|---|
Find New Keywords | Discover keywords that fit your business or niche |
Estimate Search Volumes | Know how popular specific keywords are |
Cost Estimates | Budget for paid campaigns based on estimated costs |
Competition Insights | See how tough the competition is for keywords in PPC campaigns |
For more tips on using these features, check out our section on .
While Keyword Planner is mainly for paid ads, it’s also useful for SEO. Just remember, some data like the “Competition” column is more for PPC than organic search. For a deeper dive into using this tool for SEO, see our guide on How to Do Keyword Research.
Using Google Keyword Planner can give you the insights you need to make your search campaigns more effective. For more tips and tricks, explore our articles on Keyword Analysis, , and Competitor Keyword Research.
Getting Started with Keyword Planner
Ready to boost your SEO game? Let’s dive into Google Keyword Planner. First, you need to get into your Google Ads account. Here’s a quick and easy guide to get you started.
Setting Up Your Google Ads Account
Before you can use Keyword Planner, you need a Google Ads account. Don’t worry, it’s free and simple to set up. Just follow these steps:
- Head to Google Ads: Go to Google Ads.
- Sign In or Sign Up: Use your Google account to sign in. If you don’t have one, click “Start now” and follow the instructions.
- Skip Campaign Creation: To use Keyword Planner without setting up an ad campaign, choose “Create an account without a campaign”. This lets you skip the ad setup and go straight to the tool (Backlinko).
Finding Keyword Planner
Once your Google Ads account is ready, getting to Keyword Planner is a breeze. Here’s how:
- Open Google Ads Dashboard: Log in to your Google Ads account and go to the dashboard.
- Go to Tools: Click the wrench icon labeled “Tools & Settings” at the top.
- Select Keyword Planner: Under “Planning”, click on “Keyword Planner”.
Now, you’re in! The Keyword Planner interface offers two main features: “Discover new keywords” and “Get search volume and forecasts”. These are crucial for effective keyword generation and keyword research.
Steps | Description |
---|---|
1. | Visit Google Ads |
2. | Sign in or sign up |
3. | Create an account without a campaign |
4. | Open Google Ads Dashboard |
5. | Click on Tools & Settings |
6. | Select Keyword Planner under Planning |
Getting to know Keyword Planner is your first step to mastering SEO. For more tips on using this tool, check out our sections on keyword analysis and keyword competition.
Mastering Google Keyword Planner
Google Keyword Planner is your go-to for keyword research and strategy. Knowing how to use its features can supercharge your SEO game. Let’s break down filtering, sorting results, and picking the right keywords.
Filtering and Sorting Results
Google Keyword Planner has a bunch of filtering and sorting options to help you fine-tune your keyword lists. Using these tools, you can zero in on your target audience and make your campaigns more effective.
- Location: Filter keywords by specific places to target local or global audiences.
- Language: Narrow down keywords by language to match your audience.
- Search Networks: Choose between Google and Google Search Partners to get the right keyword data.
- Date Range: Adjust the date range to see how keywords perform over time.
You can also sort keywords based on different metrics:
Filter | Description |
---|---|
Keyword Text | Include or exclude specific terms in your keyword list. |
Average Monthly Searches | Sort keywords by search volume. |
Competition | Filter keywords by competition level (low, medium, high). |
Top of Page Bid | Sort keywords by bid estimates to see their commercial value. |
For more tips on generating effective keywords, check out our keyword generation page.
Picking the Right Keywords
Choosing the right keywords is key to a successful SEO campaign. Google Keyword Planner helps you find the most valuable keywords by looking at several criteria:
- Search Volume: Keywords with higher search volumes mean more interest and potential traffic. Use the “Get search volume and forecasts” tool to check this out.
- Competition Level: Low-competition keywords are easier to rank for, while high-competition ones might need more effort. Check out our guide on keyword competition for more info.
- Top of Page Bid: This shows the suggested bid range for keywords, helping you understand their commercial value. Higher bids often mean higher conversion potential.
Criteria | Description |
---|---|
Search Volume | Shows interest and potential traffic for a keyword. |
Competition | Indicates how tough it is to rank for a keyword. |
Top of Page Bid | Provides bid estimates to gauge commercial value. |
By using these criteria, you can create a balanced keyword strategy that mixes traffic potential with competitive feasibility. For more in-depth analysis, visit our keyword analysis page.
Optimizing your keyword selection with these features will help you build a strong and effective SEO campaign. For more strategies and tools, explore our keyword research tools section.
Keyword Analysis with Planner
Using Google Keyword Planner is a game-changer for nailing keyword analysis. This tool helps SEO pros find new keywords and check out search trends to fine-tune their content strategy.
Finding Fresh Keywords
The main job of Keyword Planner is to help you find new keywords. Just pop in a seed keyword, and boom, you get a list of related ideas. For example, type in “SEO” and you might get around 3,377 keyword suggestions (Ahrefs). This is gold for expanding your keyword list and finding terms that fit your goals.
You can also tweak the keyword search by using filters like location, language, search networks, and date range (Backlinko). This makes sure the keywords you get are spot-on for your audience.
Here’s how you might use different filters:
Filter Type | Example |
---|---|
Location | United States |
Language | English |
Search Networks | Google Search |
Date Range | Last 12 months |
For step-by-step instructions on generating keywords, check out our page on keyword generation.
Checking Out Search Trends
Understanding search trends is key in keyword research. Keyword Planner shows how often people search for certain terms and how these trends change over time (Google Ads). This info helps you grasp the popularity and seasonality of keywords, making your content planning smarter.
The tool gives you historical data to track search volume trends and predict future performance. For instance, the forecast feature can estimate clicks and impressions based on different bid amounts (Medium).
Keyword | Average Monthly Searches | Competition | Top of Page Bid (Low Range) | Top of Page Bid (High Range) |
---|---|---|---|---|
SEO | 100K – 1M | Medium | $1.50 | $6.00 |
Content Marketing | 10K – 100K | High | $2.00 | $8.00 |
Digital Marketing | 10K – 100K | Medium | $1.75 | $7.00 |
For more tips on analyzing keywords, head over to our guide on keyword analysis.
By using Google Keyword Planner, SEO experts can find new keywords and check out search trends to build a solid keyword strategy. For more tips and tools, explore our articles on keyword research tools and keyword trends.
Implementing Keywords
So, you’ve got your keywords from the Keyword Planner tool. Now, let’s get them working for you. This guide will show you how to add those keywords to your campaigns and get everything ready to roll.
Adding Keywords to Campaign
Picked your keywords? Great! Time to slot them into your ad plan. You can do this right in the Keyword Planner tool. Here’s how:
- Open Your Plan: Fire up the Keyword Planner and find your saved keywords.
- Pick Your Keywords: Select the ones you want to use.
- Add to Plan: Hit the “Add to Plan” button. Choose an existing campaign or start a new one.
- Sort into Ad Groups: Place the keywords into ad groups that match your campaign goals. This makes your ads more relevant and targeted.
Step | Action |
---|---|
1 | Open Keyword Planner |
2 | Pick your keywords |
3 | Click “Add to Plan” |
4 | Sort into ad groups |
Need more help? Check out our how to do keyword research guide.
Sharing and Finalizing Plans
Got your keywords in place? Awesome. Now, share the plan with your team or clients to get their thumbs-up before you go live.
- Save the Plan: Make sure all your changes are saved in the Keyword Planner tool.
- Share the Plan: Use the tool’s sharing options to send the plan to your team or clients. You can email it or create a shareable link.
- Review and Tweak: Work with your team to review the plan. Make any changes based on their feedback.
- Launch the Campaign: Once everyone’s happy, launch your campaign in Google Ads.
Step | Action |
---|---|
1 | Save the plan |
2 | Share with team or clients |
3 | Review and tweak |
4 | Launch the campaign |
Getting your keywords in the right places is key to SEO success. Follow these steps to make sure your keyword targeting hits the mark and boosts your campaign. For more tips, check out our resources on keyword analysis and keyword optimization.
Teaming Up with Pros
Working with a Google Ads Guru
SEO folks can really up their game by teaming up with a Google Ads whiz when using the Keyword Planner. Google Ads lets you buddy up with an expert to kick off your first campaign, offering priceless tips and tricks (Google Ads). This tag team can help you whip up a killer keyword plan, get a grip on keyword forecasts, and roll out campaigns like a pro.
Here’s what Google Ads experts bring to the table:
- Keyword Plan Creation: They help cook up a keyword strategy that fits your biz like a glove.
- Forecast Analysis: They break down keyword forecasts to show how your chosen words might perform.
- Campaign Setup: They guide you through setting up and launching campaigns, making sure your game plan hits the mark.
For more on keyword generation, check out our article on keyword generation.
Service | What They Do |
---|---|
Keyword Plan Creation | Craft a keyword strategy tailored to your biz. |
Forecast Analysis | Decode keyword forecasts. |
Campaign Setup | Help with campaign creation and launch. |
Tips for Crafting Campaigns
Creating a solid campaign with the Keyword Planner involves a few key steps. Here’s a quick guide to help SEO pros make the most of their keyword research and strategy.
Keyword Discovery: Use the Keyword Planner to dig up new keywords related to your stuff (Google Ads). This tool spits out a list of relevant keywords, their search volumes, and how tough the competition is.
Keyword Analysis: Size up the keywords you found based on search trends, competition, and how relevant they are. Tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, and Moz Keyword Explorer can give you a deeper dive (Quora).
Keyword Selection: Pick keywords that match your biz goals. Go for ones that are super relevant and not too hard to rank for. For a step-by-step guide, see our article on keyword targeting.
Adding Keywords to Campaign: Once you’ve picked your keywords, pop them into your Google Ads campaign. You can do this right in the Keyword Planner.
Finalizing Plans: Give your keyword plan a once-over and tweak as needed. Make sure your keywords are woven into your campaign just right.
Sharing Plans: Share your keyword plan with your team or stakeholders. This keeps everyone in the loop and working towards the same goals.
For more on keyword analysis, visit our article on keyword analysis.
Step | What to Do |
---|---|
Keyword Discovery | Find new keywords for your stuff. |
Keyword Analysis | Check out keywords based on trends, competition, relevance. |
Keyword Selection | Pick keywords that fit your biz goals. |
Adding Keywords to Campaign | Add chosen keywords to your Google Ads campaign. |
Finalizing Plans | Review and tweak your keyword plan. |
Sharing Plans | Share your plan with your team/stakeholders. |
By teaming up with experts and following these tips, SEO pros can make the most of the Keyword Planner to boost their keyword research and campaign strategies. For more tips on campaign creation, visit our articles on how to do keyword research and keyword placement.