Google Ads Keyword Planner is a powerful tool that can help you identify the right keywords for your online advertising campaigns. Whether you’re new to keyword research or an experienced marketer, this tool can provide valuable insights into the search volume, competition, and cost per click (CPC) of different keywords, helping you make informed decisions about which keywords to target in your Google Ads campaigns. In this article, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to use Google Ads Keyword Planner for your keyword research success.
Step 1: Accessing Google Ads Keyword Planner
To get started with Google Ads Keyword Planner, you will need a Google Ads account. If you don’t have one already, you can sign up for free at ads.google.com. Once you have an account and are logged in, follow these steps to access Google Ads Keyword Planner:
- Click on the “Tools & Settings” tab in the top right corner of your Google Ads account.
- Under the “Planning” section, click on “Keyword Planner.”
Step 2: Choosing the Right Keyword Research Method
Google Ads Keyword Planner offers two different keyword research methods: “Discover new keywords” and “Get search volume and forecasts.” Let’s explore both methods in detail:
Discover new keywords:
This method allows you to enter a product or service related to your business, and Google Ads Keyword Planner will generate keyword ideas based on that input. You can enter multiple seed keywords to generate a larger list of keyword ideas. You can also specify the location, language, and negative keywords to refine your keyword suggestions.
Get search volume and forecasts:
This method allows you to enter a list of keywords, and Google Ads Keyword Planner will provide search volume data, competition level, and CPC estimates for those keywords. This method is useful if you already have a list of keywords in mind and want to analyze their performance.
Choose the method that best suits your needs and click on the respective option to proceed.
Step 3: Analyzing Keyword Ideas
Once you have chosen a keyword research method, Google Ads Keyword Planner will generate a list of keyword ideas based on your input. You can now analyze these keyword ideas to identify the best keywords for your campaigns. Here are some key elements to consider:
Search volume:
Search volume refers to the average number of searches that a keyword receives in a given month. Higher search volume generally indicates higher demand for a keyword, but it also means higher competition. Look for keywords with a good balance of search volume and competition to target in your campaigns.
Competition:
The competition level in Google Ads Keyword Planner is an indicator of how many advertisers are bidding on a particular keyword. High competition means that many advertisers are targeting that keyword, which can drive up the cost per click (CPC) and make it harder to achieve a high ad position. Look for keywords with the moderate competition that offer a good opportunity to capture traffic without breaking the bank.
CPC estimates:
CPC estimates in Google Ads Keyword Planner provide an estimate of how much you may need to bid for a keyword in order to achieve a certain ad position. This can help you plan your budget and determine the cost-effectiveness of targeting certain keywords. Consider keywords with reasonable CPC estimates that fit within your advertising budget.
Relevance:
Ensure that the keywords are relevant to your business and target audience. Avoid targeting keywords that are not related to your products, services, or content, as it may result in low-quality traffic and lower conversion rates.
Step 4: Refining Keyword Ideas
Once you have analyzed the keyword ideas generated by Google Ads Keyword Planner, you can further refine your keyword list to ensure that you are targeting the most relevant and effective keywords for your campaigns. Here are some tips for refining your keyword ideas:
Grouping keywords:
Group similar keywords together based on their relevance and intent. This will help you create more targeted ad groups and ads, and improve the relevance of your campaigns. For example, if you have a clothing store, you can group keywords like “women’s dresses,” “women’s tops,” and “women’s skirts” together in one ad group.
Adding modifiers:
Consider adding keyword modifiers to your keywords to make them more specific and relevant. Keyword modifiers are words or phrases that you add to your keywords to modify their meaning. For example, adding words like “best,” “cheap,” or “buy” as modifiers can help you target more specific search queries and improve the quality of your traffic.
Reviewing match types:
Google Ads allows you to specify the match type for your keywords, which determines how closely a search query must match your keyword in order for your ads to show. There are four match types: broad match, broad match modifier, phrase match, and exact match. Review the match types of your keywords and consider using more specific match types to ensure that your ads are shown for relevant searches and avoid irrelevant clicks.
Also Read: The Art of Storytelling in Marketing: How to Create Engaging Content
Using negative keywords:
As mentioned earlier, negative keywords can help you exclude certain keywords from triggering your ads. Review the search terms report in your Google Ads account to identify any irrelevant search queries that are triggering your ads and add them as negative keywords to prevent wasting the budget on irrelevant clicks.