Google Keyword Planner is a powerful tool for keyword research, helping you identify the right keywords for your content and advertising campaigns. Here’s a step-by-step guide to using Google Keyword Planner:
1. Access Google Keyword Planner
- Sign in to Google Ads: If you don’t have an account, create one.
- Navigate to Keyword Planner: Once logged in, click on the tools icon (wrench) in the upper right corner, then select “Keyword Planner” under the “Planning” section.
2. Choose Your Tool
Google Keyword Planner offers two primary tools:
- Discover New Keywords: Use this to find new keyword ideas based on a specific topic, website, or phrase.
- Get Search Volume and Forecasts: Use this to get data and trends on specific keywords.
3. Discover New Keywords
- Enter Keywords or Website URL: In the “Discover New Keywords” section, you can either enter specific keywords related to your niche or a URL (e.g., a competitor’s website).
- Set Targeting: Define the geographic location, language, and search networks (Google and its search partners).
- Get Results: Click “Get Results” to view a list of keyword ideas related to your input.
4. Analyze Keyword Ideas
- Keyword List: Review the list of keyword ideas generated.
- Metrics to Consider:
- Average Monthly Searches: Shows how often the keyword is searched on Google.
- Competition: Indicates how competitive the keyword is in terms of bidding (Low, Medium, High).
- Top of Page Bid (Low & High Range): Provides an estimate of the bid range to rank at the top of the page for that keyword.
- Filter and Sort: Use filters to narrow down keywords by competition, average monthly searches, etc. Sort keywords by relevance or search volume.
5. Select Keywords
- Choose Relevant Keywords: Select keywords that align with your goals (high search volume with manageable competition).
- Add to Plan: Check the boxes next to the keywords you want and add them to your keyword plan by clicking “Add to plan.”
6. Get Search Volume and Forecasts
- Enter Keywords: If you have a list of specific keywords, enter them here.
- Forecast Data: You’ll receive data like predicted clicks, impressions, cost, and click-through rate (CTR) based on your entered keywords.
- Historical Metrics: This section shows search volume trends over time.
7. Download Keyword Plan
- Export Data: After analyzing and selecting your keywords, download the data by clicking the download icon. You can export your keyword plan in CSV format.
8. Use Insights for Content and Ads
- Content Creation: Use the selected keywords to optimize your website content, blog posts, and landing pages.
- PPC Campaigns: Integrate these keywords into your Google Ads campaigns to target your audience more effectively.
Tips:
- Use Broad Keywords First: Start with broader keywords to explore related ideas.
- Regularly Update: Keyword trends change, so regularly revisit the tool to update your strategy.
By following these steps, you can effectively conduct keyword research using Google Keyword Planner to boost your online presence and marketing efforts.