Google’s New Keyword Tool: Keyword Planner
In the last couple of months, Google has rolled out their new ‘Keyword Planner’.
The Google Keyword Planner has officially replaced the famous Google Keyword Tool used by SEOs and marketers around the globe.
In the past Google had two separate tools the Keyword Tool and Estimator, the Keyword Planner has merged both of these tools into one by combining their features together.
Like everything Google changes, it’s done with the intention of improving usability.
How Do You Access It?
To access the keyword tool, you’ll first need to signup for a Google Adwords account.
You don’t have to spend any money or enter any payment details to access the planner. Simply login, go to ‘Tools and Analysis’ in the menu and select the Keyword Planner:
What’s The Difference Between The Google Keyword Planner And Keyword Tool?
1. You access the Google Planner through your Google adwords account. The interface is slightly different and is aimed at advertisers using Google Adwords for PPC, although it’s still easy to use.
2. The Google Keyword tool used to show ‘broad match’ results by default. You could then change this to phrase or exact match depending on what you want to look at. Exact match shows a more exact view of the number of searches the exact keyword is getting each month.
In the Keyword Planner you are shown exact match results by default and cannot change it. This just makes it easier to use with one less variable to change.
3. In the keyword tool you used to be able to view the searches for keywords broken down by device. With the new planner you cannot view results by device, as a result the search volumes are significantly higher.
4. The keyword tool allowed you to see related keywords to the keywords you enter and only show results that contain your keyword. The planner doesn’t allow this, although it displays ‘relevant keywords’.
Overall the Google Keyword Planner is a slight downgrade for SEOs and a slight upgrade for Google Adwords users.
What You Need To Know
When you select the Keyword Planner you are given these options:
a). Search for keyword and adgroup ideas
This is the option to use if you want to perform normal keyword research. Where you just enter in your keywords and Google will display the searches based on the keywords you input.
Google will also show you various adgroups based on the keyword or keywords you input along with some advertising info. The different adgroups will display a variety of keywords similar to the ones you input.
These can be really useful for finding other keywords to target. It’s very similar to how the old keyword tool displayed keywords.
b). Enter or upload keywords to see how they perform
Next you can enter a list of keywords or even upload a file of keywords. With this option you can get details about the ads you could run. You’ll see details like CPC, estimated number of clicks from the keywords and so on.
c). Multiple keyword lists –
Lastly you have what’s called multiple keyword lists. This allows you to create two different lists of keywords and Google will match them up for you. For example, you could enter one keyword list of locations and another of activities or businesses. Google will them combine them together giving you ‘activity + location’ and ‘business + city’.
Overall the new keyword planner is very similar to the old keyword tool. It’s just slightly enhanced for the advertiser, and optimized to push Google advertising.
Ultimately if you’re using the tool for SEO, stop. You can find a number of different paid tools and services that can replace the Google keyword planner and allow you to search for keywords much more easily.
In Prosperity,
David Wood
P.S. Leave me your thoughts, comments and questions below.
Comments
Cooper McDonald, June 30 2012, 10:00
This update is a game-changer for us SEOs. The new Keyword Planner integrates so many features that were previously scattered across different tools. I love how it simplifies the keyword research process. Can’t wait to dive deeper into it!
Emily Davis, June 30 2012, 10:30
Thanks for the detailed post, David. I was a bit confused about the differences between the old tool and the new planner, but your explanation cleared it up. It’s good to know that I don’t need to input payment details to access the planner. Great job!
Michael Brown, June 30 2012, 11:00
Interesting read. The merging of the Keyword Tool and Estimator makes sense, but I’m not sure how I feel about losing device-specific search data. It was a useful feature for mobile-targeted campaigns. I’ll have to see how this impacts my strategies.
Olivia Green, June 30 2012, 11:30
Great article! The new planner seems to be more geared towards advertisers, which makes sense for Google. However, as an SEO, I find the lack of related keywords feature a bit disappointing. Do you have any recommendations for alternative tools?
Daniel Rivera, June 30 2012, 12:00
This was really helpful, David. I’ve been using the old keyword tool for years, and the changes in the new planner were a bit overwhelming at first. Your step-by-step guide on how to access and use it is exactly what I needed. Thanks a lot!
Charlotte Taylor, June 30 2012, 12:30
I appreciate your insights on the Keyword Planner. It’s evident that Google is constantly evolving to improve user experience. I’m curious to see how these changes will affect our SEO efforts in the long run. Keep up the great work, David!
Nathaniel Harris, June 30 2012, 13:00
Thanks for the thorough explanation, David! The new planner seems more straightforward for beginners, but I’m going to miss the flexibility of the old tool. Your tips on using the planner for SEO despite its advertising focus are very useful. Much appreciated!
Sophia Wilson, June 30 2012, 13:30
This post was very helpful, David. I’ve been working on improving my site’s SEO, and your tips are exactly what I needed. The advice on limiting outbound links and using nofollow tags is something I hadn’t considered before. I’m excited to apply these strategies and see how they affect my site’s PR. Thank you!
David Wood, June 30 2012, 14:00
Thank you for this inspiring post, David! The fire-building analogy is perfect for understanding the process of growing an online business. Starting with the right materials and building gradually is a great reminder to stay patient and persistent. I’ve often felt overwhelmed trying to tackle too much at once, but your advice has given me a new perspective. The tips on staying motivated and focused on personal goals are incredibly helpful. This article has provided me with practical strategies that I will apply to my business efforts. I appreciate your wisdom and encouragement. Thanks for sharing!
