How to use Google Adwords Keyword Planner

[#1]

I recognize that many people don't know how to use the Google Adwords Keyword Planner So I decided to give a tutorial. Everyone wants good SEO and this is a good way to research keywords phrases not only for your titles, but also for your tags.

1. Make an Google account (it's free) or sign in f you already have one.
2. Go to the TOOL tab and drop down to KEYWORD PLANNER
3. Go to SEARCH FOR NEW KEYWORD AND GROUP IDEAS
4 Go down to the third box that says PRODUCT CATEGORY and put in your product or follow the subcategories.
5. Go to the first box YOUR PRODUCT OR SERVICE and enter in any ideas you have for your item. You must hit enter after each idea.
6. Go to TARGETING and click on Google if you want Google and Search Partners
7. OPTIONAL:Then go to the gray box that says KEYWORD OPTIONS and click on the pencil icon. Turn on the top option that says "Only show ideas closely related to my search terms".
USE THIS FLAG: 1) when you want to only see suggestions very close to the keywords you entered. Do not check this flag if you want to see a larger variety of keywords.
2) The Broad search count should only be used as a guideline to see which keywords are more popular than others. Google no longer shows the Exact search count that would tell use exactly how often each keyword phrase was used each month.

8. Then click on the blue box that says GET IDEAS.

You will then see 2 tabs. The first one AD GROUP IDEAS gives you keyword phrases and their average monthly searches and subcategories. The second one KEYWORD IDEAS show you all the ideas you entered and a general monthly search averages.

Don't worry about the Competition (low, medium, high) as it only pertains to businesses paying for Google ads.

Also up at the top of the page you will see your product or service ideas (all the ideas you entered for your item(s). To the right you can MODIFY SEARCH. When you click on that, it will bring you back to your original ideas so you can eliminate or add more ideas.

I hope this helps everyone with their SEO.

[jenniespetcorner]

I personally use a 3rd party tool called Jaaxy. It makes searching keywords much less painful than dealing with Google.

[Former_Member]

Extremely helpful posts. I did speak with Google Adwords and set up more groups. I am learning a lot.

[joyfulinkdotcom]

In the old days, several years ago, I used to use the old keyword planner from Google. It was easy to get to and use. However, since they changed it, I have difficulty getting to the actual pages within Google to use their keywords tool. I have several google accounts. I signed in on one of them.I then went here: https://adwords.google.com/KeywordPlanner

When I got to that page, google wanted me to log in again. I tried logging in but it seems it wants me to create an account within their adwords area, which I am guessing they want me to use as an advertising buyer? Unless I do this, I can't access their keyword tool, right? This part gets me stuck every time. It's why I can't use their keyword planner any more.

There is a tool I find much more user friendly. This one:
http://www.keywordeye.com/free/

Can I just use this instead of Google's keyword tool?

[Former_Member]

L.M.

Whatever works for you is just fine. Some people are having trouble getting into Google Adwords Keyword Planner. You're not the only one.

[Former_Member]

L.M.

When I use Google Adwords Keyword Planner and have to sign in, I use my gmail account and password? That doesn't work for you?

[Former_Member]

I sign in using my Gmail account, but the first time Adwords wanted me to create a special account with them (I used the same gmail and asked to keep signing in with this).

I think they make you do this beacuse they need to get credit card info and make you sign a different user agreement, since you can use the tool to buy ads. You don't have to give them any credit card though, just your email :)

[joyfulinkdotcom]

Thanks for letting me know it isn't just me. Correct, they wouldn't let me in with my usual regular gmail (mail account etc) name and password - not past the adwords page. Although Karin notes they are trying to get credit cards but there is a work around - I don't think I'm going to try using the adwords interface again. I'm going to make do with the other one I mentioned above. Thanks for letting me know that will be okay - they do rely on the google data I believe - but they're far nicer to deal with. Phew! Now I feel better. Thanks.

[GriffinMaille]

I have read all the instructions but I keep getting.

"Oops! We can't display search volume charts. Please try searching for different keywords."

I know that there has been searches done with these keywords. I my self have for a month been searching these keywords.

So why is it not giving any ideas?

[Former_Member]

ChimericSoul,

It is not just you. I do a lot of keyword research for my clients and I see that same message at least once each day. It looks like a problem on Google's end.

When this happens, I try to research another group of keywords or I close the Internet browser I am using (like Firefox) and try another browser (like Google Chrome),

[GriffinMaille]

I use Google Chrome but I guess I could try IE.

I don't know if I should ask this question here or in another part of the forum.

I have been told on another forum page that my titles are too short. How many characters should a title be?

Also I have a very hard time coming up with descriptions.
And how long should my descriptions be?

[Former_Member]

ChimericSoul,

You listing title should be 3-4 keyword phrases long. You should also research these words so you know what words people are using to find similar things like yours. Google Adwords Keyword Planner is an excellent tool for researching keywords.

You listing descriptions should also have your keyword phrases from you title in the description. The first or second sentence should have your major keyword phrase because that's what Google sees as the most important and also that's what people see. The length of the description doesn't matter as long as you get in all the major information relating to the item, Just make sure you use keyword phrases throughout the listing.

You tags should also have the same major keyword phases as well. Etsy relevancy doesn't seem to care about the position of your keywords, but it's still unknown as to whether Google does. It might be a good idea to list keywords from your title as your first tags.

You can always ask for a SEO shop review after you follow the directions in that thread.

[GriffinMaille]

"You can always ask for a SEO shop review after you follow the directions in that thread"

What thread is that?

[Former_Member]

ChimericSoul,

This is the thread. I'm sorry I didn't post it eariler.

https://www.etsy.com/teams/11352/relevancy-and-seo-for-all-etsy-shops/discuss/14119836/

Mary

[GriffinMaille]

No problem, thank you.

[naturegirl22]

I'm having a bit of trouble... so am going back through to see what I missed. I appreciate all the advice and help you are giving!

[BerkshireCollections]

I am feeling completely stupid and frustrated. Tried to work on this the GoogleAdwords thing last night for a few hours. I simply could not get to the part of things being free or to the "tool tab" and then drop down to "keyword planner".

so frustrating

[Former_Member]

Nancy,

I'm so sorry to hear that. Others are having the same issues. I wish I lived close to someone who is having these issues. I would like to see in person from their perspective. It's so hard to help someone when you can't see what they see. GRRR!!!

[BerkshireCollections]

Thanks Mary - my son is a software engineer, I plan to pick his brain this weekend.

He most often sees way more than I do and figures it out.

[Former_Member]

Nancy,

If he finds out something than could you share it if it's relevant. I'm sure others would be interested.


Mary

[BerkshireCollections]

Mary - to be honest my son a software engineer with Google also found it a bit complex. He worked through it with me - now I have to try to maneuver it myself.

Nancy

[MyRockinHeart]

Hi,
I'm new, and I am concerned about installing Google Ad words as I am battling a trojan on my new Toshiba laptop that I got from a "free fax site" but it comes in via the Chrome browser and opens up another window. my best friend is a software person, i read and read on forums google forums etc. and have now read that a trojan virus type thing is coming in via Google ad words too, which would be good if there was a fix, but so far all of the rememdies they offer haven't gotten rid of the one I currently have, I had to uninstall Chrome, the trojan I had is called Conduit and/or search it, and on forums it is a beast, I removed it from my add remove programs my friend cleaned it from my registry etc. Has anyone else had experience with this, my computer is now loaded with spy ware spybots, malwarebytes etc. Will google ad words send these things into a tizzy? I also went there on my other computer and couldn't figure out anything for free either, like the lady above.

[Former_Member]

Melissa,

I have never heard of this happening as a result of using Google Adwords. You should be fine as long as you download directly from adwords.google.com and not from a third party web site.

Conduit Search got on your computer after you have installed another program that had bundled in their installer the Conduit Search toolbar. Did you buy and install any software just before Conduit appeared on your computer?

Here are easy instructions for removing Conduit from your computer: http://malwaretips.com/blogs/conduit-search-removal/

[Former_Member]

Google made a change recently that requires signing up for a Google Adwords account. The ads you create can be suspended before they actually run. The ads never have to run and you can use your Adwords account to search for keywords over and over again.

I have had a Google Adwords account for over 10 years and use it all the time to research keywords for my clients. I have not run any Google ads for over 5 years.

[MyRockinHeart]

Ah, ok. about the adwords. I also will be deligent from now on to get rid of any hangers on....
No what happened was I needed to receive a fax and don't have a fax machine, so I went to an online fax service. That is when conduit came in, and search it. I saw the search it, but not the conduit. Now it has taken over my computer, I have taken many steps and everytime I go to Google forums and read so have other people, yet it is still there. The last thing I read there said to start a new Google chrome profile, which will be a shame as I have years of bookmarks on there. I unistalled google Chrome and now use Firefox again. But my sons friend is a wiz so I will probably take my computer to him soon, and do a system restore to before it came in, what it does is it opens two browers and does its behind the scenes registry changing etc while you work and then pretty soon your computer slows down and you look at the task manager and see that there are 4 chrome browsers open! It's a real mess. I must say. Sorry, thanks for letting me rant and this isn't a very good way to introduce myself to the team. I hope Google can make an easy fix. I will look at this link and turn it over to my friend, because I have done everything I know of....which is a lot. I am certainly wary of installing anymore adware on my computer. Which is what Google is saying the last I checked.
at any rate, Hi and glad I found you guys. :)

[MyRockinHeart]

I have done half of that, I have done Malwarebytes, but not the Adware which is what the google forums guy said. It seems not very good when you have to install 3 different adware spybot etc to get rid of something and my friend cleaned it out of the registry keys. I guess I just am bothering to say all of this, so that everyone knows when ever you download a new program on your computer, especially a "trial" or free thing, check your remove/add programs to see what else you might have downloaded.