When you are trying to get ranked on Google, you should make sure that the keyword research that you do is highly relevant with the proper intent so that you can reach the right audience. Without proper keyword planning, you will end up writing blogs or make changes that are not relevant for your businesses, and end up with the wrong audience base resulting in zero conversions or even interest. Luckily, Google can help you out with its own tools like keyword planner which can make a huge difference.
One of the most reliable tools available today is the Google keyword research tool. It is free, easy to access, and packed with features to help anyone find the right search terms for their content, ads, and website.
Before getting started, if someone truly wants to master keyword research along with the wider world of digital strategy, it is worth considering a digital marketing course. Now, here is a complete guide to getting started with Google Keyword Planner.
Google Keyword Planner Setup: Step-by-Step
Setting up an account to use the Google keyword research tool is simple. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Create a Google Ads Account
Anyone who wants to use the Google Keyword Planner setup will first need a Google Ads account. Here is the basic process:
- Visit the Google Ads website.
- Click on “Start Now.”
- Sign in with an existing Google account or create a new one.
Then, you will be asked if you want to run the campaign immediately. For now, select “Switch to Expert Mode” and then “Create an account without a campaign.”
Step 2: Access Google Keyword Planner
After setting up the Google Ads account:
- Click the option, “Tools & Settings” at the top.
- Under the option “Planning,” choose the “Keyword Planner” option.
From here, users can start keyword research without spending any money.
How to Use Google Keyword Planner?
Once inside, there are two main tools offered, Discover New Keywords and Get Search Volume and Forecasts. Both are useful, depending on the goals.
- Discover New Keywords: This tool is ideal for finding new keyword ideas. If someone selects “Discover New Keywords,” they can:
- Enter words or phrases related to their business.
- Enter a website URL to let Google scan it for keyword ideas.
- Get Search Volume and Forecasts: This option is great when there is already a list of keywords. It shows:
- Estimated number of searches per month.
- Competition level.
- Possible advertising costs.
Why the Google Keyword Research Tool is Important
Using a tool like Google Keyword Planner helps avoid guesswork. It offers real data about how people actually search online. Here are some of the key reasons to use it:
- Understand what terms customers really use.
- Spot trends early.
- Make better content decisions.
- Build smarter ad campaigns.
Key Metrics to Know Inside Google Keyword Planner
Understanding the numbers inside the tool is very important for good keyword research. Some of the main terms are highlighted in this detailed table:
| Metric | Meaning | What it indicates |
| Average Monthly Searches | Popularity of the term. | Shows how often people search for that term. |
| Competition | Difficulty level | Tells how hard it is to rank or advertise for that keyword. |
| Top of Page Bid (Low and High Range) | Ad budget guidance | Gives an idea of ad costs. |
Knowing these helps in choosing which keywords to focus on.
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Tips for Smarter Keyword Research
The main purpose of keyword research is to get inside the mind of the person who is actually searching. Intent is important while deciding a keyword so, the better you understand the intent of a search, the smarter your keyword planning gets.
Here are a few real-world tips that actually work:
- Think how a customer would search: Use keywords that you think your target audience would enter on Google and with what intent.
- Use filters wisely: There are filters in your arsenal when you Keyword planner like location, language, and search network filters. These will get you better keywords.
- Look for long-tail keywords: They don’t have a lot of competition and hence, if used organically, can boost ranking of your page.
- Group keywords: Organise them into themes for better campaign structure.
- Keep updating lists: Trends and customer behaviours change.
Long Tail Keyword Examples
Here are some long-tail keyword examples that show clear intent and are easier to rank for:
- “Buy running shoes online India”
- “Affordable eco-friendly notebooks for students”
- “Best yoga mats for beginners India”
- “Order custom birthday cakes near me”
- “Top-rated budget smartphones under 15000”
Common Mistakes to Avoid During Keyword Research
Keyword research takes time and strategy and there is bound to be mistakes. Avoid the following common errors during keyword research to save wasted time and money.
- Only picking high-volume keywords.
- Ignoring competition level.
- Forgetting about user intent.
- Not updating keyword lists regularly.
- Not cross-checking with real search results.
How Often Should Keyword Research Be Done?
Many people wrongly assume it’s a one-time task. In reality:
- Active websites: If you run a busy or active website, checking your keywords every month is a smart move. Things change fast online and what people searched for last month might be different today.
- Seasonal businesses: For businesses which generally get a boost during a specific season, let’s say travel companies, needs to be on the toes with their keyword research. Review keywords every three months and also identify search habit shifts with seasons.
- New product launches: And whenever you launch a new product or service, fresh keyword research is a must. You want to make sure you are matching new customer searches right from the start, not guessing and hoping for the best.
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Final Thoughts
Keyword research is an important part of a digital marketing strategy. If you are looking for ways to get ranked on Google and get on the first page, keyword research is relevant for you. Using the Google keyword research tool, like Google Keyword Planner helps in building a relevant keyword list for a better strategy focused on analysis rather than guess world. It helps in finding what real people are searching for, not just what sounds good. When done right, it can save time, money, and a lot of wasted effort.
Those serious about mastering this skill should look into proper education from renowned platforms. Imarticus Learning happens to be a stellar choice if you are looking for relevant professional courses in digital marketing and also others.
FAQs
What is Google Keyword Planner?
Google Keyword Planner is a keyword research tool that is given to use from Google Ads. It is free and quite intuitive and can help small businesses to use it to find the best keywords for advertising or content creation.
Is Google Keyword Planner completely free?
Yes. Although it requires a Google Ads account, users do not have to run paid ads to use it.
How do I access Google Keyword Planner without paying?
Create a Google Ads account, switch to Expert Mode, and skip the campaign creation step.
Can beginners use Google Keyword Planner easily?
Yes. Google has made it quite beginner-friendly so that any business owner can try to look into keyword analysis and do it themselves.
Does Google Keyword Planner show real-time data?
Keywords do not change every minute. Hence, the keyword trends are shown on a month-by-month basis.
Can I use Google Keyword Planner for SEO?
Absolutely. It helps in finding search terms that people use, making it ideal for SEO planning.
What is the difference between “Discover new keywords” and “Get search volume”?
“Discover new keywords” helps find ideas. “Get search volume” checks existing keyword performance.