Google Keyword Planner Doesn’t Need Any Active Campaign

 

Google Ads is a great tool for advertising and attracting local customers. As a comprehensive service launched by Google, it offers various tools for different SEO purposes. 

Among these tools, Google keyword planner stands out as a valuable resource for keyword research. It enables advertisers to display ads to web users based on cookies and keywords. 

These keywords are linked to the content of web pages shown to advertisers, and campaigns are run based on the advertiser's budget.
Google recently declared that "Setting up a campaign or ad is not mandatory to use keyword planner. One can use the keyword planner without running any campaign on Google Ads." 

According to the search engine, an update clarified that more users were seeing an error message regarding Keyword Planner. Google responded, stating that there was a technical issue and reiterated that an active campaign is not required-just a Google Ads account. This means any user, advertiser or not, can freely research keywords in Keyword Planner.

 

 

Maximizing SEO with Keyword Planner

Though initially designed for advertising, Keyword Planner is a powerful tool for SEO. By providing insights into search volumes and trends, it helps users identify valuable keywords. 

To access Keyword Planner, you'll need a Google Ads account. Once set up, you can skip setting up an active campaign and dive straight into keyword exploration.

 

Discover New Keywords

• Start with Keywords: Enter up to 10 relevant words or phrases to generate keyword ideas.

 

• Start with a Website: Use a URL to get suggestions based on the entire site or a specific page.

 

This feature is particularly useful for discovering related keywords that might not contain your initial terms, offering a broader spectrum of possibilities than some third-party tools.

 

Refine and Analyze

Filtering options allow you to exclude irrelevant keywords swiftly. Attributes like brand, color, and style can shape your results, helping you focus on what truly matters for your SEO strategy. 

Additionally, while Keyword Planner doesn't show precise monthly search numbers, it provides average ranges, aiding in the identification of long-tail keywords.
 

Steps to Access Google Keyword Planner

 

If you're looking to harness the power of Google Keyword Planner, the first step is to set up a Google Ads account. Here’s how to do it:

1. Create a Google Ads Account

Head over to Google Ads and click on “Start now.” Use your existing Google account credentials to sign in. If you don't have a Google account, you'll need to create one first.

2. Initial Set-Up Process

Enter Your Website: After signing in, you'll be prompted to enter your website’s name. Fill this in and hit “Next.”

 

Skip Unnecessary Steps: As you proceed through the next few pages, you'll see options to create a campaign. Simply keep pressing the “Skip” button to bypass this setup. Your goal is just to access the Keyword Planner.

 

Exit Campaign Creation: Look for a pop-up box with the option to “Leave campaign creation” and select it. This will allow you to exit the campaign setup process without making any commitments.

 

3. Provide Billing Information

Once you've exited the campaign setup, Google will ask for some basic information:

Billing Country: Input your accurate billing country.

Time Zone and Currency: Select your time zone and preferred currency for your account.

 
4. Enter Payment Details

This next step involves entering your payment information. Don’t worry; there won’t be any charges if you don’t run any ads. 

 

Google might place a temporary hold on your card to verify the account, but this is usually refunded within a week or so.

 

5. Access Keyword Planner

 

With your account set up completed, proceed to access the Google Keyword Planner. You can either click directly on the tool’s link if available or search "keyword planner" in Google and navigate to it via the official result. Now, you're ready to start exploring keywords.

 

Follow these steps diligently, and you'll have access to the Google Keyword Planner in no time, opening up a realm of opportunities for keyword research and digital marketing strategy.

 

Discovering New Keywords with Google Keyword Planner

 

Uncovering fresh keyword ideas is a breeze with Google Keyword Planner, a tool designed to enhance your online marketing strategy. Here’s how you can harness its potential:

 

Step-by-Step Guide to Finding New Keywords

 

1.     Initiate with 'Discover New Keywords'

•  This option is your gateway to fresh keyword inspiration. Choose this if you're seeking entirely new keyword concepts.

2.     Option 1: Start with Keywords

•  Input up to 10 relevant keywords or phrases that are closely linked to your business or niche. This approach allows you to gather a comprehensive list of related keyword suggestions.

3.     Option 2: Start with a Website or Webpage

• Enter a URL to generate keywords based on the content of the entire site or a specific page. This is particularly useful if you aim to align your keywords with your website’s content.

 

 

 

How to Discover Profitable Keywords with Google Keyword Planner

 

Google Keyword Planner is a powerful tool for uncovering potentially lucrative keywords, and here's a guide on how to maximize its utility.

To begin, focus on the "top of page bid (high range)" column. This feature provides insights into the premium amounts advertisers have historically paid for a keyword's top placement. While this data is primarily for pay-per-click advertisers, it offers valuable hints for SEO strategies.

Why Paid Data Matters for SEO

Though advertisers and SEO may seem disconnected, the logic is simple: if a business invests heavily in clicks for a specific keyword, there's strong commercial potential behind it. This indicates that ranking organically for such keywords could be highly beneficial.

 

Steps to Identifying Lucrative Keywords

 

1. Input Your Seed Keywords: Start by entering broad keywords related to your industry or niche into the Keyword Planner.

 

2. Analyze the Bid Data: Sort the results by the "top of page bid (high range)" from highest to lowest. This will highlight keywords that typically command higher prices in paid advertising.

 

3. Evaluate the Keywords: Look for those with high bids—these keywords often correlate with high-value transactions.

 

For instance, if you see that advertisers are spending a significant amount on keywords related to high-ticket items, like specialized equipment or luxury goods, those terms might be worth targeting organically given their potential profitability.

 

Conclusion

By leveraging the insights from bid data in Google Keyword Planner, you can strategically target keywords with substantial commercial value, potentially boosting your organic SEO efforts in the process.

 

Discovering the Potential of Google Keyword Planner
 

Extensive Keyword Suggestions: By entering keywords like "SEO," Google Keyword Planner can generate thousands of keyword ideas. While other specialized tools might offer a higher volume of suggestions, Keyword Planner excels in providing contextually related keywords, even if they don't directly match your input terms.

 

Related Keyword Ideas: The tool excels in suggesting relevant keywords that might not explicitly include the words you provided. This expands your reach and helps you discover untapped keyword opportunities you might otherwise miss.

By leveraging the capabilities of Google Keyword Planner, you can uncover new keywords tailored to your content strategy, enhancing your potential to boost search engine visibility.

 

How to Spot Trending Keywords Using Google Keyword Planner

To find trending keywords with Google Keyword Planner, start by utilizing the Year-over-Year (YoY) change metric. This valuable feature highlights the shift in search interest between the current month and the identical month from the prior year, offering insights into emerging trends.

Steps to Discover Trending Topics:

1. Access Keyword Planner: Begin by logging into Google Keyword Planner. Enter your initial seed keywords related to your niche or industry.

2. Review and Sort by YoY Change: Among the list of keyword suggestions you receive, focus on the column displaying the YoY change. Sort these results in descending order to prioritize keywords with the highest increases in search interest.

3. Identify Breakout Topics: Keywords showing a significant spike in YoY change are likely breakout topics, indicating heightened consumer interest. These are prime candidates for content creation or marketing attention.

4. Incorporate High-Interest Keywords: Utilize these trending keywords to inform your content strategies. Whether you're crafting blog posts, video content, or product reviews, focusing on these high-interest keywords can maximize visibility and engagement.

 

Benefits for Affiliate Marketers

For affiliate website owners, these insights help identify products or topics currently gaining traction, providing an opportunity to create relevant reviews or content that appeals to an interested audience. By continuously monitoring these metrics, you can stay ahead of search trends and adapt your strategy accordingly.

By following these steps, Google Keyword Planner becomes a powerful tool in your arsenal, keeping you informed about shifting consumer interests and allowing you to tailor your digital content to meet demand.

 

Understanding Search Location Insights with Google Keyword Planner

Google Keyword Planner offers detailed information about the most popular search locations for specific terms. Here's a breakdown of what it provides:

1. Initial Overview of Search Locations: The tool allows you to see where most searches for a keyword originate. For instance, you might discover that the majority of impressions for a term like "superbowl" come from specific countries, such as the United States.

2. Refined Location Details: Once you identify a primary country, you can refine your analysis by setting the location filter to that country. This reveals the top-performing states for the keyword.

3. Deeper Insights into States and Cities: Delve further by narrowing the search to individual states, which then highlights the most active cities in terms of search volume.

4. Zip/Postal Code Specifics: For an even more granular view, set your focus to a particular city and the tool will provide data on popular ZIP or postal codes associated with the keyword.

 

Important Considerations

The data provided is based on impressions forecasts for advertising, meaning the insights should be used cautiously. They offer a directional sense of where search activity is concentrated rather than precise search volumes. For narrowly tailored data focused on search volumes by country, consider using alternative advanced tools that specialize in this area.

 

Unlocking Exact Search Volumes in Google Keyword Planner

Google Keyword Planner is a powerful tool, but it often provides broad search volume ranges for keywords, like 1K–10K searches per month. This lack of precision can be frustrating, especially for those targeting specific keywords. Thankfully, there’s a method you can use to gain more accurate insights into search volumes.

 

 Steps to Obtain More Precise Search Volumes:

1. Input Your Keyword: Start by entering your keyword in square brackets within the “Get search volume and forecasts” function of Google Keyword Planner.

2. Navigate to the Forecast Tab: Once your keyword is entered, switch to the Forecast tab. This is where you’ll find a variety of data related to your chosen keyword.

3. Reveal the Graph: Click on the arrow to expand and view the graph provided. This graph offers additional insights that aren’t immediately visible.

4. Adjust the CPC: On the graph, click on the maximum Cost-Per-Click (CPC) point. Setting a high bid value is crucial here.

5. Analyze Impressions: Focus your attention on the “Impressions” column in the data that appears. This column reflects the estimated number of impressions your ad would receive over a month if it ran for your selected keywords. Due to the high bid setting, these impressions should closely align with the monthly search volume for the keyword.

 

Important Considerations

 Commercial Intent is Key: This method is particularly effective for keywords with commercial intent. Note that Google is less likely to show ads for purely informational queries, which can lead to imprecise impression data.

 Cross-Check with Other Tools: It’s beneficial to complement Google Keyword Planner's data with other third-party keyword tools for verification and added reliability.
 
By following this approach, you can unlock more accurate keyword search volumes, enabling better-targeted marketing strategies.

 

How to Filter Out Irrelevant Keywords in Google Keyword Planner

When you're aiming to enhance your online visibility with effective keywords, it's essential to start with terms that align with your business. Here's how you can efficiently sift through the noise using Google Keyword Planner.

 

Start with a Clear Seed Keyword

Begin by entering a general term related to your business. For instance, if your store specializes in T-shirts, use "tshirt" as your initial keyword. This will generate a broad list of related terms.

 

Refine and Customize Your List

1. Focus on Relevance: Immediately discard terms that are unrelated to your offerings. If certain keywords are linked to brands or styles you don't carry, they're not valuable.

2. Use Built-in Filters: Google Keyword Planner offers a handy "Refine keywords" option. This feature allows you to include or exclude keywords based on specific attributes such as color, size, or style. It's especially useful for removing brand-specific terms if you don't stock those products.

3. Exclude Specific Words: If irrelevant terms persist, employ the "does not contain" filter. By adding words or phrases to this filter, you can ensure these do not appear in future searches.

 

Finalize Your Selection

Once you've narrowed down the list, review the remaining keywords to identify those that truly resonate with your business goals. This process ensures your keyword strategy is strategic and effective, tailored to connect with your target audience efficiently.
 

 

Discovering Related Keywords

Google Keyword Planner generates related keyword ideas by analyzing a couple of key inputs from users. Here's how it works:

 

Beginning Your Search

1. Keyword Input: Start the process by entering up to 10 relevant words or phrases that align with your business or area of interest. This serves as the foundation for the keyword suggestion engine.

2. URL Input: Alternatively, provide a website or specific webpage URL. You can opt to receive keyword suggestions based on the entire site or focus exclusively on a single page.

 

•  Existing Keywords: Once your input is processed, Google Keyword Planner taps into its vast database to uncover a multitude of related terms. These suggestions often include keywords that may not directly contain your original terms, expanding your reach to unexpected but relevant areas.

 

• Search Volumes and Forecasts: The tool not only provides new keyword ideas but also displays search volumes and future performance forecasts. This helps you identify which keywords have the potential for higher visibility.

 

Comparing with Other Keywords Research Tools

Google Keyword Planner's approach is unique; it is designed to discover keywords by leveraging Google's expansive and real-time search data. However, it may deliver fewer suggestions compared to some third-party keyword research tools, which often use additional algorithms and datasets to generate keyword ideas in higher quantities.

In summary, Google Keyword Planner efficiently produces related keyword ideas by allowing users to utilize keywords or URLs to tap into Google's extensive search corpus, resulting in relevant and sometimes unexpected keyword suggestions that can broaden your SEO strategy.

 

How to Find Local Search Volumes Using Google Keyword Planner

Finding search volumes for specific areas is essential for effective local SEO strategies, and Google Keyword Planner offers a simple solution. While many keyword tools provide only national search data, this tool allows users to narrow their focus to the local level.

 

Steps to Identify Local Search Volumes:

1. Adjust Your Location Settings:

 Start by setting your preferred location. You can select an entire country, a specific state, or even a particular city to tailor your search data.

2. Analyze Location-Specific Data:

 Once your location is set, the tool displays search volume ranges relevant to that area. For instance, if “plumber” shows millions of searches nationwide, in a city like Birmingham, Alabama, this might drop to between 100 and 1,000.

3. Use Advanced Techniques for Precision:

 Combine the local data insights with advanced tactics to pinpoint exact numbers. For instance, by adjusting bid settings, you can estimate the number of impressions, such as 636 monthly impressions for a high-demand term in a city like Birmingham.

Using Google Keyword Planner effectively can transform your local SEO strategy by providing targeted search volume data, enabling you to make informed decisions for specific regions.
 

 

How to Identify Seasonal Keywords with Google Keyword Planner

 

Discovering seasonal keywords is an essential strategy for maximizing your marketing efforts. Google's Keyword Planner is a powerful tool in this regard. Here's how you can effectively pinpoint seasonal trends:

1. Analyze the 'Three Month Change' Metric:

 

• This metric highlights shifts in search volume over the last three months. By sorting keywords based on this column from highest to lowest, you can easily spot which topics are gaining momentum.

2.Look for High-Growth Keywords:

 

• After sorting, keywords with significant percentage increases usually indicate upcoming seasonal interest. For example, searching for "e bike" might reveal a surge in "ebike Black Friday" related searches due to the approaching holiday shopping season.

3. Test Popular Seeds:

 

• Input diverse seed keywords like “sweater” to uncover trends. For instance, terms related to festive attire such as "ugly Christmas sweaters" might spike in search volumes as the holidays approach.

4. Leverage Historical Data:

 

• Reviewing historical trends can confirm whether a keyword pattern repeats annually, helping you anticipate future trends.

 

By focusing on these tactics, you can uncover valuable seasonal keywords that align with consumer interest and timing, giving your content and campaigns a timely boost.

 
Why Add a Professional Keyword Research Tool?

When deciding on keyword research tools, it's clear that each offers its own set of strengths. Google Keyword Planner is a staple for many due to its accessibility and the unique insights it provides. However, it does have certain restrictions—for instance, it doesn't offer the precise search volumes that are often crucial for in-depth analysis.

1. Accurate Data: Professional keyword research tools provide exact search volume data. This precision allows for more informed decision-making when planning content strategies.

2. Enhanced Metrics: Beyond search volume, these tools often offer additional metrics such as Keyword Difficulty and Traffic Potential. These insights help in assessing how challenging it might be to rank for a particular keyword and the potential traffic gains.

3. Competitive Analysis: Advanced tools often include features for analyzing competitors' keywords and strategies. This can be invaluable for identifying gaps in your own strategy.

4. Comprehensive Options: They usually provide a broader pool of keyword suggestions and variations. This ends up enhancing your ability to target niche markets more effectively.

In sum, while Google Keyword Planner is great for foundational research, supplementing it with a professional tool can provide a competitive edge through detailed, actionable insights.

 

What does the “three month change” metric indicate in Google Keyword Planner?

The "three month change" metric in Google Keyword Planner provides valuable insights into evolving search trends over a short period. By displaying the percentage change in search volume for specific keywords from the latest month compared to the two preceding months, it helps identify patterns and trends in user interest.

For instance, suppose you’re exploring keywords related to "electric bike." By sorting with this metric, you might notice terms like "electric bike Black Friday deals" showing a significant surge, such as a +900% increase. This spike suggests a seasonal trend likely driven by upcoming events or holidays.

Similarly, using a keyword like "sweater" might bring up a rise in searches for "ugly Christmas sweaters," corresponding with the festive season approaching. By analyzing this metric, marketers can capitalize on timely opportunities and adjust their strategies according to emerging consumer interests.

 
 How to assess the difficulty of ranking for a keyword found in Google Keyword Planner?

To assess the difficulty of ranking for a keyword found in Google Keyword Planner, you'll need to look beyond the platform's default metrics. The "competition" metric in Keyword Planner is aligned with paid advertising competition, not organic search. Here's how you can effectively gauge the organic ranking challenge:

1. Use Third-Party SEO Tools: Turn to specialized SEO tools that offer keyword difficulty ratings. These tools evaluate how hard it is to secure a spot on the first page of search results. They typically present a scale, generally from 0 to 100, to quantify this difficulty.

2. Evaluate Search Volume and Competition: Examine the search volume of the keyword and observe competitive factors through these tools. A high search volume combined with high difficulty indicates a more competitive landscape.

3. Analyze SERP Landscape: Consider insights provided by SEO tools into who currently ranks for the keyword. Assess the authority and relevance of these competitors to better understand what you're up against.

4. Look for Long-Tail Opportunities: Explore variations and long-tail keywords with lower difficulty scores. These keywords might offer less competition and better chances to rank efficiently.

By using these tactics, you'll gain a clearer picture of the organic search competition and make informed decisions about your content strategy.

 

Understanding the YoY Change Metric in Google Keyword Planner

 

The Year-over-Year (YoY) change metric in Google Keyword Planner is a valuable tool for assessing the evolution of search interest over time. This metric compares the volume of searches for a specific keyword in the most recent month against the same month from the previous year. By showcasing this variation, it provides insights into whether interest in a keyword is growing, declining, or remaining stable.

 

How to Utilize the YoY Change Metric

 

• Identify Emerging Trends: By sorting keywords by YoY change, from highest to lowest, you can easily pinpoint which topics or products have surged in popularity. For instance, if a particular keyword shows a significant positive YoY change, it may indicate a burgeoning trend or a newly released product.

 

• Optimize Content Strategy: Websites, particularly those in the affiliate space, can leverage this metric to select products or topics that warrant exploration or review. A substantial increase in search volume suggests a growing audience eager for information, making it an opportune area to focus efforts.

 

• Stay Ahead of the Curve: Monitoring YoY changes enables you to anticipate shifts in consumer interest. By integrating this data into your strategy, your content or product offerings can remain relevant and timely.

In summary, the YoY change metric in Google Keyword Planner is an essential resource for anyone looking to adapt quickly to market trends, optimize SEO strategies, and successfully capture rising interests in the digital space.
 

 How to Determine the Traffic Potential of a Keyword

Understanding the traffic potential of a keyword is critical for any successful SEO strategy. Here's a simple process to evaluate it:

1. Estimate Monthly Search Volume: Begin by identifying keywords with significant monthly search volume. Tools like Google Keyword Planner or SEMrush can provide you with estimates on how often a keyword is searched each month.

2. Analyze Top-Ranking Pages: Examine the top-ranking pages for your chosen keyword. Check how many monthly visitors they receive using tools such as SimilarWeb or Ubersuggest. This will give you a clear idea of how much traffic top positions attract.

3. Consider Click-Through Rates (CTR): Understand that not every search leads to clicks. Evaluate the typical CTR for top positions. Often, a keyword with high volume doesn’t necessarily mean high traffic if the CTR is low due to featured snippets or ads.

4. Assess Content Quality and Relevance: Look at the type of content that ranks well. Is it in-depth guides, listicles, or product pages? This will help you determine the likelihood of replicating or surpassing their success.

5. Evaluate Competition: Finally, analyze the competitiveness of the keyword. High traffic potential often correlates with high competition. Use tools like Moz or Ahrefs to evaluate the strength of competitors, focusing on their domain and page authority.

By following these steps, you can gauge the traffic potential of a keyword and decide whether it's worth targeting in your content strategy.

 

How to Discover the Devices Searchers Use for Specific Keywords

Understanding which devices people use to search for specific keywords can significantly impact how you optimize your content. Here's how you can find that vital information:

1. Use Keyword Research Tools:

 Start by using comprehensive keyword research tools like W3era’s Keywords Research Tool, SEMrush, or Ubersuggest. These platforms often provide insights into the proportion of searches conducted on various devices—whether desktop, mobile, or tablet.

2. Analyze Search Data:

 Once you have identified a keyword, delve into the tool's data to see an estimate of how many impressions occur on each type of device. This helps determine if a keyword predominantly attracts desktop users or if it's more popular among mobile users.

3. Check the Forecasts Section:

 Some tools offer a "Forecasts" or similar tab where you can examine projections for keyword performance across different devices. By assessing this data, you can prioritize which aspects of your content need adjustments for mobile or desktop optimization.

4. Consider Context and Intent:

 Look at the context in which a keyword might be used. For instance, queries like "best restaurant near me" are often made on the go, so they are likely to generate more mobile searches. In contrast, business-focused keywords might see more desktop use due to the nature of the work environment.

5. Adapt Your Strategy Accordingly:

 Understanding device usage for specific keywords allows you to tailor your content. If mobile dominates, ensure your content is easily navigable on small screens. Conversely, for desktop-heavy searches, prioritize a layout that suits larger screens.

By utilizing these strategies, you can effectively pinpoint the devices searchers are most likely to use and adjust your content strategy accordingly to enhance user experience and improve your search rankings.

 

Limitations of Google Keyword Planner for Keyword Research

Google Keyword Planner is often a go-to solution for many digital marketers. It offers a range of useful insights that can enhance your keyword research. However, there are a few limitations to be aware of when using this tool:

1. Imprecise Search Volume Data: One of the main drawbacks is its provision of broad search volume ranges rather than pinpoint data. This can make it challenging to accurately assess the potential traffic a keyword might generate.

2. Competition Metrics Not Comprehensive: The competition metric mainly focuses on paid advertising. This might not directly translate to understanding the organic difficulty of ranking for a keyword.

3. Limited Keyword Suggestions: Compared to other tools, the variety and amount of suggested keywords can be somewhat limited. This might restrict the scope of your keyword strategy.

4. Geo-targeting Limitations: While it offers geo-targeting, it may not be as detailed or accurate, especially for niche markets or less populated regions. This can impact local SEO efforts.

Using Google Keyword Planner effectively requires combining its insights with other resources to overcome these limitations and achieve a more comprehensive keyword strategy.

 

Why complicate yourself by following such a long process

to use Google keywords planner, Instead try

W3era’s Free Keywords Research Tool