How to Use Google Keyword Planner to Find the Perfect Keywords

What is Google Keyword Planner?

Google Keyword Planner is a keyword research tool provided by Google.

As choosing and planning keywords are the backbone of your SEO strategy, this power tool offers basic but useful features to help you conduct thorough keyword research with all the information you need, like search volumes and forecasts.

Many people may bear this question in mind: Is Google Keyword Planner free to use? The answer is a resounding “Yes!” But note that to access and use this Google keyword tool, you’ll need to have a Google Ads account. Also, you don’t need to be running an ads campaign to be able to use this tool.

The other thing worth mentioning is that the Google Keyword Planner is primarily designed for Google Ads for businesses to boost paid traffic. However, it is still useful from the SEO standpoint when it comes to improving your visibility in organic search.

The biggest advantage is that the data is from Google directly.

It can certainly help you unlock the details such as volume and forecasts of potential keywords to drive more organic traffic and strengthen your website’s SEO performances on Google’s own search engines.

How to Set up Google Keyword Planner?

How to login to Keyword Planner?

To use Google’s Keyword Planner, you need to log in to your Google Ads account first. If you don’t have one, setting up one would only take a few minutes.

Enter the Google Ads official page then click “Start Now.” On the next page, click “Create an account without a campaign” at the bottom, then fill out the billing information regarding your location and currency. Then you’re all set.

Find “Tools and settings” on the top, and click “Keyword Planner” in the side menu under “Planning.”

How to Use Google Keyword Planner: Step by Step

Let’s cut to the chase:

How to use Google Keyword Planner to carry out keyword research to develop your SEO campaign.

We will show you step-by-step how to apply the features of this tool.

Step 1: Discover the Best Keywords

To begin with, let’s introduce the “Discover New Keywords” feature. It is the best way to get keyword inspiration and ideas and further brainstorm what kind of keywords are the best for your site to target.

There are two ways to find new keywords.

You can either explore more options by entering related suggestions to your business or use your domain’s URL to discover more potential keywords to aim for.

Keep in mind that no matter which way you choose to generate a keyword batch, the value of the outcome largely depends on your input.

Be strategic about what you enter to get the best result.

Start with Keywords

You can enter up to 10 keywords for every input and use commas to separate them. They will become blocks in the columns.

Hit “Get results” to discover keyword suggestions. You can also enter your site’s URL in the bar below and Google will exclude keywords of other products or brands. And of course, you can exclude keywords related to adult ideas.

You can also use the “Refine keywords” feature to add more filters to your batch. After the result is out, click the “Refine keywords” on the top right to see other filters the tool suggests for you, like brand-related keywords.

Start with Website

The other option is to use your site’s URL to look for keyword ideas. You can choose between generating your keywords from either a single page or your whole domain.

Step 2: Analyze the Search Volume and Forecasts

After getting your list of possible keywords, it’s time to analyze them and select the best one based on your keyword strategies. A keyword can come with a lot of metrics. You can use the other feature of “Get search volume and forecasts” to fetch them all.

Enter or simply paste your keyword batch in the bar. One word or phrase per line, or use commas to separate them. Then you will see the results from the exact keyword you put in.

Click “Forecast”, then you will see Google’s prediction about how these keywords will perform in the future.

The prediction metrics include clicks, impressions, click-through rate, and so on.

Step 3: Filter and Choose the Best Keywords

While many metrics in the tool are designed for advertising, it's still handy for SEO. The final step is to narrow down your keyword list.

Since you can't rank for every ideal keyword at the early stage, it is wise to zero in on the ones with the most potential.

The tool has already filtered out irrelevant keywords, like competitor brands. Plus, the prediction feature offers a glimpse into your keyword's upcoming search engine performance. Staying ahead of trends is always a smart move.

Finish off your final keyword list with the keywords you aim to rank. You could always restart the whole process to put in more seed keywords to dig out more lucrative options based on your needs.

Now, your research is officially complete. We'll discuss more keyword selection tips in the next chapter.

Tips to Master Google Keyword Tool for SEO Use

There are many factors to consider when deciding keywords for your SEO strategies. We will now dive deeper into these factors, offering your tips on using Google Keyword Planner for SEO.

Choose Keywords with High Search Volumes

Search volume is very important in keyword research as it reflects the frequency of a keyword being searched in a certain timeframe, usually monthly.

The higher the number, the more traffic it might bring to your site. Keywords with high search volumes are usually short, plus their intent might be hard to guess.

However, there is a problem with how Google presents the numbers on the tool: it is too broad. The range of search volumes is often too huge, so we advise you to check the same keyword on other tools to pinpoint a more accurate search volume to see if it is worth ranking.

While ranking for high-volume keywords may seem appealing, it's not always smooth sailing. These keywords typically come with intense competition, given their potential for traffic and impressions. If your website is relatively new, focus on less competitive keywords. And that brings us to the next point.

Choose Long-Tail Keywords with Low Competition

Long-tail keywords offer a different perspective. They come with lower search volumes but a more specific intent.

These long-tail keywords are less challenging to compete with and secure a ranking for. However, they might not necessarily deliver a lot of traffic.

On Google Keyword Planner, you can see each keyword labeled with low, medium, or high competition.

Note that this competition level is exclusively for advertising campaigns and has nothing to do with SEO.

A keyword with high competition doesn’t necessarily mean that it is harder to rank for it on organic searches.

Note that you can click on “Competition” to sort the list by competition levels.

Choose Relevant Keywords: Refine Keywords

Above all, the key lies in selecting the most relevant keywords.

Take into account the unique features of your product or brand to discover the best keywords that will catch your ideal audience’s attention.

Speculate the intent behind each keyword to determine if it aligns with what your product offers.

Let’s say you’re selling protein bars. Short keywords like, protein bar and workout food, are worth targeting. Long-tail keywords like, what to eat before and after workout, may be a good choice to start. Other keywords like, fitness clothes or gym near me, will not be the most suitable options.

Choose Keywords from Competitors’ Sites

If you are still unsure about which keywords to target, here's a valuable GKP hack to target: analyzing your competitors' keywords.

By entering the URL of your competitor's websites, you can reveal the keywords they are ranking for. This approach provides you with a distinct direction for your keyword strategy.

In addition, you can extend this tactic to other websites or pages within your niche. This process offers you an informed foundation to construct and organize your batch of keywords, shaping a clearer picture of your website’s content.

How to Check the Exact Keyword Search Volume?

Based on the testing conducted by various experts online, you must consistently invest more than HK$240 in advertising each month for Google Keyword Planner to see precise keyword search volumes.

Otherwise, you can always use other online keyword tools to get more accurate results and have a clearer picture of the search volumes.

Need Help to Do SEO Keyword Research?

Google Keyword Planner is a valuable free tool that empowers you to refine your SEO strategy and connect with your target audience. As selecting and filtering keywords is the key step to starting your SEO campaign, learning to master keyword tools like Google Keyword Planner is always essential.

If you're looking for in-depth assistance on keyword research for your business, Welly is here to help. Our team of experts specializes in optimizing online content for search engines. If you're eager to delve deeper into SEO or receive an SEO audit report, contact Welly through the yellow button below now! Let's elevate your SEO performance to new heights!