How to Use The New Google Keyword Planner

As few marketers and businesses sadly wave goodbye to the Google Keyword Tool, others are waving in the Google Keyword Planner with open arms!

The way the Google Keyword Tool used to work, you would input a small keyword list, and as results would show up, the Keyword Tool would show you the average number of times users would search for it and the competition level on the keywords. Then you’d have to paste the keywords into the Traffic Estimator and request an estimate for Daily Clicks, Impressions, Daily Cost, Average Position, and Cost-Per-Click (CPC).

The new Google Keyword Planner combines the two into one easy-to-use interface, optimized to make sure you have the best keyword choices possible.

Here’s how to use the new Google Keyword Planner.

Step 1: Choose your input method. The first step to finding the best keywords for you is setting the method you’re going to input your keywords in. Google will give you three options: 

• Search for keyword and ad group ideas. 
• Enter or upload keywords to see how they perform
• Multiply keyword lists.

Step 2: Select your ad group.

The second step is going to feel like a relief if you’ve liked the old Google Keyword Tool, because it looks like a revamped version of the old one. Keyword ideas will show up in the list after you’ve entered the search queries into the dashboard, select your ad group/keyword ideas, and they will automatically show up on the right side of the tool, under “Your plan.”

 

Step 3: Review Estimates.

The third step is to go down memory lane with the Traffic Estimator by clicking, ‘Review Estimates.’ Chose a CPC bid that fits with your budget and add the value for your daily budget. Toggle between Impression, Cost, CTR, CPC, and Average Position to view the data for the keywords you selected in Step 2.

Step 4: Review & Update.

Select the keywords that you wish to use and make sure to update your campaign and remove the keywords you don’t want to use from the graph of keyword data shown.

Step 5: Save.

**Don’t** forget to click the ‘Save to Account’ button. You also have the option to download/export your new keywords.

Tips for using the new Google Keyword Planner:

• The “downloaded research” shows data that’s not shown in the interface.
• Take advantage of that.
• The entire list of keywords is considered when calculating activity. It automatically removes overlapped keywords.
• Make sure to define the location target to your appropriate location. It automatically sets the metric to worldwide.

These 5 easy steps explain how to use the new Google Keyword Planner. The Google Keyword Planner combines the power of two of Google’s strongest marketing tools – the Google Keyword Tool and Traffic Estimator. The Keyword Planner has drastically reduced the time it takes to conduct keyword research by eliminating the process of plugging it into the Traffic Estimator.

You can try the Google Keyword Planner here.

Do you have some tips for using the Google Keyword Planner? Share your tips, blog post, tutorial, or article in the comments section and share this article if you found it helpful!

Eduardo Lopez is a Public Relations professional, writer, author, and public speaker with more than 5 years of digital communications experience. He is the digital communications manager at LS Media Group, LLC and founder of ViralTalk PR. Add him on LinkedIn or follow him on twitter.