Fortunately, Google has a free keyword research tool that lets you do just that: Google Keyword Planner (formerly the Google Keyword Tool).
Google’s keyword planner gets a bad rap, especially since Google has eliminated the ability to see exact monthly search volumes. Now it shows only a vague range.
You can recover them, but you need to run an AdWords campaign. That costs money.
But don’t let that put you off. The Google Keyword Planner is a powerful INSANELY tool and has some clear advantages. Last but not least, the fact that it suggests keyword ideas that you can’t find anywhere else. Trust me, I checked.
Problem? Most SEOs have no idea how to get the most out of this tool.
In this post, I will show you how to get serious SEO value from Google Keyword Planner. Who knows? There may even be some hacks to revive exact search volumes… for free.
Let’s start with the basics.
How to get access to the Google Keyword Planner (free)
Google Keyword Planner is 100% free . You don’t have to spend any money on AdWords ads to gain access. All you need is a Google Account. Don’t have a Google Account? Get one for free here .
But here’s what sometimes happens when you try to access the tool:
You are required to set up an AdWords campaign.
Google is so aggressive with this, in fact, that it may seem like there is no way to access the tool without first handing over some money. Well, I have good news:
You CAN access the tool WITHOUT running an AdWords ad. You just have to jump through a few circles.
To get started, go here . Click ‘Go to Keyword Planner.’
MARGINAL NOTE. You may then be prompted to re-enter your verification password.
Here’s the important part now:
When you see the “What is your main advertising goal” screen, do not choose one of the three options. Click the little “Experienced with Google Ads?” the link below. DON’T SEE THIS LINK?
Here’s another weird thing about Google Keyword Planner: Google only displays this link in browser windows with a certain width.
If you don’t see the link, try resizing the browser window to enlarge it.
As ridiculous as this may be, then it should appear.
On the next screen, tap the “Create an account without campaign” link. (It’s still a little.)
Click the “Submit” button on the next page. (Don’t worry; Google won’t ask for credit card details.)
Then you should see this screen:
Click on the “Explore your account” link.
Then click the “Tools” link in the menu bar and tap “Switch to Expert Mode.”
Follow the prompt to confirm the switch.
Finally, click the “Tools” link in the menu again and you should see a link to the Keyword Planner.
Now you have access! No need to enter billing information or run an AdWords ad.
Now, let’s learn how to use it.
How to use the Google Keyword Planner
The Google Keyword Planner gives you two options to get started, which are:
- Find keywords: Get keyword ideas that can help you reach people who are interested in your product or service.
- Get search volume and forecasts : View your search volume and other historical values for your keywords, as well as their future performance forecasts.
Both options take you to the Keyword Plan , but what you see will vary slightly depending on your choice. These are not two separate independent tools.
Let’s explore each starting point in more detail.
“Find keywords”
Want to discover new keyword ideas? Start here.
According to Google’s instructions, all you need to do is enter “Enter words, phrases, or a URL related to your business.” Google will then reject some keyword suggestions.
In total, there are 1,106 keyword ideas.
For each suggestion, you’ll see:
- Average monthly searches;
- Competition;
- Bid for top of page (low range);
- Top of page bid (long range)
But don’t limit yourself to single words; the sentences also work. And you can enter up to ten keywords / seed phrases at a time.
But whatever you do, Google does not display never more than a few thousand Keyword.
Even when I entered a maximum of ten keywords and a URL, I only received 4,715 suggestions.