Using the Google Keyword Tool
So I listened to another Search Engine Marketing “expert” give his webinar and the presenter recommended using the Google Keyword Tool as a way to research network marketing keywords in order to help you decide which keywords you were going to target. Personally I don’t have any issue with using the Google Keyword Tool, as a matter of fact I actually highly encourage it. But where I do have fault in is how so called experts love to scare the crap out of new people when it comes to internet network marketing and applying keyword research.
First off let me start by saying that this isn’t my first keyword research post explaining the Google Keyword Tool and its place in your arsenal that you need to succeed. But I get pretty motivated about this particular topic because there are so many people out there telling new people how to use the Google Keyword Tool incorrectly.
So let me make this statement and hopefully it’s clear enough.
THE GOOGLE KEYWORD TOOL WILL NOT HELP YOU DECIDE IF YOUR SEO COMPETITION IS BEATABLE IN THE RANKINGS!!
And
THE GOOGLE KEYWORD TOOL BROAD, PHRASE, AND EXACT MATCH OPTIONS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH SEARCH ENGINE RANKING!!!
I judge how good an search engine marketer is based off of this little nugget of knowledge that I have just given you and you should too. The Google Keyword Tool’s only use in search engine rankings should be to pick keywords based off their Global Monthly searches and their Local Monthly searches. Anytime I hear someone teaching that the Google Keyword Tool has anything to do with SEO rankings then I am done.
I am done because at one point I believed the same thing. And I heard all the rehashed trainings from people over and over saying the same thing. But the fact of the matter is its simply not true.
The competition column in the Google Keyword Tool is for Adwords competition. Meaning that price per click number you see is how much you have to pay. The competition column is an indication as to how many advertisers are trying to get their ads seen for that particular keyword.
Also these so called experts are telling the people that they can use the broad/exact/phrase match options to determine SEO competion, they have nothing to do with search engine rankings. Lets say you want to have a PPC campaign for the words “Internet Network Marketing.” Well if you have the Google Keyword Tool set to broad and you will see how many people are searching for that keyword, and any variation of it. So when it comes to PPC your campaign is going to bring you traffic from that keyword and its variations. But if you have it set to exact, and you set up your PPC campaign for exact, your ad will only show when “Internet Network Marketing” is typed into the search bar.
So what value does that have for SEO? A lot really, it tells you if your looking at a buyer keyword. Think about it, your not going to pay a ton of money for a Pay Per Click ad if the people who click on your ad aren’t buyers. You need to see a profit from your campaign right? So the Google Keyword Tool is designed to help PPC advertisers focus their campaigns on the right words to keep their costs low, while building high converting campaigns.
So you as a marketer who is looking for word to rank for can use the Google Keyword Tool to find some really good buyer keywords. As well as words that have a good deal of monthly traffic. The Google Keyword Tool should be used to find keywords that are getting over 100 global searches a month for new sites. As your site gains age and traction as a trusted site in the search engines go after words with more monthly searches.
But the Google Keyword Tool is only the beginning of your keyword research and if you depend on it solely to pick which words your going to target I guarantee you might get lucky once or twice. But overall your rankings will not be where you expect them to be because your competition for ranking on the search engines may be very strong.
Your going to need a tool other than the Google Keyword Tool to examine your competition on page one if you ever expect to get traffic from the search engines. In my How To Do Keyword Research for SEO post I recommend a couple options to support the Google Keyword Tool for you so make sure you check that out.
Regards,
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey nice post clint thanks for the heads up. Its easy to forget simple strategies and that people still really need to know this stuff.
Hey Clint,
This is really very interesting information on Keyword Research which I will definitely put to use for my blog and my business! Thanks for sharing
Finally!
Someone that understands the Broad, Phrase, and Exact options offered in Google’s Keyword Tool.
If people used their heads a little more they would have to wonder how a one word search can return 3 different totals for when each category is used in turn.
The figures are based on the competition for the term, not actual monthly searches.
I would only use these figures for a guide to the most searched terms, not actual traffic.
A better method of judging the competition is to look at the results of a Google search.
A broad search will give you an idea of the overall competition, and an exact search will tell you how many are actively targeting the phrase.
THE GOOGLE KEYWORD TOOL WILL NOT HELP YOU DECIDE IF YOUR SEO COMPETITION IS BEATABLE IN THE RANKINGS!!
Yes it will.
Let us say that you (http://www.workwithclintbutler.com/) are my competitors.
If I enter your URL into the Google KW tool’s search field and look at what Google reads as keyword phrases, I can tell your target market.
17 out of the first 20 results were for mlm in one form or another.
This is strange as your page does not mention mlm in the visible display.
On further examination it is probably because of the hidden redirect.
Since Google sees my top 20 as all seo optimization, seo firm, seo optimization service, seo marketing services, search engine optimization training, I do not much have to worry.
Google’s KW tool is excellent at suggesting variations.
best,
Reg
http://nbs-seo.com
Its awesome how you showed how to use the tools for keyword examination of another site.
But all that told you is what Google see’s as my sites keywords.
Now if you did a little deeper you still have to see what the ranking competition for those selected keywords are. For example the keyword tool told you that my keywords were MLM based. I can tell you that I have maybe one or two posts that even mention mlm in any way. That aside, mlm is a very highly competitive keyword and the Google Keyword Tool won’t tell you straight out with the data it presents that it would be very hard to rank for that keyword. Instead it shows that the PPC cost is pretty high and there are a lot of advertisers competing for it.
That being said I agree that the KW Tool in an of itself is a great at suggesting variations and I have found quite a few gems using it.
Thanks for your comment and love having you here.
Great explanation of the Google keyword tool. Thanks for the heads up about SEO.
Nice post Clint. I have used this tool and it reallly helps when doing keyword research. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for spelling it out for everyone Clint, too many people spend too much time chasing keywords that they don’t have a cat in hells chance of ranking for.
Dave
Hey Clint,
Right on target. Google keyword tool only scratches the surface of keyword research..A low competition keyword as in appear by using this tool may be in fact a high competition keyword when you make a detailed analysis. I like Market Samurai to see exactly the backlinks and the other factors that can influence the rankings…Let’s not forget the final step which is creating backlinks+social media participation..all these count in order to get on page one of google.
Thanks for sharing buddy:)
Best,
Radu
Clint,
Wow, this is an amazing tool. Thanks for such great information. I still don’t understand it, but I will work on learning it.
Wendy
Some very good advice here Clint.
There are many steps to keyword research as you have mentioned the Google keyword tool is just a small part of the whole process.
Sandy Moore
Yes, a tool you do have to use alongside with many other insights. Thanks for sharing how you use the tool.