When writing website copy or content for your business, keywords are a huge factor for SEO. The right keywords rank you higher on Google's search results, so achieving this requires the right tools and resources. One such tool is Google's Keyword Planner, which has features such as searching for new keywords, seeing how they work with current marketing trends, and multiplying keyword lists together to generate fresh keywords. Here are some tips on how to properly use Google’s Keyword Planner.

googles keyword planner checklist

You do need a Google AdWords account to use the Keyword Planner. Once your AdWords account is created, click on Tools and then Keyword Planner to get started.

Click on any of the three options to get started:

  1. Search for new keywords using a phrase, website, or category
  2. Get search volume data and trends
  3. Multiply keyword lists to get new keywords

Search for new keywords using a phrase, website, or category

To generate new keyword ideas, fill in fields such as words or phrases that describe what you're advertising, the landing page of your website, and a category relevant to your product or service. Then, simply click the Get Ideas button. Keyword Planner also allows you to work with negative keywords, so you can exclude specific terms from your campaigns. This helps you narrow your target further and reduce the likelihood of Google algorithms showing your competition in search results!

Get search volume data and trends

To see how your keywords fit in with current marketing, use this section to see how certain keywords and phrases are performing in search queries with Google. You can see statistics and start gathering data to formulate a plan, by seeing high-performing keywords, keywords’ average monthly searches and popularity, suggested bid amount for a specific keyword, and more. This will help you develop a view of how the competition is performing.  

Multiply keyword lists to get new keywords

You can also generate and learn statistics by multiplying lists of keywords together to see how they would work in your marketing. This feature allows you to automatically make new keyword combinations, creating brand new keywords you didn’t think to utilize before.

Keyword Planner continually allows you to update and customize your keywords, so you have the best marketing campaign for your business. It also allows you to narrow down details such as searches on computers and laptops vs. mobile devices, locations, and much more. Contact us for more information on how to properly use Google's Keyword Planner and how Google AdWords can help boost search ranking for your small business!