How to Use Google Keyword Planner: A Beginners’ Guide

Do you know how to use Google Keyword Planner? Were you aware that it can help you grow your website’s organic traffic?

If you’re a new business owner and you’re confused about it, I’m here to explain it all.I used the Google Keyword Planner for my business many times, and it always brought results. 

Since I’m feeling rather creative, I’ll show you how to use this efficiently.

How to Use Keyword Planner

Step 1: Set up Google Ads Account

As you may know, Google Keyword Planner (previously known as Google Keyword Tool), is a free tool. 

However, Google insists for you to have an Ads account to access it.

So, let’s start with setting up your Google Ads account, in case you don’t have it.

First, Google will ask you what’s your advertising goal. 

I chose the option “Get more website sales or sign-ups” because lately, my fictional in-store sales are seeing a significant decrease. 

After clicking on the “Pick goal” button, it led me to the business I want to advertise. You can promote as many businesses as you want, but for now, I’ll advertise Happie Little Trees.

Next, you’ll have to set up a target radius around your business. The radius is the location where the ads will appear.

Once you set your target location, you can click on “Next” to add more information about your business.

If you’re unsure of what to add, Google will suggest some keywords similar to those you already wrote.

Now, you can write your first Google ad. Make sure to write the name of your business or an offer in the Headline 2 and to write a description shorter than 90 characters.

Before you do, check out the guide for writing Google Ads copies.

When you’re done with that, review if the settings are correct.

Last, you’ll have to set up the billing for your ads. 

There you have it. Your first Google Ads account. It wasn’t so troublesome, was it?

Let’s see how to use Google Keyword Planner within your account to nail your organic traffic.

Step 2: Find Keywords

You will use Google Keyword Planner primarily when you need new keywords. Later on, you can add them to the content on your site to optimise it.

Log into your Google Ads account and go to the Keyword Planner. It’s in the Tools & Settings section in your account.

It will lead you to a dropdown menu with the Keyword Planner. Click on it.

When you select it, it will give you two different options; “Discover new keywords” and “Get search volume and forecasts.” Go with the first one, after which you’ll have to “Select an active account”; in our case, Happie Little Trees.

Now, it asks you to enter keywords related to your business. According to my imaginary business, I added “natural jewellery,” “earrings,” “necklaces,” “colourful natural jewellery,” and “wooden jewellery,” which all reflect what I have to offer in the shop.

Long-tail keywords (which have more than three words) will let you target more precise search terms with higher conversion rates.

You can also add your URL so that the Keyword Planner can comprehend which content is related to your site.

Step 3: Analyse Results and Pick the Winning Keywords

When you’re done with adding keywords, it will direct you to the search result analysis.

You can see here that the Planner enlisted 4,155 ideas, all with high competition. 

It means I haven’t added keywords that are more specific to the niche. High search volume can be useful if you mastered on-page SEO, but you should focus on low search volume keywords for starters. 

They are more unique and will lead people who are genuinely interested in your products to the site.

The results you’re seeing are based on the search data from the last 12 months. You can change that timespan after to see which new suggestions you got.

The only columns I’m interested in (those that aren’t paid traffic) are “Average monthly searches” and “Competition.”

They are both high for the keywords I entered initially. 

However, when I look at the “Keyword ideas” column, I can see that the first ten ideas have different monthly searches. In this case, it’s better to target those that have a lower search volume. 

So, I would go with “hoop earrings” instead of “name necklace” (which I don’t even sell in my imaginary shop).

Remember, every keyword idea has to reflect the real items you sell in the shop. You can’t target “diamond necklace” if you aren’t selling one.

Keywords with high competition will be much more challenging to rank for, and you’ll have to use paid ads for those.

Ok, I explained a little about high and low average monthly searches and competition. Now it’s time for you to add a filter to the keywords. 

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When you click on it, it will offer an option called “Exclude adult ideas,” which removes the keywords linked to adult content from search. In other words, it decreases the number of monthly searches for the keyword ideas.

You can add other filters (e.g., “Show closely related ideas”) for a more narrow search.

Once you narrow your search, make sure the location corresponds to the target location. It is crucial if you’re running a small business.

You can then download keyword ideas in a spreadsheet for each search you make.

Step 4: Enter Into the PPC Domain

In the last step of this Google Keyword Planner Guide, I’ll only tell you how to start if you want to pay for your ads.

Go back to the Keyword Planner homepage and chose “Get search volume and forecasts,” which will show you future search volumes when you decide to invest in PPC.

In case you plan to allocate a specific budget for your paid ads, I say go for it. 

Nonetheless, if you’re a small business owner just starting with the Ads game, wait to see how your organic traffic grows.

Would You Use Google Keyword Planner in the Future?

There, I did it. 

You have your set of keywords to add them to your content.

Decide which are the most important ones and let the games begin!