User:

For Keyword research tools, which ones do you recommend?

Assistant:

For effective keyword research, various tools cater to different needs, from identifying keyword opportunities to analyzing competition. Here’s a list of recommended tools, each offering unique features:

### 1. **Google Keyword Planner**
– **Best For:** Advertisers and content creators looking for a free, reliable tool directly from Google. It’s particularly useful for finding search volume and competition levels for keywords.
– **Note:** It’s part of Google Ads but can be used for SEO keyword research.

### 2. **Ahrefs**
– **Best For:** Comprehensive SEO analysis, including keyword research, competitor analysis, and backlink checking. Ahrefs offers detailed insights into keyword difficulty, search volume, and the potential traffic you could receive.
– **Note:** It’s a premium tool, but its extensive database and features make it a favorite among SEO professionals.

### 3. **SEMrush**
– **Best For:** All-around digital marketing research, offering features for SEO, PPC, content marketing, and social media. SEMrush excels in competitive keyword research, allowing you to see what keywords competitors rank for.
– **Note:** It offers both free and premium versions, with the premium offering more in-depth data.

### 4. **Moz Keyword Explorer**
– **Best For:** SEO professionals and marketers looking for a user-friendly tool with reliable keyword suggestions and SERP analysis. Moz provides keyword suggestions, SERP analysis, and keyword difficulty scores.
– **Note:** Offers a limited free version; more features are available in the premium version.

### 5. **Ubersuggest**
– **Best For:** Beginners and those looking for a straightforward, budget-friendly option. Ubersuggest offers keyword suggestions, search volume data, and insight into the competition.
– **Note:** Has both free and paid versions, making it accessible for bloggers and small businesses.

### 6. **Keyword Tool**
– **Best For:** Generating long-tail keyword ideas using Google Autocomplete. Great for finding variations of keywords that might not show up in traditional keyword research tools.
– **Note:** Offers free searches with limited results; more detailed information requires a subscription.

### 7. **AnswerThePublic**
– **Best For:** Finding questions and prepositions related to your primary keyword. It’s excellent for uncovering long-tail keywords and understanding the questions your audience might have.
– **Note:** Provides free searches with limited queries per day; a pro version is available for more extensive needs.

### 8. **Google Trends**
– **Best For:** Understanding the trend data behind keywords, which can help in identifying seasonal variations or growing topics within your niche.
– **Note:** It’s free and integrates well with other Google tools, offering valuable insights into keyword popularity over time.

When choosing a keyword research tool, consider your specific needs, budget, and the depth of data required. Many professionals use a combination of these tools to gather comprehensive insights into their keyword strategy. Starting with free versions or trials can help you determine which tool best fits your workflow and provides the data most relevant to your goals.

User:

How do I access Google’s Keyword Planner? Do I have to create an ad account and start a campaign?

Assistant:

To access Google’s Keyword Planner, you indeed need to have a Google Ads account, but you don’t necessarily have to run an active ad campaign or spend any money to use it. Here’s how you can access Keyword Planner:

### Step 1: Sign Up for Google Ads
– **Create a Google Account:** If you don’t already have one, you’ll need to create a Google account.
– **Sign Up for Google Ads:** Go to the Google Ads website and sign up for a new account using your Google account. You’ll be prompted to set up a new Google Ads campaign as part of the sign-up process, but you can skip this step.

### Step 2: Skip the Campaign Setup
– During the sign-up process, Google will prompt you to start creating your first ad campaign. Look for an option to skip this step or choose to set up your account without a campaign. This option might be phrased as “Switch to Expert Mode” or “Create an account without a campaign.” The exact wording can change as Google updates its interface, but there’s typically a way to bypass campaign creation.

### Step 3: Access Keyword Planner
– Once you’ve skipped or completed the setup (without starting a campaign), you’ll be directed to your Google Ads dashboard.
– Click on the “Tools & Settings” icon at the top right (it looks like a wrench).
– Under the “Planning” section, you’ll find “Keyword Planner.” Click on it to start using the tool.

### Step 4: Use Keyword Planner
– Within Keyword Planner, you have two main options: “Discover new keywords” and “Get search volume and forecasts.” Use these options to research keywords for your content or ads.
– **Discover New Keywords:** Enter words, phrases, or a URL related to your business to get ideas for new keywords.
– **Get Search Volume and Forecasts:** Enter keywords to see how they might perform based on historical data and forecasts.

### Notes:
– **Google Ads Account Without Campaigns:** Even if you’re not running ads, you’ll need to keep your Google Ads account active to continue accessing Keyword Planner. Just having the account set up is sufficient.
– **Limited Data:** Google may show more general data ranges for search volumes if you’re not actively spending on ads. However, this information can still be very useful for SEO and content planning.

Google’s Keyword Planner is a powerful tool for keyword research, offering valuable insights into search trends, competition levels, and keyword ideas. Even without running paid campaigns, you can use it to inform your content strategy and improve your website’s SEO.

User:

Can you tell me more about the limited data that Goofle shows when I don’t run ads? And would running even a small ad help?

Assistant:

Google’s Keyword Planner tool provides detailed data on keywords, including search volume, competition, and other metrics crucial for SEO and PPC planning. However, the level of detail available can vary based on your Google Ads account activity. For accounts that don’t run ads or spend very little, Google may show limited data in Keyword Planner. Here’s what you need to know about this limitation and the impact of running ads:

### Limited Data for Low-Spending or Inactive Accounts
– **Search Volume Ranges:** Instead of precise monthly search volumes, Google may show search volume in broad ranges (e.g., 1K-10K, 10K-100K) for keywords. This makes it harder to gauge the exact popularity of specific terms.
– **Less Detailed Forecasts:** Forecasts and historical data metrics might also be less detailed, offering generalized insights rather than precise figures.

### Impact of Running Ads
– **Increased Data Precision:** Accounts with active ad campaigns often gain access to more precise data in Keyword Planner. This includes more accurate search volume data, which can be invaluable for both SEO and PPC campaign planning.
– **Budget Considerations:** The amount of spend required to unlock more detailed data isn’t officially specified by Google, and experiences can vary. Some users report seeing improved data access with relatively modest ad spending, while others may not notice a difference.
– **Cost-Effectiveness:** Running a small ad campaign could be a cost-effective strategy for gaining access to better data if the insights lead to more targeted and successful SEO or PPC efforts. However, this should be weighed against the overall marketing budget and objectives.

### Strategies If You Prefer Not to Run Ads
– **Use Other Research Tools:** Consider supplementing Google Keyword Planner with other keyword research tools (like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz) that do not restrict data based on ad spend. This can provide a more comprehensive view of keyword metrics.
– **Leverage Google Trends:** Google Trends can offer valuable insights into search trends and popularity over time, even if precise search volumes are unavailable.
– **Combine Limited Data Sources:** Use the broad ranges from Keyword Planner in conjunction with data from other free tools to triangulate more precise estimates of search volumes and interest.

### Should You Run Ads?
– Running a small ad campaign can be a strategic move to unlock more detailed data in Keyword Planner, especially if PPC advertising aligns with your broader marketing goals. It can provide dual benefits: insights from more detailed keyword data and direct traffic or conversions from the ads themselves.
– The decision to run ads for the sake of accessing data should be based on your marketing strategy, budget, and the specific needs of your SEO or PPC campaigns. For some, the investment in ads is justified by the value of the data and the direct benefits of advertising. For others, especially those focused exclusively on SEO or with very limited budgets, leveraging alternative tools and strategies might be more practical.

In summary, while running a small ad campaign on Google Ads can potentially provide access to more detailed keyword data, it’s essential to consider the overall cost, benefits, and alignment with your marketing objectives before proceeding.