SEO in 30 Days, Day 8: Keyword Research, Step 6

How to Use the Google Keyword Traffic Tool

In Day 7 of SEO in 30 Days we provided tips on how to dig deep into your competitors’ websites to determine what they are targeting and what they’ve missed, and then to use this info to choose which keyword phrases you should target. Today we’ll take you through the use of the Google Keyword Traffic Tool to refine your keyword list.

To establish a strong AdWords pay-per-click marketing campaign, you must be proficient with the Google AdWords keyword traffic tool. Another use for this valuable tool is in determining which are the most searched keywords within your targeted website topic.

The basic idea is to develop a strong list of keywords that have a moderate amount of traffic. You don’t want words in your list that get a million searches per month. Optimizing for those super competitive keywords will bury your web page under thousands or even millions of articles on the same subject.

Better to compile a list of specific search terms that your targeted audience or customer base would use, using three or more words in each phrase. For example, using the word “lawyer” as your primary keyword for your website is so general that you have a slim chance of ever ranking for it, let alone getting a client from it. A more effective term would be Vacaville family lawyer, pulling in local searchers in the Vacaville and Napa areas looking specifically for a lawyer within your area of practice.

To start, copy and paste this URL into your browser:

https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal

Once you are there, simply type the list of keywords you’ve come with (in the previous five keyword research steps in SEO in 30 Days) into the Word or Phrase box and click Search. Within seconds you will see your keywords, along with a long list of related keywords, with columns showing the level of competition and number of local and global searches.

Add any suggested keywords to your master list that apply to your business or service, and note the level of competition for the keywords you’re targeting. Now it’s time to refine your list.

Take this revised master keyword list and copy it back into the Word or Phrase box. This time, click on “Advanced Options” and select “Ideas containing my search terms.” Add the geography you are targeting to the front of each keyword phrase. Finally, scroll down to Match Types on the bottom left and choose “Phrase.” (This will return only the keyword searches that match your targeted phrases exactly). Now scroll back up and hit Search.

Now you have a list of only your targeted keywords, and the amount of local searches done on them. Note any that get 50 or more searches locally per month. These will bring in the most traffic for you, and should be targeted on your website. Referring back to the spreadsheet you made on Day 7, note especially any keywords on which your competitors don’t seem to be focused.

In Day 9 of the SEO in 30 Days series we’ll conclude our keyword research with a discussion on choosing keywords & building service or attorney practice areas.