SEO research via Google Adwords
-
I've read several times of this technique for determining if a particular keyword phrase is worth the effort of optimizing for in organic search.
In Adwords create an Ad Group with a single exact match keyword phrase and let it run in Adwords until you have enough clicks to measure valid results (I've often heard 200-300 clicks). If you are unable to convert the search term via paid search, the theory goes, it's probably not worth the effort to rank top 3 for that phrase and you should put your efforts elsewhere.
Do any of you use this strategy? If so, have you found the results to be pretty consistently accurate?
Thanks,
Mark
-
I think that this is a good way to sample the traffic.
-
I would not consider this to be a good measure of what you want to rank for. I have lots of terms that I benefit from ranking for that if I were to place in adwords would not result in a conversion for me. A lot of this is informational or non-revenue based benefit. Email Signups, Newsletters, Contact Info, etc... You must consider that those who click on ads and those who click on organic come from 2 different groups and even though in many ways there is a similar desired result from a click by both groups it is not the case 100% of the time. I could probably elaborate for hours on this but do not consider one to be a good barometer of the other because in essence they are different. I hope this helps.
-
Good to hear it helped. I'm not always sure if people understand what I explain because I have so many thoughts going on in terms of all the different issues at play when it comes to SEO.
Best of luck with your targeting. It can definitely be a learning experience. Cheers.
-
Thanks for your response. You make several valid points that I hadn't considered, since I was looking at it purely from the point of view of conversions. Was unaware that keyword tool estimates and actuals could vary so widely.
-
Can't say that the 200-300 clicks threshold is the minimum, but I do like the idea of using Adwords to validate their estimates in the keyword tool. However, I use the impressions level identifying that there are at least that many searches on the phrase. Sometimes in the keyword tool, it says <10 in searches and then you'll see via an Adwords campaign 1000 impressions for that phrase [exactly].
The reason why I don't think the clicks is as important is that you might get a .04% click through rate on the 1000 impressions which would make you think it's not worth targeting that phrase, but 60-80% supposedly hit the organic results and only 20-40% hit the adwords. So, I'm more interested in the fact there are at least those number of searches in existence.
However, more importantly, it's not just whether there's inventory, but it's important to analyze the results in that search and to determine if it's difficult to rank for that term. There's a lot more than just seeing if there's enough inventory, but I do like to start here if a client has the budget to spend on adwords.
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
Keyword Research - Min "Volume" recommendations
Hi, I've began doing some keyword research, the terms I am after are yielding "11-50" Volume in Keyword Explorer. Should I bother optimizing for such a low volume? Looking for existing member / community feedback. Thank you.
Keyword Research | | idlwebinc1 -
Am I blind or has Google finally shut down its "Related Searches" option?
I know I just used this a few days ago, so I was surprised when doing keyword research today that I could no longer access the "Related Searches" feature in Google search. Has anyone else noticed this? It's a pity if it's gone, although I think Google announced it was going to shut this down over a year ago. They said the same thing about the "Patent" search too, but it is still available. I know using "Related Searches" was really popular with SEOs so I am wondering if anyone else is as sad-faced as I am? Or perhaps was it just bumped today so Google could have fun with their April Fool's beta test of Google "Nose" ?
Keyword Research | | danatanseo0 -
The best way to do keyword research in different languages
Could anyone give me a little advice about the best way to do keyword research in different languages? French and Spanish specifically (unsurprisingly). Are there any tools or systems available that will give local language keyword variants on English keywords so that I can have a look at real world searches in local languages - rather than what I take to be the best translation (if that makes any sense). Many thanks, Iain
Keyword Research | | iain0 -
Google Adwords - trying to understand the figures...
Whilst researching keywords I often find the global monthly search on google adwords tool differs, yet the local (UK) is the same (or vice versa) Example: ready mix concrete - global 90,500 & local 18,100 ready mixed concrete - global 60,500 & local 18,100 or forklift truck hire - global 18,100 & local 4,400
Keyword Research | | Gordon_Hall
forklift truck rental - global 22,200 & local 4,400 I'm making an assumption that for my local country, the phrases ready mix" and "ready mixed" are being treated the same, as are "hire" and "rental" but globally they are not. Am I correct? Of course, they could be two completely separate terms according to Google but coincidentally, have the same search volume. However, I find this happens quite regularly. Anybody shed any light?0 -
Google Adwords or Wordtracker?
I have been using Google Adwords tool for keyword research until today when I signed up for 7 day trial of Wordtracker. To my astonishment the results were different with a huge margin for most of my keywords. Which of these should I trust more? Do you suggest any other tool which is better than these both and is free or affordable?
Keyword Research | | KS__0 -
Are the Volume numbers from the Keyword Difficulty Tool identical to Google Adwords Keyword Tool?
I use the Keyword Difficulty Tool daily. Because of the troubles with Google's API I can no longer see the search volumes. I still want to use the tool for difficulty numbers because I think this is a much better number than the Google Adwords Competitive bar. If I use the Adwords keyword tool for volume numbers, will that be sufficient? Is this the same as what Moz usually provides? If no, where is the best place to gather volume numbers? Thanks!
Keyword Research | | KevinBloom0 -
Google Products Research Tools??
Does anyone know of any google products research tools? I am trying to find what attributes and classifications my competitors are using? Much help appreciated. Thanks!
Keyword Research | | AHH8880 -
Google Keyword Tool
I have been analysing some specific seasonal keywords in terms of search volume within the Google keyword tool. When I download the google keyword volume for each term, this is displayed as a monthly average. I am wanting to get search volume over previous months which I am sure the Google keyword tool used to offer Does anyone have a solution to this? Thanks Simon
Keyword Research | | simonsw0