And more...

If you hover over the ? icon next to the results for average monthly search volume you see this text: "The average number of times people have searched for this exact keyword based on the targeting settings that you've selected. "

The keyword here is "exact" - Does this mean the default is exact match and we no longer have control over this?

Nope - just checked that - not it

Hi all,

Thanks for all the responses. I'm wondering whether adwords used to default to showing Google + Search partner results before where as now you have to select this option (otherwise the default is just Google).  It could account for the differences perhaps?

Sarah

Thanks Dan.  I was using broad match which is why it's so odd.  I'll go back to the old tool (thanks for the tip) and will compare.  Sarah

Here's an update on broad matches for various terms:

Desktop alert - on keyword tool, global volume showed as 20,000+ searches (sorry don't have exact number), it is now showing search volume as 390 on the keyword planner...

Corporate screensaver - was showing 1001 to 5000 searches, it is now showing 320.

Desktop messaging - was showing 10001 to 15000 searches, it is now showing 140.

Something fishy is going on...

Sarah

Thanks Dana,

This is a term used by IT folk a lot. When I last checked I was not aware of any global events.  I'm not sure that this would be the reason (although it is of course possible!).  Have there been any other observations of changes to keyword volume reported by users after Google's transition to keyword planner?

I'll also check other search phrases less likely to be volatile and get back to you (thanks for the tip).

Sarah

Hi there,

I'm (logged into Google Adwords)  and researching search volume for keywords but I'm seeing weird results.

I know that the term "outage notification" had between 1000 and 5000 monthly global searches when I last looked (I know this because I add a search volume tag to the keywords I track ranking of via Moz).  Yet, now when I check global search volume via keyword planner I'm seeing only 70 global searches per month (AND low competition which I know is not true).  Is this perhaps because only the exact match is reported or is something else going on?

Very frustrated as I have now lost faith in the keyword research process via Google keyword planner....not sure where to go from here!!

Thanks very much

Hi there,

I'm (logged into Google Adwords)  and researching search volume for keywords but I'm seeing weird results.

I know that the term "outage notification" had between 1000 and 5000 monthly global searches when I last looked (I know this because I add a search volume tag to the keywords I track ranking of via Moz).  Yet, now when I check global search volume via keyword planner I'm seeing only 70 global searches per month (AND low competition which I know is not true).  Is this perhaps because only the exact match is reported or is something else going on?

Very frustrated as I have now lost faith in the keyword research process via Google keyword planner....not sure where to go from here!!

Thanks very much

Here's an update on broad matches for various terms:

Desktop alert - on keyword tool, global volume showed as 20,000+ searches (sorry don't have exact number), it is now showing search volume as 390 on the keyword planner...

Corporate screensaver - was showing 1001 to 5000 searches, it is now showing 320.

Desktop messaging - was showing 10001 to 15000 searches, it is now showing 140.

Something fishy is going on...

Sarah