Two days ago we shared a tip from MSN adCenter about how you can expand your keyword list using an Excel add-on. A few days ago the Google Analytics blog posted about the same topic and shared some tools that you can use to expand your keyword list.
Today I’d like to hone in one tool and talk about how you can use that tool to be more effective in your pay per click advertising campaigns. The tool is Google’s Search-Based Keyword Tool.
The information this tool provides is incredible. When you use the tool it returns the following information on the keywords that it shows you:
- The keyword phrase
- Monthly search numbers
- The level of competition
- Suggest PPC bid
That’s it. Streamlined information.
Furthermore, the tool only returns a limited number of keywords related to the one you searched for. That’s because the tool relies upon actual search data and provides information for the highest sought-after keywords. That makes it one valuable tool. And it’s free.
You can also use the search-based keyword tool to scan your landing page and return relevant keywords for your landing page. Here’s what you do to get a real good feel for your landing page’s optimization success:
- At the top, where it says “Website”, input your landing page’s exact URL. You want to analyze just one page at a time.
- Type in one word or phrase in the next box.
- Click on “More filters”
- If you have an account that is active right now then leave the Partial matches box checked
Choose your level of competition - Click “Find keywords”
What you should see is a list of your most valuable keyword search phrases for that landing page. It’s a powerful tool and can help you better optimize your landing pages and find the right keywords to target for your pay per click advertising campaign.
I was initially happy to see this simple and well designed keyword tool. Then I noticed for each one of my searches a warning message appeared, “This website is not associated with your AdWords account.”
I have no idea what it means. It is not listed in Google help and there is some discussion of it in the forums but still no definitive answer. Until I understand what this warning message is I will stay with the standard Keyword Tool. The two keyword tools do produce different keyword lists. If anyone has an answer for this alert Please let me know.
Aaron, the search-based keyword tool was designed for use for PPC advertisers to use with their Google AdWords accounts. You can use it for other purposes, but that’s what it was designed for. If you are getting the message that your website is not associated with your Google AdWords account then try searching for keywords without inputting your website.