Planner Keywords (I)

This month, Google AdWords has brought us several new features, as usual, but Keyword Planner (formerly Keyword Tools) has generated more buzz than usual, and it's somewhat paradoxical. We've read many posts and chatted about it in the AdWords Community, witnessing truly heated debates about whether it's better or worse, whether Google is doing it right or wrong, etc.

In the next few posts, we'll discuss the pros and cons of this tool, but above all, as always, we'll explain how to get the most out of it.

First of all, it's worth mentioning that there isn't much difference between the Keyword Tool and the Planner, although many have been shocked at the difference in traffic and CPC estimates between the old and new versions.

In Google AdWords, you have to know that the best way to learn is to try. Sometimes you make mistakes, but if you don't try, you'll never learn. We say this because of the variation in estimates we were discussing. It's impossible for any tool to give us an exact CPC for a keyword, since many factors influence this. These aren't always fixed variables, but, as the keyword itself says, are VARIABLE.

Another issue that seems to raise eyebrows is competition. At ClickOnline360, we recommend that, while it's true that you need to keep your competition under control, it's best to focus on the work you do yourself; if it's done well, AdWords will compensate for it.

Finally, and this is purely subjective, the entire debate is because SEOs will have to open Google AdWords accounts to use Keyword Planner, rather than using it from outside their account as they've been doing up until now, and this doesn't seem to appeal to them too much. But let's be positive and realize that we can continue to enjoy a very powerful work tool at zero cost, and now it's even better.