Whether you want to take over your niche in the online world with the help of SEO or PPC, Google Ads Keyword Planner is an essential tool you should have at your disposal. It is free, data driven and backed up by the biggest search engine in the world giving it the best starting point to anyone willing to know what people are searching and how to target them.
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| Google Ads Keyword Planner |
Throughout this guide, we will learn what Google Ads Keyword Planner is, why it is so valuable, how to get the best use out of it, and how it is compared to other keyword research tools. We will also go through some useful ideas and strategies to make the best out of it.
What is Google Ads Keyword Planner?
Google Ads Keyword Planner is a tool that allows anyone using Google Ads to perform keyword research at no cost. It shows advertisers and marketers the proper keywords that can be used in their search campaigns. This tool can be so useful whether you are doing paid ads or just brainstorming on SEO content ideas.
With Google Ads Keyword Planner, you can:
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Discover new keyword ideas
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Get search volume data for specific keywords
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View historical trends
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Estimate the cost-per-click (CPC) for each keyword
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Forecast traffic, clicks, and impressions
This tool is often the first step when launching a new ad campaign or building an SEO strategy.
Who Should Use Google Ads Keyword Planner?
Google Ads Keyword Planner isn't just for PPC professionals. It’s designed for a wide audience, including:
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Advertisers: To plan effective Google Ads campaigns
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Content creators: To identify trending and relevant keywords
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SEO specialists: To understand user search behavior and find keyword opportunities
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Small business owners: To reach their target audience with accurate terms
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Bloggers and niche marketers: To generate blog post ideas with actual search volume
Basically, if you want your content to be found online, this tool should be in your toolkit.
How to Access Google Ads Keyword Planner
Getting started is simple:
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Create a Google Ads Account: Go to ads.google.com and sign in or sign up.
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Switch to Expert Mode: Google might start you off in Smart Mode. Switch to Expert Mode to access all tools.
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Navigate to Keyword Planner: Click the wrench icon (Tools) in the top menu, then select "Keyword Planner" under the Planning section.
You don’t need to run any ads to use the planner, but you must have a Google Ads account set up.
How to Use Google Ads Keyword Planner
There are two primary tools within Keyword Planner:
1. Discover New Keywords
This option helps you explore new keyword ideas based on:
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A product or service
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A website (your own or a competitor’s)
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A specific category or niche
Example:
If you sell handmade candles, typing "scented candles" might show keyword suggestions like:
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Soy wax candles
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Best scented candles for home
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Organic candle brands
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Long-lasting candles
Each keyword will come with important data like:
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Average monthly searches
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Competition level (Low, Medium, or High)
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Top of page bid (low and high range)
This helps you find untapped keyword opportunities that align with what your audience is already searching for.
2. Get Search Volume and Forecasts
This option is useful when you already have a list of keywords and want to analyze them. It provides:
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Search volume data
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Click and impression forecasts
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Estimated CPC and total cost
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Predicted conversions (if you’ve set up conversion tracking)
This is ideal for budgeting and fine-tuning your campaigns before launch.
Understanding Key Metrics in Keyword Planner
Here’s a quick breakdown of the metrics you’ll encounter:
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Avg. Monthly Searches: Gives an estimate of how often a term is searched.
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Competition: Indicates how many advertisers are bidding on a keyword.
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Top of Page Bid (Low & High): The range of bids typically required to rank at the top.
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Forecasts: Estimates of performance based on current and historical data.
Understanding these numbers helps you make smarter decisions about which keywords to target.
Benefits of Google Ads Keyword Planner
Accurate Data from Google
In contrast to third-party aids which estimate the search volume, Keyword Planner offers you the information which is based on Google. What this means is that it is more dependable particularly in Google specific campaigns.
Free and Easy to Use
You don’t have to pay for the tool, and the interface is beginner-friendly. It’s accessible to everyone from solo entrepreneurs to large marketing teams.
Helps Both PPC and SEO
Although it is advertiser-centered, the tool is great in organic keyword research also. It will help you create improved blog posts, landing pages, product descriptions, etc.
Competitive Insight
You will also get some idea of how competitive each keyword is, and this can prevent you getting involved in a high-CPC war zone, and instead concentrate on low-hanging fruit.
How to Use It for SEO
Here’s how non-advertisers can benefit from Keyword Planner:
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Find Blog Topics: Search volume tells you what people are curious about.
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Plan Content Calendar: Use seasonal data to post timely content.
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Optimize Old Posts: Discover new long-tail variations for updating content.
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Enhance Metadata: Write better meta titles and descriptions using real search terms.
Pro tip: Filter by “Low Competition” and “High Volume” to find the best SEO keyword targets.
How to Use It for Google Ads Campaigns
If you're running paid ads, Keyword Planner can help with:
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Ad Group Structuring: Group keywords by theme for better relevance.
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Budget Forecasting: Plan how much you’ll need to spend to get results.
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Bidding Strategy: Identify whether to bid aggressively or test lower CPCs.
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Geo-targeting: Filter keywords by country or city for localized campaigns.
Limitations to Be Aware Of
While powerful, Google Ads Keyword Planner does have some limits:
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Search volumes are shown as ranges (e.g., 1K–10K), unless you’re running active campaigns.
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Doesn’t show competitor data like domain authority or backlinks.
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Limited to Google search data, so it won’t help with platforms like YouTube, Amazon, or TikTok.
To overcome this, many marketers pair it with tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Ubersuggest.
Keyword Planner vs. Other Tools
| Feature | Google Ads Keyword Planner | Ahrefs | SEMrush |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Paid | Paid |
| Data Source | Google Search | Clickstream | Google + Other |
| Organic Keywords | Basic | Advanced | Advanced |
| CPC/Bid Estimates | Yes | No | Yes |
| Forecasting | Yes | No | Yes |
Best Practices for Using Keyword Planner
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Use Specific Seed Keywords: The more specific your input, the better the suggestions.
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Look at Trends: Historical data can show rising or falling interest in a keyword.
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Segment by Location: Especially useful if your business is local.
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Organize into Ad Groups: Helps improve Quality Score in PPC campaigns.
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Download Data: Export keyword ideas for further analysis in Excel or Google Sheets.
Real-World Example
Let’s say you own a bakery in Delhi and want to run an ad campaign for “custom birthday cakes.”
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Input “birthday cakes” into Keyword Planner
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Discover related terms like:
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Custom cakes near me
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Designer birthday cakes Delhi
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Cake home delivery
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Check the CPC and search volume
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Organize the keywords by theme
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Use them to create ad copy and landing pages tailored to local searchers
This process can be repeated across industries—fitness, tech, e-commerce, education, etc.
Final Thoughts
Keyword Planner is one of the most potent (and underestimated) free resources in the field of digital marketing provided by Google Ads. It assists you in making data-driven decisions whether you publish as a one person blog or you are managing million dollar ad campaigns, helping you save time, reduce cost, and improve performance.
Knowing what your audience is looking at will help you create better campaigns, make smarter content and expand your online presence without fear.
Google Ad Manager : A Complete Guide for Publishers and Advertisers
Ready to unlock the power of keyword research?
Now create your Google ads account, explore the Keyword Planner, and begin to discover what your customers are searching right now.
And, talk to me if you need a campaign plan or SEO copy written to your keyword list, I can do that too!
Google Ads Keyword Planner is one of the tools that should be used by digital marketers and advertisers to plan their ads with the use of efficient keywords. Google Ads Key Word planner enables one to find new keyword ideas, search volume, and cost-per-click of different terms. This is a useful information that can guide businesses to the appropriate audience and maximize spending on the advertisements. The tool gives precise, Google-based information to enhance your strategy whether you are designing a paid campaign, or creating SEO-oriented content. Its simple interface and the inbuilt capabilities in relation to making forecasts make it highly suited to both novices and experts in the market of online advertisements.
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