Yahoo Keeps Keyword Inventory Tool on Life Support

If you’re a fan of the YSM Keyword Selector Tool (aka Overture Inventory Tool), I have good news and bad news for you. Yahoo Search Marketing is no longer supporting the tool, but the company is planning an update to the information.

Here’s part of the email I received from them…

Since the launch of the new Sponsored Search system, Yahoo! Search Marketing no longer supports the tool, therefore the data is not reflective of the true volume of traffic throughout the network.  With the new Sponsored Search system now in place, more tailored keyword data tools are being explored for the future.

For the time being, Yahoo! plans to adjust the tool to show information from January 2007, but it’s also recommend that advertisers use the more robust forecasting capabilities in the new Sponsored Search to gain insight into expected performance.  The forecasting service available now within Panama and through our APIs is a great alternative to Keyword Selector Tool in terms of providing keyword data points for performance and cost.

Our forecasting service APIs provide a number of opportunities.  They provide a forecast for an ad group, set of keywords, and a single keyword.  The following forecast metrics are provided:

            1) Average Position – The average position of the ad

            2) Clicks – The estimated number of clicks

            3) Average CPC – The average cost per click

            4) Impressions – The estimated number of impressions

            5) Max Bid – The maximum bid for the current forecast

            6) Missed Clicks – The estimated number of missed clicks