Google Adds Approximate Search Counts to Keyword Tool
Wednesday, July 9th, 2008;
-- David Snyder |
This must have been a tough one for the search giant to figure out.
People read numbers better than they do colors.
Google has started to add Approximate word counts on their Adwords keyword tool, along side of their vague colored bar graphs, which used to be the only data they gave.
The reason behind these moves by the big G, or small g or whatever they are being called this week, is likely their realization that the future of paid search is in the small business. SMBs love freebies, and anything that can help them minimize how far they have to spread their marketing dollar.
Microsoft has been making a strong push in ‘08 to improve their paid search service, at least in terms of user side services and tools. I doubt that factored into Google’s decision to spruce up this service, but no matter what it shows that both search engines realize non-agency advertisers are going to be of growing importance.
For marketers, this gives you a great tool to utilize from within your Google MCC (My Client Center). You can now more effectively search for new keywords and search trends without leaving the system to go to a third party keyword tool.
For everyone else involved in the web, you now have a great free keyword tool to utilize in your site’s optimization.
I wouldn’t abandon your favorite keyword tool yet, as I approach all data from Google with skepticism. Also the tool approximates by month, and for some Internet marketers more timely keyword data is needed.
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July 9th, 2008 at 1:17 am
I’ve been reading, and hearing, these are more than approximate, they’re pretty darn accurate.
bout time.
Thanks for the post.
July 9th, 2008 at 3:16 am
Good! Google updated the tool but not the help icon. Try to mouse-over the help icon or take a look at the screen-shot below, it still describes about the previous shaded bar…
http://aztecsoft.online.googlepages.com/google-adwords-keyword-tool
July 9th, 2008 at 3:28 am
I agree that you shouldn’t abandon you favorite keyword research tool David. It will be interesting to see the numbers side by side. I’ve always looked at them as relative and not absolute anyway so this will be a great additional tool.
David Temple’s last blog post..Traveling social media training workshops
July 9th, 2008 at 6:13 am
Its about time! Now we all have much more accurate data.
Pay Per Click Journal’s last blog post..Google AdWords Shows Search Statistics For Keywords
July 9th, 2008 at 6:51 am
Good advise. It is better to be cautious for a while than be sorry later.
Nicole Price’s last blog post..Top Selling Albums of All Time
July 9th, 2008 at 7:26 am
Nice addition but it would’ve been so useful to have it available in the ‘edit keywords and CPC’ view as well, along with the potential clicks/day. Still, a step forward to better campaign planning.
Otilia Otlacan’s last blog post..NebuAd Introduces Next-Generation Online Consumer Privacy Protections, Raising the Bar on Internet Privacy Protection Standards
July 9th, 2008 at 9:21 am
Great stuff. I am happy to see that Google is addressing what the market wants. It should only serve to make them more dominant. Great post.
Frank Reed’s last blog post..SEO Tools In The Wrong Hands Could Lead To Disappointment
July 9th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Thank goodness! I’ve been waiting for this data for years. Vague, part-filled-in bars don’t cut the mustard when trying to pitch stuff to clients.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
About time indeed. It’s getting closer to what a marketer needs, which is near real-time data. But that obviously would take quite a bit of server time.
For those getting into it, it makes a little more sense now though.
Has anyone noticed if their bars match up and make sense across the board?
Erik’s last blog post..Generating Content for Multiple Blogs
July 9th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Adwords can be a bear to figure out, so hopefully the accuracy of the analytical tool is right on!
July 9th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
[...] Google AdWords program has added yet another way for local businesses to measure their online success. [...]
July 9th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
This could be useful for SEO.
Symbian’s last blog post..Nokia S60 Symbian Windows Live client available in Europe
July 9th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
I’ve collected some good info off this! I hope it’s accurate.
Utah SEO Pro’s last blog post..Interview with SEO: Brian Carter and Search Engine Journal Post
July 10th, 2008 at 12:08 am
Just make sure that you use Match Type: Exact and you will get very accurate data compared to organic clicks for 1-2 spots.
Jaan Kanellis’s last blog post..Google AdWords Keyword Tool Offers Search Volume Numbers
July 10th, 2008 at 1:50 am
Google just keeps ‘em coming! This is definitely a step up, third party keyword research tools are going to feel the squeeze with this new functionality added to the free Google keyword tool.
July 10th, 2008 at 7:05 am
It’s totally useful for SEO, now you can find word combinations with millions of requests in Google
Symbian’s last blog post..Nokia S60 Symbian Windows Live client available in Europe
July 10th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
This is fantastic news. Do you think this will hurt paid tools like Keyword Discovery?
Linda Bustos’s last blog post..Product Photography: How To Achieve The Ghost Mannequin Effect
July 10th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Now we talking, this makes the Google keyword tool worth using, this really helps, Google.
July 11th, 2008 at 9:27 am
Well, this is a welcome addition. Those little green bars used to drive me nuts. I always wondered why Google was not forthcoming with better numbers. Others like Wordtracker were.
Top Rated Digital’s last blog post..The Top 10 Digital Cameras Ripped Apart
July 11th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Yeah, it really helps. It is useful…
July 15th, 2008 at 6:49 am
I wonder if it’s accurate. And is there anyway we can check its accuracy. Who would trust KD or WT when they get it second hand and Google publishes it first hand?
July 17th, 2008 at 4:33 am
The news is doing the rounds for some time now.
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