Well, as I write this, the gossip around town (well, around Search Engine Optimization Specialists’ town anyways) is that Google may discontinue their free keyword research tool.  If that does happen, we believe it will be nested in either the webmaster tools or the Pay Per Click Portion of Google’s empire.  Wherever it resides in the future, if I don’t revise this post, please post a comment and remind me, and I’ll correct it as soon as possible 🙂  

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So, how do you get there now?  Simply click on this link for Google’s free keyword tool or go to www.Google.com/adwords/ to get to the keyword research tool. 

There are at least 2 very cool features here:

1)  Type in the domain name of your competition  (you know, those guys in the #1 spot on Google!) in the “website” field and you can retrieve the keyword phrases they are using to optimize their site.

2)  Type the keyword or keyword phrase you’d like to optimize for – you can start with a one word idea or a more specific several word phrase – type your word/words into the “with words or phrases” field and click search.  Google will supply you with up to 200 new keyword phrase ideas AND the amount of traffic, the competition level and traffic trends.  This is all super valuable information if you want to successfully do online marketing, or local online marketing.  As I’ve explained in other articles, keyword research is akin to doing market research before starting a company.  If you don’t do it you can fail miserably or at a minimum, you’re leaving lots of money on the table.

Speaking of picking up some of that money on the table, let me give you another super search engine optimization specialists’ tip …  when you do a keyword search/analysis, you want keywords that indicate that people are ready to spend money!  The best way to evaluate this is by what people are willing to pay for a CPC or Cost Per Click ad.  So, you’re asking … how do I get that information?   The software program Market Samurai uses an indicator called OCI – Online Commercial Intent.  You can also find it for free by going to the free Google keyword tool – try the 2nd link above – and click on “advanced options” – set up a filter for “Estimated Ave. CPC” is greater than (>) $1.00 – this will automatically filter out the results for the low CPC ad value keywords – you know those people on the web we affectionately refer to as “looky loos” – get the people on your site that are ready to buy!!

I also like to set up an advanced option filter for above a certain amount of local traffic (the more conservative traffic estimate figures).  Check out the settings in this image:

If you’ve read this far, you’re serious about learning and succeeding in your online marketing.  You deserve a gift.  I’ve written a chapter in an e-book on keyword research From the book – Online Wealth: Proven Step-by-Step Power Techniques the Internet Gurus Use to Generate Cash Online – click on the following link for the whole chapter – FREE:  http://www.truckeewebdesign.com/seo-search-engine-optimization/keyword-research-online-competition-analysis/

I hope you found great value in this article and that you have a clearer understanding of Google’s keyword research tool. If you have questions or want more help with SEO and keyword research, please feel free to reach out to Coach Jim at Jim@SummitBusinessMarketing.com or call (530) 426-8404 to make an appointment.  Summit Business Marketing provides business coaching services, business plans, marketing plans, website design, online marketing services and is a search engine optimization specialist. We serve clients all over the world, and of course love serving local businesses in the Sacramento Valley.

*Note – I revisited this post in November 2012, and the free keyword research tool is still alive and well and as valuable as ever … the only difference is that it is now in adwords and you have to have a Google account to use it.  It’s free to set up a gmail account.

Jim Kaspari

Summit Business Marketing

Web Design . SEO . Marketing Consultation . Business Coaching Services

111 Natoma Street, Suite 111 Folsom, California CA 95630

phone (530) 426-8404 | fax (440) 425-6094

Jim@SummitBusinessMarketing.com

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