One of the most basic principals of search engine optimization is keyword research, and thus, utilizing different tools to gain insight from a variety of angles. Beyond tools like SpyFu and SEM Rush, there is one tool that is the basis for keyword research, the Google External Keyword Tool.
What is the Google External Keyword Tool?
The Google External Keyword Tool is a free service that allows users to view search traffic for particular keywords. Users can then use this search traffic information as they please, but in most cases they are utilizing this information for SEO or pay per click.
How is it Used for SEO?
To use the Google External Keyword Tool for SEO you simply need to put in a series of terms and then hit submit. The tool will then return a set of results that follow the general theme of the keywords you entered. At this point you must decide which ones to optimize for.
The Keyword Tool allows search engine optimization experts the opportunity to view the traffic for certain terms. Based on the level of traffic for a keyword, a SEO can then make a judgment call on whether or not to optimize for the term. If there is a lot of traffic it is probably a very competitive term to rank for. If there is a very small amount of traffic it may be a little easier. But these generalities are not always true. For example, certain verticals may be very competitive for low trafficked terms and other terms with huge amounts of traffic maybe easier to go after, perhaps it’s a new keyword or a term that does not offer much monetary value.
Broad Match, Phase Match and Exact Match
There are three main ways to view traffic.
Broad Match: This means that the terms in the search are used at some point in the query, but are not necessarily next to each other. Let’s look at an example below for the keyword SEO San Diego.
Example: Looking for a SEO company that is in San Diego
Phrase Match: In phrase match we need to have our keywords next to each other.
Example: Best SEO San Diego
Exact Match: In this example the searcher is only looking for these exact terms and the search does not contain any words.
Example: SEO San Diego
We recommend you use the research method that works the best for you. In most cases you will see SEO experts use exact match. They will then take it a step further and look at geographic region for the demographic and select that in the tool as well.
Should you use the Google External Keyword Tool for SEO?
The keyword tool will give you basic information you need to optimize your website. We recommend using the Google External Keyword Tool for SEO. If you are looking for some help with your SEO strategy please give us a call for a free analysis.
