Step 1: Go to Google Ads.
Visit ads.google.com and log in with your Google account. If you don’t have one, create a free Google account first. You don’t need to run ads to use the Keyword Planner, but you do need to set up a Google Ads account.
Step 2: Access the Keyword Planner tool.
Once you’re in your Google Ads dashboard, click on Tools & Settings in the top menu.
Under the “Planning” section, click Keyword Planner.
Step 3: Choose a research option.
You’ll see two main choices:
- Discover new keywords – Use this to find keyword ideas based on a topic, product, or website.
- Get search volume and forecasts – Use this if you already have a list of keywords and want to see their monthly search volume and trends.
Start with “Discover new keywords.”
Step 4: Enter your topic or keyword.
Type in a topic or seed keyword related to your niche. For example, if you have a blog about fitness, you might type “home workout” or “healthy diet.”
Click “Get results.”
Step 5: Analyze the keyword ideas.
Google will show you a list of related keyword suggestions, including:
- Average monthly searches
- Competition level
- Top of page bid (low and high range)
Look for keywords with:
- High search volume
- Medium or low competition
- Relevance to your content
Step 6: Filter and sort keywords.
Use filters to narrow your results. You can sort by search volume, competition, or keyword text. This helps you find hidden gems or long-tail keywords.
Step 7: Save your keyword ideas.
Select keywords that fit your content goals. You can download them as a spreadsheet or add them to a custom plan inside Google Ads.
Step 8: Use the data in your content strategy.
Take your best-performing keywords and use them naturally in your:
- Blog posts
- Video titles
- Meta descriptions
- Image alt text
- Product pages
Bonus Tips:
- Look for long-tail keywords with 3 or more words. These often have lower competition and higher conversion.
- Use related search queries to create clusters of supporting content around one main keyword.
And that’s it!
With Google Keyword Planner, you can find powerful keyword ideas that drive real traffic to your site or content for free.
