Google Ads Keyword Research: Tips and Tricks

Introduction

Google Ads can be an incredibly powerful tool for businesses looking to boost their online presence and drive more traffic to their website. However, one of the biggest challenges that advertisers face is finding the right keywords to target in their campaigns. Without a thorough understanding of what your target audience is searching for, you could end up wasting a lot of money on clicks that don’t convert.

In this article, we’ll share some tips and tricks for conducting effective keyword research for your Google Ads campaigns. From using the right tools to identifying valuable long-tail keywords, we’ll cover everything you need to know to make the most of your advertising budget.

Google Ads Keyword Research Tools

The first step in conducting effective keyword research is to use the right tools. There are a variety of tools available that can help you identify relevant keywords and estimate their potential search volume. Here are a few of our favorites:

1. Google Keyword Planner

Google Keyword Planner is a free tool that’s built specifically for Google Ads users. It allows you to enter a keyword or phrase and get an estimate of how many people are searching for it each month. You can also see suggested bid prices and competition levels for each keyword, which can help you determine which ones are most valuable to target.

2. SEMrush

SEMrush is a paid tool that’s used by many digital marketers to conduct keyword research and competitive analysis. It allows you to see not only the search volume for a particular keyword, but also the estimated cost per click (CPC), competition level, and even the top organic search results for that keyword.

3. Ahrefs

Ahrefs is another popular paid tool that offers a wealth of information on keyword search volume, CPC, and competition levels. It also allows you to see which websites are ranking for particular keywords, which can help you identify potential competitors and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Identifying Long-Tail Keywords

While it’s important to target high-volume keywords with a lot of search traffic, it’s also important to identify valuable long-tail keywords that may have lower search volume but higher intent. Long-tail keywords are typically longer and more specific than broad keywords, and they often have a higher conversion rate because they’re more closely aligned with what the user is actually looking for.

Here are a few tips for identifying valuable long-tail keywords:

1. Use Google’s Autocomplete Feature

One easy way to identify long-tail keywords is to simply start typing a broad keyword into Google’s search bar and see what autocomplete suggestions come up. These suggestions are based on actual search queries, so they can give you a good idea of what people are searching for in relation to your target keyword.

2.Use Google’s “People also ask” Feature

Google’s “People also ask” feature is another great resource for identifying long-tail keywords and gaining insight into what your target audience is searching for. When you enter a search query into Google, you’ll often see a box of related questions that other users have asked.

By clicking on these questions, you can see the top search results and get an idea of the type of content that’s ranking for those keywords. This can be especially useful for identifying gaps in the content that’s currently available and finding opportunities to create new, relevant content that targets specific long-tail keywords.

3. Analyze Search Results

When you click on a question in the “People also ask” box, Google will show you a list of search results for that query. Take a look at the top-ranking pages and see if there are any patterns or similarities in the content.

For example, if you notice that all of the top-ranking pages are blog posts, you might want to consider creating a blog post of your own to target that keyword. Or, if you notice that all of the top-ranking pages are video tutorials, you might want to create a video of your own to target that keyword.

4. Identify Content Gaps

As you analyze the search results for each “People also ask” question, you may also notice gaps in the content that’s currently available. For example, you might notice that none of the top-ranking pages provide a step-by-step guide or a downloadable resource.

By identifying these gaps, you can create new, high-quality content that fills the void and provides value to your target audience. Not only will this help you rank for specific long-tail keywords, but it can also help establish your brand as a thought leader in your industry.

Using Negative Keywords

In addition to targeting the right keywords, it’s also important to exclude keywords that aren’t relevant to your business. This is where negative keywords come in. Negative keywords are essentially the opposite of regular keywords – they’re terms that you don’t want your ads to show up for.

For example, if you’re a vegan restaurant, you might want to exclude keywords like “steakhouse” or “burger joint” to ensure that your ads only show up for users who are actually interested in plant-based dining options.

Here are a few tips for identifying negative keywords:

1. Use Google’s Search Terms Report

Google’s Search Terms report can be a valuable resource for identifying irrelevant keywords that are triggering your ads. This report shows you exactly what people are searching for when they see your ads, so you can identify any terms that aren’t relevant to your business and add them as negative keywords.

2. Use Broad Match Modifier

Broad match modifier is a keyword match type that allows your ads to show up for close variations of your target keyword. For example, if your target keyword is “vegan restaurant,” broad match modifier would allow your ads to show up for searches like “vegan cafes” or “vegetarian restaurants.”

However, if you notice that your ads are showing up for irrelevant searches, you can use broad match modifier to exclude certain variations of your target keyword. For example, you might add a negative keyword like “-fast food” to exclude any searches that include that term.

Conclusion

Effective keyword research is essential for running successful Google Ads campaigns. By using the right tools, identifying valuable long-tail keywords, and using negative keywords to exclude irrelevant searches, you can ensure that your ads are being shown to the right audience and driving valuable traffic to your website.

Remember, keyword research is an ongoing process – you should constantly be monitoring and adjusting your keyword strategy based on new data and trends. With the tips and tricks outlined in this article, you’ll be well on your way to running more effective and efficient Google Ads campaigns.