How to Use Google’s Keyword Planner for SEO (and 7 Free Alternatives)

In late August, Google rocked the SEO community by discontinuing its free AdWords Keyword Tool — a favorite among search marketing professionals who relied on it to find the keywords most likely to attract targeted traffic. In its place, Google introduced AdWords Keyword Planner. The free software-as-a-service offers some of Keyword Tool’s keyword research functions, but it’s much more tailored for AdWords campaigns and much less toward organic (non-paid) SEO keyword research.

Here’s a look at how you can use Google Keyword Planner for organic keyword research — as well as seven free alternatives.

James A. Martin is an SEO and social media consultant and writes the CIO.com Martin on Mobile Apps blog. Follow him on Twitter @james_a_martin and on Google+.

When researching keywords, it’s helpful to see what their average monthly search volumes have been for the past 12 months. Among other benefits, this data is good for determining if seasonal-related keywords performed well, DeMers says.

Just to the left of the “Average monthly searches” column for each keyword in your “Keyword ideas” list, you’ll see a graph icon. Mouse over the icon and a graph will pop out, revealing the keyword’s search volume over the past 12 months.

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You can download all keywords in the “Keyword ideas” list to as a .csv (Excel-compatible) spreadsheet. Want a better idea? Selectively add the most promising keywords to a plan (essentially, an ad campaign), then download the plan as a .csv file, DeMers says.

To add a desired keyword to a plan, click the double arrows to the right of the keyword. When you’re ready to download all keywords in a plan, click the download icon to the far right of the screen, near the “Review estimates” button.

In the next screen, check the historical statistics box; this will give you the most important data for keyword research. Check the “Segment by month” box, too, to see how your keywords performed in the previous 12 months.

SEMRush is popular among many SEO professionals for all the tools it offers, including its competitor research and analysis. SEMRush also offers a keyword research tool that displays both organic and paid keyword data in one screen. Burr notes that related and phrase match terms, in addition to search volumes, are included in an individual keyword’s report.

Though you’re asked to enter your competitor’s website address in the home page box, you can type in a keyword phrase instead to start your research. You’ll need to create a SEMRush account to use the tool, but the account is free. Paid accounts range from $70/month to $150/month, and you get only a 7-day money back guarantee.

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