If you’re a new business owner looking to get serious about SEO, understanding keywords and search volume is a crucial step — and Google Keyword Planner is one of your best friends here.
In this blog, I’ll break down what Google Keyword Planner is, why search volume matters, and how you can use these tools to help your website get found by the right people on Google.
What is Google Keyword Planner?
Google Keyword Planner is a free tool inside Google Ads designed to help you discover keywords related to your business and see how often people search for those terms on Google.
Think of it like a compass for your SEO journey — it points you toward the words and phrases your potential customers are typing into Google every day.
Why Are Search Volume Metrics Important?
Search volume tells you how many people are searching for a particular keyword or phrase each month. This info helps you understand:
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Demand: How popular is this search term?
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Opportunity: Are people actively looking for products or services like yours?
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Competition: Is it realistic for your website to rank for these keywords?
By focusing on keywords with good search volume, you increase your chances of driving relevant traffic to your site, which can lead to more enquiries, sales, or sign-ups.
How to Use Google Keyword Planner for SEO
Here’s a quick step-by-step to get you started:
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Sign in to Google Ads: You need a Google account to access Keyword Planner — don’t worry, you don’t have to run ads to use the tool.
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Access Keyword Planner: From the Tools menu, select “Keyword Planner.”
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Discover New Keywords: Enter words or phrases related to your business. For example, if you sell handmade candles, you might type “soy candles” or “scented candles.”
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Review Search Volume: Look at the average monthly searches for each keyword. Keywords with higher search volumes usually have more potential traffic, but also more competition.
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Analyse Competition: Keyword Planner shows if competition is low, medium, or high. For new businesses, targeting low to medium competition keywords often gives better chances to rank.
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Pick Relevant Keywords: Choose keywords that make sense for your business and have a decent search volume. These will form the backbone of your website’s SEO strategy.
Tips for Using Search Volume Data Effectively
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Don’t chase only high-volume keywords: Sometimes, targeting “long-tail keywords” — longer, more specific phrases — can attract better-quality visitors who are ready to buy or enquire.
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Consider local search volume: If you’re a local business, add location terms (e.g., “Gold Coast digital marketing”) to attract nearby customers.
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Track your keywords: Use tools or a simple spreadsheet to monitor your chosen keywords and see how your rankings and traffic improve over time.
Wrapping Up
Google Keyword Planner is a powerful, no-cost tool that helps you make smart choices about which keywords to target. By understanding search volume metrics, you can focus your SEO efforts on keywords that bring real opportunities to grow your business.
Remember, SEO is a marathon, not a sprint — so start small, stay consistent, and watch your website climb the Google rankings step by step.
