Google Keyword Planner is one of the most powerful and free tools available for keyword research. Whether you’re running a blog, managing an eCommerce store, or handling SEO for a client, Keyword Planner helps you find the right keywords to target and drive quality search traffic to your website.
In this guide, you’ll learn what Google Keyword Planner is, how to use it for free, and step-by-step instructions to make the most of it.
✅ What is Google Keyword Planner?
Google Keyword Planner is a free tool provided by Google Ads that helps users:
- Discover new keywords related to their business
- See search volume data
- Understand competition levels
- Get cost-per-click (CPC) estimates
- Plan effective ad campaigns (though you can use it for SEO too)
🧑💻 Who Can Use It?
Anyone with a Google Ads account can use Keyword Planner — even if you’re not running paid ads. You don’t need to spend money; you just need a free account setup.
🔁 How to Access Google Keyword Planner for Free
Step 1: Go to Google Ads
- Sign in with your Google account.
- If this is your first time, Google may prompt you to create a campaign.
👉 Click “Switch to Expert Mode” and then “Create an account without a campaign” to avoid setting up a paid campaign.
Step 2: Access Keyword Planner
- After entering the dashboard, click on the Tools & Settings icon (top right).
- Under Planning, click on Keyword Planner.
Now you’ll see two core features:
🧭 Keyword Planner Tools Explained
1. Discover New Keywords
Use this option to:
- Find keyword ideas based on your product, service, or website
- Get variations and long-tail keyword suggestions
2. Get Search Volume and Forecasts
Use this to:
- Check search volume for a list of keywords you already have
- Get monthly search trends, CPC, competition, and ad forecast data
🔍 How to Use “Discover New Keywords” (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Enter a Keyword or Website
- Example: Enter “digital marketing courses”
- You can also enter your website URL or a competitor’s URL
Step 2: Set Targeting Options
- Choose the location (India, US, or any specific region)
- Set language and search networks (usually leave as Google)
- Click Get Results
Step 3: Analyze the Keyword Suggestions
You’ll see a list of keyword ideas with columns:
- Avg. Monthly Searches: Number of monthly searches
- Competition: Low / Medium / High (for advertisers, but helpful for SEO)
- Top of page bid (low range / high range): Cost per click estimates
- Keyword Trends: Use this to identify seasonal keywords
✅ Tip: Sort by highest monthly searches or relevance to your niche.
🧾 How to Use “Get Search Volume and Forecasts”
Step 1: Enter a list of keywords (e.g., “seo tools, digital ads, content marketing”)
Step 2: Click Get Started
You’ll now see:
- Search volume trends
- Estimated clicks and impressions
- Cost forecast if running ads
📌 While this is focused on advertisers, it’s helpful for SEO planning too.
📌 How to Use Keyword Planner for SEO
Even though it’s an ad tool, Keyword Planner is highly useful for SEO:
🔹 Find High-Volume, Low-Competition Keywords
Target these to rank faster in search engines.
🔹 Discover Long-Tail Keywords
Look for specific keywords like:
- “Best digital marketing courses in India”
- “Free SEO tools for bloggers”
🔹 Understand Seasonal Trends
Plan content around search volume spikes (e.g., “Diwali marketing ideas”)
🔹 Build Keyword Clusters
Group related keywords for blog post creation:
- “email marketing tools”
- “best email marketing software”
- “email automation platforms”
🔹 Optimize Old Content
Check if existing blog posts can be optimized using higher search volume keywords.
💡 Pro Tips for Using Google Keyword Planner Effectively
- Use filters to find keywords with specific volumes or competition levels.
- Export keywords as a CSV or Google Sheets file for further analysis.
- Combine Keyword Planner with tools like Ubersuggest, Ahrefs, or SEMrush for deeper insights.
- Use location-based filters if you’re targeting local SEO.
- For niche blogs or YouTube SEO, look for question-based keywords like:
- “how to use keyword planner”
- “what is CPC in Google ads”
📊 Example: SEO Strategy Using Keyword Planner
Let’s say you run a blog on digital marketing.
- You enter “digital marketing tools” in Keyword Planner
- You find these high-potential keywords:
- “free digital marketing tools” – 2.4K monthly searches, low competition
- “best marketing tools 2025” – 1.3K searches, medium competition
- “ai tools for marketing” – 1.1K searches, low competition
- Now you can:
- Create dedicated blog posts for each
- Use keywords in title, meta description, and headers
- Promote through SEO and social media
📤 Export Keyword Data
You can easily export keyword ideas to:
- Google Sheets
- Excel
- CSV format
Just click on the Download icon at the top-right corner of the results page.
🧠 Final Thoughts
Google Keyword Planner is an incredible free tool that offers massive SEO value — even if you never run a single ad.
It helps you:
- Understand what your audience is searching for
- Plan blog content
- Find long-tail opportunities
- Analyze trends
- Build effective SEO and content marketing strategies
Start using it today, and take your content visibility and search traffic to the next level — all without spending a single rupee!