| If you are looking for a free keyword analyzer, read | | | | virtually no search volume. |
| this article and learn how to analyze keywords using | | | | - For each column decide what, if anything, you want |
| the Google AdWords Keyword Tool and the Macro | | | | to keep or eliminate. A high level sort might look |
| Function in Microsoft Excel. | | | | something like this: |
| Identifying what keywords to use for your web site | | | | - Keywords--keep all |
| or blog can mean the difference between success | | | | - Estimated Avg. CPC--keep only those with CPC of |
| and failure so it's important to get it right. The | | | | $1.00 or more |
| problem that most new business owners face is that | | | | - Advertiser Competition--keep only those with |
| they do not have extra money to spend on a fancy | | | | competition of less than .74 |
| research keyword tool, like Wordtracker. | | | | - Local Search Volume: Month--keep all. Will use next |
| So what to do? Use what you already have at your | | | | column instead |
| disposal and maximize your free resources of course! | | | | - Global Monthly Search Volume--keep only those |
| Google AdWords Keyword ToolIf you are not | | | | with at least 200 searches |
| familiar with this tool, simply do a search and you will | | | | Now that you have determined acceptable thresholds |
| find it. Its only purpose is to help you identify a list of | | | | for each column, set up your custom filters. In the |
| potential keywords. | | | | CPC column click on the drop down menu and |
| You will still have to analyze them to determine their | | | | choose "Custom." Here is where you will define |
| worth. We will do that later in Microsoft Excel. | | | | exactly what you want to keep. There are 4 white |
| - Input your general keyword idea into the white box | | | | boxes each with their own drop down menu. |
| under "Enter one keyword or phrase per line." Fill in | | | | Typically you will only use the top two boxes to |
| the security code and hit "Get Keyword Ideas." By | | | | analyze keywords. |
| default, four columns of data will appear. To add | | | | Using the suggestions above, in the first box choose |
| additional columns, select them from the drop down | | | | "is greater than", type in "1.00" in the second box and |
| menu under "Choose columns to display." If you plan | | | | click OK. Do the same for any other columns you |
| on using Google AdSense to monetize your site or | | | | want to set thresholds for (see suggestions for each |
| blog, add "Estimate Avg. CPC." | | | | column above). NOTE: You do not have to set a |
| - You should now have five columns of data. For | | | | threshold for every column. |
| definitions of each, click on the question marks next | | | | At this point you should have eliminated all of the low |
| to the column heading. They five columns are: | | | | quality keywords. Your list may still be quite long so a |
| - Keywords | | | | second round of filtering may be needed. Use |
| - Estimated Avg. CPC | | | | Data-Sort and formatting, such as fill colors and |
| - Advertiser Competition | | | | bolding, to help simplify your list. |
| - Local Search Volume: Month | | | | The final decision about what keywords to keep and |
| - Global Monthly Search Volume | | | | get rid of can only be made by manually considering |
| Normally you will get two lists of keywords. The top | | | | a combination of CPC, Competition and Search |
| list is where you will find "Keywords related to | | | | Volume. In addition to using these variables to help |
| term(s) entered." The bottom list is the "Additional | | | | make your decision, keep in mind that the keyword |
| keywords to consider." Under each list you will find | | | | or phrase must somehow be weaved into your |
| links to download the data, including ".csv (for Excel)." | | | | content for maximum search engine friendliness. |
| Download both lists into an Excel Document, pasting | | | | Using Macros To Improve The Process |
| one under the other. | | | | The process of using filters in Excel can be tedious |
| Analyze Keywords in Microsoft Excel | | | | especially if you have several columns of data and |
| You can sort through keywords in a number of ways | | | | multiple spreadsheets of keywords that you are |
| but the goal is always the same: find keywords that | | | | considering. That's where the Macro Function comes |
| are high in search volume and low in competition. In | | | | in. |
| other words, lots of searches but very few people | | | | A macro is defined as "a series of program |
| answering the call. | | | | commands or instructions which are stored in a file |
| Those keywords are the keepers, the golden | | | | and can be recalled when necessary." Basically, we will |
| nuggets. | | | | record each of the steps that we did above and |
| In addition to ease of use, Excel really is the perfect | | | | then save the macro and use it each time we |
| tool for this job because it offers you the ability to: | | | | process keywords. Reading this brief macros tutorial |
| - Filter out keywords that have very little value | | | | will give you a high level view of how it's done so |
| - Sort keywords in the order that you prefer | | | | that in the future, you can analyze keywords in a |
| - Categorize and format keywords for easier | | | | couple of mouse clicks. |
| consideration | | | | - With your spreadsheet of keywords open, choose |
| - Display subsets of keywords on individual | | | | Tools-Macro-Record New Macro. Name the macro |
| spreadsheets | | | | something you will remember when you need to |
| - Save workbooks on your own computer for | | | | recall it, like "KeywordResearch." Do not use dashes, |
| reference Let's get to work on our list of keywords | | | | slashes or spaces. Click okay. In Excel 2003, a small |
| from AdWords. You should have one spreadsheet | | | | box will appear in your spreadsheet with a "Stop |
| with five columns. Our goal is to quickly eliminate less | | | | Recording" button visible. |
| useful keywords and get pare down our list to only | | | | - Every step you take from this point forward will be |
| the top contenders. We'll do that by using filters. | | | | recorded. Go through the exact steps above and any |
| First we'll go through the manual process and then | | | | others that you might like to perform and then hit |
| the macro function which will cut processing time | | | | the "Stop Recording" button. |
| substantially. | | | | - The next time you want to use the macro |
| Using Excel Filters To Analyze Keywords | | | | function, click anywhere in the spreadsheet and then |
| - Select the top row with the headings. Choose | | | | choose Tools-Macro-Macros and find the named |
| Data-Filters-AutoFilters to turn on the filters. You | | | | macro in the list. Hit "Run" and your steps will |
| should have drop down menus in each of the | | | | automatically be performed. The process of analyzing |
| columns. Using the drop down menus you can sort | | | | keywords using the Google AdWords Keyword Tool |
| out whatever you do not want to see, such as, the | | | | and the Microsoft Excel Macro Function will not only |
| keywords with high competition and/or those with | | | | save you money but a huge amount of time. |