Keyword Tool Supercharger

February 1, 2010 · Posted in Search Engine Optimization 

searchThe Google AdWords Keyword Tool is a great tool to help you identify popular keywords that can help with search engine optimization. However, it really only supplies insight into one component of the equation when it comes to driving traffic to your site: keyword demand. It lacks any information about what sort of supply there is fulfilling that demand. To help fill that void, I’ve developed the Keyword Tool Supercharger.


Supply and Demand

supply-demand
Fundamentally speaking, organic traffic from search engines comes as a result of two components: demand for certain keywords (people searching for things) and supply of information (webpage providing content that matches those keywords). Of course, it’s not entirely that simple, but at a very high-level that’s how it works. The AdWords Keyword Tool does help to inform you keywords people are looking for, but it says nothing of how many webpages there are providing information on those keywords. That’s where my Keyword Tool Supercharger can help.
Image Credit: SilverStar

How the Keyword Tool Supercharger Works

gear
To find the competition data, my tool takes advantage of the Bing API to bring in preliminary numbers for the competition data. It performs exact searches (by default) on each keyword. It will output the number of search results for each keyword according to Bing. It also breaks down monthly searches by average daily search, and then builds a supply/demand ratio based on the daily searches divided by the total number of results for the keyword.

The Bing data is far from perfect, but it at least provides a good first guess. To provide a better estimate, you will notice that the competition data is hyperlinked. Clicking on the hyperlink will then bring in the estimated number of search results for that keyword on Google. This should give a much better figure for the competition data and supply/demand ratio. The lower the ratio, the better the odds you’ll receive some organic traffic if you use those keywords on your page. The additional keyword analysis data is provided in three new columns in the display.
Image Credit: eugrafia

Keywords Ranking Analysis

The Options

choices
In addition to the new columns in the display, there are also new fields and buttons on the submission form. Here is a description of each of the new options:

  • Desired Daily Volume: The number of daily searches for the keywords. Higher is better.
  • Desired Competition: The number of websites containing the keywords. Lower is better.
  • Desired Supply/Demand Ratio: The # of competing sites/# of daily searches. Lower is better, a ratio less than 1 is ideal.
  • Required words (comma or space separated): Words/phrases you wish to see appear within the results. These need to be separated by commas. You can also prefix a word/phrase with a minus (-) to specify words you do not want to appear in the results.
  • Exact search: Whether or not you want the competition data to be based on searches of the exact phrase (the keyword phrases are seached with quotes). By default, this is enabled.
  • Filter on SEO Criteria: When you click this, only rows that match the criteria above will be displayed.
  • Show All/Update Display: This will display all results (including those that do not match the criteria above).
  • Reload Competition Data: This will reset and reload all of the competition data. This may be necessary if you’ve selected a new choice for the Exact search option.
  • Get keyword ideas: Loads in the keyword data

Image Credit: Xander

keyword-tool-options

How to Use It

tools
To take advantage of the information provided by the tool, you should seek out keywords that are high in demand and low in supply (those with a low Supply/Demand ratio). You also want to be sure there is sufficient demand to drive traffic to your site. Once you’ve identified keywords that meet this criteria, sprinkle them throughout your site and use them in page titles and headings as well. There are two ways you can use my free keyword tool supercharger.
Image Credit: STyx


Chrome Extension

The easier way, is to install the Google Chrome extension. Simply click the link below to install it, and then visit the AdWords Keyword Tool page.

Keyword Tool Supercharger Chrome Extension


Bookmarklet

If you don’t have Google Chrome, I still have a solution for you. Drag the bookmarklet below to your browser’s bookmarks bar.

KWT Supercharger

When you visit the AdWords Keyword Tool page, click the bookmarklet. This will load in the JavaScript file that performs the manipulations on the page to display the additional keyword analysis. It should work in Internet Explorer and Firefox. Your mileage may vary with other browsers.

Bookmark and Share

Related Posts


Related Websites

Comments

  • I'm using version 3.6.3. with Chrome and I have to say it's very handy. Good stuff.
  • Handy tool. Saved me a couple of hours of research.
  • Natattack06
    Just tried it in Chrome 5.0.375.70 on the new keyword too, no luck...looking forward to an update.
  • Hello, this looks like a great tool, but the competition data does not look right. For instance when I do a search for cheap web hosting with exact match on it shows me competition of 675,000,000. When I type "cheap web hosting" directly in google it says the competition is only 1,600,000.

    Can you shine some light on the difference?
  • Yeah, the results are loaded from Bing, so that's why you're seeing a
    difference. Previously, you could click on the hyperlinks to see the counts
    for Google results, but I think Google has since made changes in their SERPs
    that broke that functionality.
  • Looks like the KWT is not working with the new keyword tool design. Any timeframe for updating extension for chrome? @GeekLad
  • Yeah, it only works with the old version of the KWT. I may update it for
    the new design eventually (although probably not any time soon), if there is
    enough interest in the tool.
  • I'm using version 3.5.4. too and it's fine :)
  • Michelle
    When I click on the competition hyperlink to view the google search results it says loading and never shows the data. I seem to be getting an error on the page as well. Any suggestions?
  • What browser (including version) are you using?
  • Michelle
    Firefox 3.6.3
  • The only thing I can think of is that there is a security setting in Firefox
    set that prevents the script from injecting the results. There have been
    others reporting similar problems, and I'm afraid that's the best answer I
    can come up with. It works fine with me in Firefox 3.6.3.
  • Linnea
    I can't get this tool to work... I get the 3 columns (Daily search volume, competition and ratio), but there is no data displayed. Anyone who knows why? I use the bookmarklet in Firefox. Thanks :-)
  • It may be due to some security settings in Firefox, I'm not sure. What
    version of Firefox are you using?
  • Linnea
    I'm using version 3.5.4.
  • Hmm... I'm using 3.6.3. I had tested it with 3.5 though, and it did work.
    Try it with Chrome and the Chrome extension and see if you have better
    luck.
blog comments powered by Disqus