Google Adwords - trying to understand the figures...
-
Whilst researching keywords I often find the global monthly search on google adwords tool differs, yet the local (UK) is the same (or vice versa)
Example:
ready mix concrete - global 90,500 & local 18,100
ready mixed concrete - global 60,500 & local 18,100
or
forklift truck hire - global 18,100 & local 4,400
forklift truck rental - global 22,200 & local 4,400I'm making an assumption that for my local country, the phrases ready mix" and "ready mixed" are being treated the same, as are "hire" and "rental" but globally they are not. Am I correct?
Of course, they could be two completely separate terms according to Google but coincidentally, have the same search volume. However, I find this happens quite regularly.
Anybody shed any light?
-
You are looking at broad match Gordon, I tend to look at the exact term (exact match), you could have terms coming off which are not relevant, which you would almost neg out straight away but anyway that's another thread.
Just so you know Google takes the last 12 months of data and averages it, and it's not the exact number of searches either it's rounded.
If you put both terms in again, tick both of them and choose 'Download' it will break the search volume down into months for you, you will then see different search volumes for the local search each month.
Hope that helped a little.
-
Thanks Chris. Yes, some of these can indeed differ when exact type is chosen, but it's not the case all the time..
-
dare I ask what keyword tool you do use?
-
In addition to what everyone else has said, be sure to check your match types. On a broad match level "ready mix" and "ready mixed" aren't different. On an exact match I would assume it could be different.
-
I expect that the search volume for these terms varies by season - very strongly in some parts of the USA or world.
Where I live ready mix will not be searched during the winter and the use of forklifts also has seasonal change.
So, flux in the reported volumes should be expected.
-
Remember, Google uses LSI in their algorithms - so usually when you see strange discrepancies like this it means that the terms are being treated as semantically related. E.g. - if you search for "ready mix concrete" you'll see both terms (mix / mixed) in bold. Same for forklift truck / hire - you'll see both in bold.
I cant say that I know if this is the reason its just food for thought. I no longer use the Google Keyword Tool to estimate traffic as it can be really off - but what it still does well is measure relative traffic (keyword x has 2.5x the traffic as keyword y, and so on).
-
Yes, I would say that is a very accurate assessment Gordon. For example, "ready mix" and "ready mixed" are probably used interchangeably in the UK, however, in the USA the term "ready mixed" would be used much less often and instead we would maybe use "premix" or "premixed."
I do believe those kinds of differences would effect global search. Hope that helps!
Also, keep in mind that those Google numbers are estimates. They aren't hard and fast. They are based on data samplings and not complete data sets.
Dana
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
Google Knowledge Graph Tool
Hello All Mozzers (that makes us sound like fans of The Smiths), Is there a tool that shows if a keyword triggers a knowledge graph panel/box/result. I have a quite a few (100's) of informational searches I need to check and don't really want to do in manually. It would be good if the tool returned the knowledge graph answer and the URL. Thanks in advance and have a good weekend 🙂
Keyword Research | | highwayfive0 -
Has Google changed how it displays metatitles for business listings?
Our company now does not display the meta title for company specific searches for certain stores, but not all of them (yet). Is this something new and are there any potential SEO ramifications or benefits?
Keyword Research | | Leithmarketing0 -
Google trends quota's limit?
Hi Mozers, I've a problem with Google trends tool : after 5 searches, I reach the "quota limit". Have you the same issue? Do you use other tools "similar" to Google trends? SEMrush,...? Thank you for answers Regards, Jonathan
Keyword Research | | JonathanLeplang0 -
Google Keyword Research Tool - Monthly Totals for Similar Keywords?
Hi! I am doing some Google keyword research using the Google Adwords Keyword tool to decide what content to create for the masses. That is, to find opportunities to create content that is in-demand where the current offering is not satisfying the need effectively. Here are some keywords I picked out. I hope to produce a single piece of content optimized for some or all of these keywords. (See attached imgur link) The first thing I notice when doing this kind of work is that many similar-sounding keywords are showing the same sum of average monthly totals. This suggests to me that they may not actually be unique. For instance, the first two searches "guitar strings order" and "guitar string notes" each have ~5400 monthly searches. Does that mean 5400 each, or 5400 total between the two? So does anybody know if these are individual numbers or part of a bigger total? And if they are part of a bigger total, how could I estimate the average searches for a piece of content that targets all 8 keywords? If I tally all of the searches, I have over 23,000 potential searches per month. But if some of them are being counted more than once, so to speak, then the number could be much lower. ghmFYOZ
Keyword Research | | garney0 -
How to get search volume in Google's keyword planner
I want to know the search volume for ~1000 keywords that I discovered via ubersuggest. Yesterday I could have done this in 5 minutes, but I can't seem to get it to work in the new Google tool and would love some advice. When I either upload or copy and paste my list into the tool I can get it to give me search ideas with volume, but it has all the keywords I am uploading as 0 search volume (when I know that is not true and some of them have thousands of searches). I've tried "entering keywords to see how they perform" and also "searching for keyword ideas" (the second just because the first didn't try after my 10 tries) Any ideas about what I am doing wrong?
Keyword Research | | theLotter
Or is this a bug other people have been experiencing?0 -
How do you determine whether to pursue keywords suggested by Google Instant?
I have heard that a good source of keyword suggestions is looking at what pops up as suggestions when you start typing into Google. My question is how do you know if it is worth your time to create content around those suggestions? If you enter these suggestions into Google's Keyword Tool, often there is no data on search volume.
Keyword Research | | ProjectLabs0 -
Google Suggestive Search
Hello Is there anyway to get one of my site so show in Google suggestive search? What determines position in serach bar? Thanks
Keyword Research | | TP_Marketing0 -
Why is Adwords Keyword Tool showing zero search volume for popular keywords?
When I try to ascertain search volume for the the words "pills" "drugs" and "medicine" it is showing "-" for all types of search volume, including phrase, exact, and broad. Why is this?
Keyword Research | | nicole.healthline0