How to Perform Keyword Research Using Google Keyword Research Tools
Learning how to effectively use Google keyword research tools is essential for any successful ecommerce SEO strategy. This lesson will walk you through the process of discovering, analyzing, and organizing valuable keywords using Google’s free tools combined with other platforms.
Understanding Google Keyword Research Tools
Google keyword research tools help you identify the terms and phrases your target audience uses when searching for products. By leveraging these tools effectively, you can optimize your content strategy and improve your website’s visibility in search results.
Step 1: Extract Keywords from Google Search Console
Before diving into new keyword research, start by analyzing what’s already working for your website.
Setting Up your website’s Google Search Console
If your website has a proper structure, Google Search Console will provide invaluable data about keywords you are already ranking for. This tool shows you:
- Keywords driving traffic to your site
- Click-through rates
- Impressions
- Average positions
- Search performance metrics
You can use follow our guide on setting up your Google search console.
Exporting Your Current Rankings
Navigate to your Google Search Console and export your keyword data. This gives you a baseline understanding of your current search visibility and helps identify opportunities for improvement.
Step 2: Use Google Keyword Planner for Research
Google Keyword Planner is one of the most powerful free Google keyword research tools available. Here’s how to use it effectively:
Accessing Google Keyword Planner
- Navigate to Google Ads
- Click on “Tools and Settings”
- Select “Keyword Planner”
- Choose your preferred planning option
Discovering New Keywords
Start by entering seed keywords relevant to your niche. For example, if you run an electronics store, you might enter:
- iPhone charger
- Wireless charger
- Type-C charger
- USB charging cable
- Fast charger
You can input up to 10 seed keywords at once to generate comprehensive keyword ideas.
Analyzing Keyword Metrics
Google Keyword Planner provides essential metrics for each keyword:
- Average Monthly Searches: Shows search volume trends
- Competition: Indicates how many advertisers bid on this keyword
- Top of Page Bid (High Range): Suggests commercial value
- Competition Index: Numerical competition score
Step 3: Refine your Google keyword planner keywords
Not all keywords are valuable for your specific business. This refinement process is crucial for effective keyword research using Google keyword research tools.
Removing Irrelevant Keywords
Filter out keywords that don’t align with your business model:
- Competitor brand names: Remove retailer names if they are competitors
- Unrelated brands: Eliminate brand-specific terms you don’t sell
- Irrelevant products: Filter out accessories or products outside your inventory
- Geographic locations: Remove locations you don’t serve
This refinement ensures your keyword list stays focused and relevant to your actual offerings.
Selecting High-Value Keywords
Focus on keywords that meet your specific criteria:
- Relevant search volume for your business size
- Manageable competition levels
- Clear commercial intent
- Alignment with your Nigerian ecommerce product offerings
Step 4: Export and organize your keyword data
Creating Your Keyword Database
Once you have selected your target keywords:
- Click “Add keywords to plan”
- Create a new plan
- Save your selected keywords
- Export the data as CSV format
- Choose “Plan Historical Metrics” for comprehensive data
Setting Up Your Master Keyword Spreadsheet
Use Google Sheets to consolidate all your keyword research:
- Create a new Google Sheet
- Import your Ubersuggest data (if using)
- Import your Google Search Console export
- Import your Google Keyword Planner data
- Organize columns for easy analysis
Step 5: Data Consolidation and Cleanup
Importing Multiple Data Sources
To get the most comprehensive view using Google keyword research tools, combine data from:
- Google Search Console: Current ranking keywords
- Google Keyword Planner: New keyword opportunities
- Third-party tools: like Ubersuggest to get additional metrics like SEO difficulty
It is advisable to upload all your Google keyword research tool keywords to Ubersuggest to get their SEO difficulty.
Organizing Your Spreadsheet
Your master keyword sheet should include these key columns:
- Keyword: The target search term
- Search Volume: Average monthly searches
- Competition: Competition level or index
- SEO Difficulty: How hard to rank organically
- Current Position: Your existing rankings (if any)
- Clicks: Traffic from existing rankings
- Impressions: How often you appear in search results
Cleaning Your Data
Remove unnecessary information:
- Delete duplicate rows
- Remove empty cells and white spaces
- Align similar data columns (e.g., “Average Monthly Searches” with “Search Volume”)
- Standardize formatting across all imported data
- Eliminate irrelevant metrics that don’t support your decision-making
Step 6: Analyzing Google Search Console Keywords
Your existing rankings provide valuable insights for expansion.
Understanding Performance Metrics
Review your Google Search Console data for:
- Clicks: Actual traffic generated
- Impressions: Visibility in search results
- CTR (Click-Through Rate): Percentage of impressions that convert to clicks
- Position: Average ranking position
Identifying Quick Win Opportunities
Look for keywords where you:
- Rank on page 2 (positions 11-20)
- Have high impressions but low clicks
- Show in position 4-10 (just below featured content)
These represent opportunities to optimize existing content for better performance using Google keyword research tools insights.
Step 7: Keyword Clustering and Prioritization
After consolidating your data from various Google keyword research tools, organize keywords into strategic groups.
Creating Topic Clusters
Group related keywords into content themes:
- Product categories: Group by product type
- Search intent: How closely related. Can both keywords be used on the same page.
- Search funnel stage: Awareness, consideration, decision
Prioritization Framework
Rank your keywords based on:
- Current position: Quick win potential
- Relevance: How closely aligned with your products
- Search volume: Potential traffic opportunity
- Competition: Your ability to rank
- Commercial value: Conversion potential
Best Practices for Google Keyword Research Tools
Regular Research Cycles
Keyword research isn’t a one-time task. Schedule regular research sessions:
- Bi-monthly reviews of Google Search Console performance
- Quarterly deep dives with Google Keyword Planner
- Ongoing competitor analysis
- Seasonal keyword opportunities
Avoid Common Mistakes
When using Google keyword research tools, avoid:
- Targeting only high-volume keywords
- Ignoring user intent
- Neglecting long-tail keywords
- Failing to remove irrelevant terms
- Not updating your keyword strategy
Combining Multiple Data Sources
The most effective keyword research strategy uses Google keyword research tools alongside complementary platforms:
- Google Search Console for current performance
- Google Keyword Planner for new opportunities
- Google Trends for seasonal insights
- Third-party tools for competitive analysis (SEO difficulty)
Next Steps: From Research to Implementation
Once you’ve completed your keyword research using Google keyword research tools:
- Organize keywords by priority: Focus on quick wins and high-value targets
- Map keywords to content: Assign keywords to existing pages or new content
- Create content calendars: Plan content creation around keyword clusters
- Track performance: Monitor rankings and adjust strategy
- Iterate and refine: Continuously improve based on results
Conclusion
Mastering Google keyword research tools is fundamental to ecommerce SEO success. By systematically extracting data from Google Search Console, discovering opportunities with Google Keyword Planner, and organizing your findings strategically, you create a powerful foundation for content optimization and organic growth.
Remember that effective keyword research is an ongoing process. Regular analysis using Google keyword research tools ensures your content strategy remains aligned with search trends and user behavior, helping you maintain and improve your search visibility over time.
Need expert help? Start by visiting our done for you ecommerce SEO service.