How To Use Google Keyword Planner Without Creating an Ad

At its core, Keyword Planner is a tool for pay-per-click (PPC) search campaigns with Google Ads. However, as you perform search engine optimization (SEO), you may wonder about how to use Google Keyword Planner without creating an ad.

Fortunately, it is possible, which gives you a helpful free tool for SEO keyword research. This guide shows you how to use Google Keyword Planner without a campaign.

How Do You Use Google Keyword Planner Without Creating an Ad? 

Start by creating an account on the Google Ads website if you don’t already have one, and go into Expert Mode. Then, sign in and click the blue highlighted text at the bottom that says “Skip campaign creation.”

After confirming your business information, you can use the Keyword Planner by:

• Going to the “Tools” section
• Selecting the “Planning” dropdown
• Clicking “Keyword Planner” 

Here, you can find new keywords or check the search volume and forecasts of current keywords by doing the following:

• Click “Discover New Keywords”
• Put in the keywords related to your products/services
• Click “Get Results”

If you have multiple keywords you’re looking to research using the Google Keyword Planner tool, you can also upload a list of keywords by clicking “Upload a file” and then selecting it from your computer.

Should You Use Keyword Planner for SEO Research?

Yes, Keyword Planner should be a part of your marketing research. The tool provides helpful keyword data for your SEO strategy. Plus, you might need some PPC campaigns to complement your SEO strategy, so it’s good to know how to use this keyword research solution. As you continue to delve into SEO, you may eventually find it necessary to upgrade to a paid keyword research tool like SEMRush or AHREFS. We go over how Google Keyword Planner compares to those options in this blog. 

Can You Use Google Keyword Planner Without a Google Ads Account?

No, you cannot use Google Keyword Planner without setting up a Google Ads account.  However, you can use Google Keyword Planner without creating ad campaigns. Here’s a quick tutorial on how to create a Google Ads Account without an ad campaign:

• Go to “ads.google.com“
• Click the “Start Now” button
• Choose an email address to register your Google Ads account
• Enter in your business information (typically the business name and a working URL)
• Select campaign goals (enter anything here)
• Put in your payment / billing details 

While you do have to put in some sort of payment/billing information into your Google ads account to set it up, you don’t actually have to spend anything – see the next section to see how the Google Keyword Planner tool can be free.

Is Google Keyword Planner Free?

Yes, using Google Keyword Planner is free as long as you have already set up a Google Ads account. it doesn’t cost you anything unless you actually create and use the ad campaigns.

What Features Can You Access When Using Google Keyword Planner Without a Campaign?

Once you understand how to use Google Keyword Planner without creating an ad, begin researching by entering potential keywords under the “Start With Keywords” tab. Alternatively, you can enter your URL in the “Start With a Website” tab. Then, you’ll get relevant keyword ideas.

You’re able to filter the suggestions by language, search network, target location, and date. Data for average monthly searches shows you good opportunities, with trends showing how keyword popularity has changed over time and which terms are seasonal. When you search by keyword, you can also get a grouped view of keyword ideas. 

Another valuable feature is seeing the level of competition for keywords in the “Competition” column. Low-competition keywords are ideal targets for SEO content marketing. You can also enter a competitor’s URL to examine their performance.

As you collect keywords you want to target, you can save them in ad groups. The “Download keyword ideas” button in the top right corner lets you export your results to a spreadsheet to use in another program. 

Enhance Your SEO by Using Google Keyword Planner Without Creating Ads 

It’s relatively easy to learn how to use Google Keyword Planner without creating an ad. However, you may lack the time and expertise to dive in as thoroughly as you need to. That’s okay; we can help you! Schedule a consultation with our BKA Content experts to learn more about our managed SEO plans.