Google Keyword Planner basics in SEO Fundamentals - Mini Project: Build & Apply

Google Keyword Planner basics

📖 Scenario: You are starting a new online business and want to find the best keywords to attract visitors to your website. You will use Google Keyword Planner to organize and analyze keyword ideas.

🎯 Goal: Build a simple keyword list with search volume data and filter it to find the most relevant keywords for your business.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create a list of keywords with their average monthly search volumes

Add a minimum search volume threshold to filter keywords

Use a dictionary comprehension to select keywords that meet the threshold

Complete the list with only the filtered keywords

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Keyword research is essential for planning online content and advertising campaigns to attract the right audience.

💼 Career

SEO specialists and digital marketers use tools like Google Keyword Planner to optimize website traffic and improve search engine rankings.

1

Create the initial keyword list

Create a dictionary called keywords with these exact entries: 'shoes': 1500, 'running shoes': 1200, 'sports shoes': 800, 'formal shoes': 400, 'kids shoes': 600 representing keywords and their average monthly search volumes.

SEO Fundamentals

# Create the keywords dictionary with exact entries
# Your code here

Hint

Use curly braces to create a dictionary with keyword names as keys and numbers as values.

2

Set the minimum search volume threshold

Create a variable called min_volume and set it to 700 to filter keywords with at least this average monthly search volume.

SEO Fundamentals

keywords = {
    'shoes': 1500,
    'running shoes': 1200,
    'sports shoes': 800,
    'formal shoes': 400,
    'kids shoes': 600
}
# Set the minimum search volume threshold
# Your code here

Hint

Assign the number 700 to a variable named min_volume.

3

Filter keywords by minimum search volume

Create a new dictionary called filtered_keywords using a dictionary comprehension that includes only the keywords from keywords where the search volume is greater than or equal to min_volume.

SEO Fundamentals

keywords = {
    'shoes': 1500,
    'running shoes': 1200,
    'sports shoes': 800,
    'formal shoes': 400,
    'kids shoes': 600
}
min_volume = 700
# Create filtered_keywords dictionary with keywords having volume >= min_volume
# Your code here

Hint

Use a dictionary comprehension with for k, v in keywords.items() and an if condition.

4

Complete the filtered keyword list

Add a final line to create a list called final_keywords that contains only the keys from filtered_keywords.

SEO Fundamentals

keywords = {
    'shoes': 1500,
    'running shoes': 1200,
    'sports shoes': 800,
    'formal shoes': 400,
    'kids shoes': 600
}
min_volume = 700
filtered_keywords = {k: v for k, v in keywords.items() if v >= min_volume}
# Create final_keywords list with keys from filtered_keywords
# Your code here

Hint

Use the list() function on filtered_keywords.keys() to get the list of keywords.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of Google Keyword Planner?

easy

A. To track website visitor locations

B. To design website layouts

C. To write blog posts automatically

D. To find popular search words and plan keywords

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the tool's function

   Google Keyword Planner is designed to help users find popular search terms and plan keywords for SEO and advertising.

2. Step 2: Compare options with the tool's purpose

   Only To find popular search words and plan keywords matches this purpose; others describe unrelated tasks.

3. Final Answer:

   To find popular search words and plan keywords -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Keyword research = find popular words [OK]

Hint: Remember: Keyword Planner finds search words [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing keyword planning with website design
• Thinking it writes content automatically
• Mixing it up with visitor tracking tools

2. Which of the following is the correct first step to use Google Keyword Planner?

easy

A. Write a blog post before searching keywords

B. Download the Google Keyword Planner app

C. Enter your website URL to get keyword ideas

D. Create a social media account

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the correct starting action

   The tool allows users to enter a website URL or keywords to get keyword ideas.

2. Step 2: Eliminate unrelated options

   Downloading an app, writing posts first, or creating social media accounts are not steps in using the planner.

3. Final Answer:

   Enter your website URL to get keyword ideas -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Start with URL or keywords [OK]

Hint: Start by entering URL or keywords [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Looking for a separate app to download
• Trying to write content before keyword research
• Confusing social media setup with keyword planning

3. If you enter the keyword "coffee mugs" in Google Keyword Planner, what kind of information will you get?

medium

A. The number of searches per month and related keyword ideas

B. The exact sales numbers of coffee mugs online

C. The website traffic of coffee mug sellers

D. The social media likes for coffee mug posts

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand what Keyword Planner provides

   It shows search volume (how many times people search) and suggests related keywords.

2. Step 2: Identify irrelevant data types

   Sales numbers, website traffic, and social media likes are not provided by this tool.

3. Final Answer:

   The number of searches per month and related keyword ideas -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Search volume + related keywords = The number of searches per month and related keyword ideas [OK]

Hint: It shows search counts and related words [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing search volume with sales data
• Expecting website traffic stats
• Looking for social media metrics

4. You tried to use Google Keyword Planner but got no keyword suggestions. What is the most likely reason?

medium

A. You need to pay extra to get suggestions

B. You entered a very rare or misspelled keyword

C. Your internet connection is too fast

D. Google Keyword Planner only works on mobile

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze why no suggestions appear

   If the keyword is very rare or misspelled, the tool may find no data to suggest.

2. Step 2: Rule out incorrect reasons

   The tool is free to use with a Google account, internet speed does not block results, and it works on desktop too.

3. Final Answer:

   You entered a very rare or misspelled keyword -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Rare or wrong keyword = no suggestions [OK]

Hint: Check spelling if no suggestions appear [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking you must pay for keyword ideas
• Blaming internet speed
• Assuming it only works on mobile

5. You want to plan an ad campaign for a new product. How can Google Keyword Planner help you choose the best keywords?

hard

A. By showing keywords with high search volume and low competition

B. By listing only the most expensive keywords

C. By generating random keywords unrelated to your product

D. By hiding keywords that competitors use

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand ad campaign keyword needs

   Good keywords have many searches but low competition to get better ad results.

2. Step 2: Identify how Keyword Planner assists

   The tool provides search volume and competition data to help pick effective keywords.

3. Step 3: Eliminate wrong options

   It does not list only expensive keywords, generate random unrelated words, or hide competitor keywords.

4. Final Answer:

   By showing keywords with high search volume and low competition -> Option A

5. Quick Check:

   High volume + low competition = best keywords [OK]

Hint: Pick keywords with many searches and low competition [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Choosing only expensive keywords
• Expecting random or unrelated suggestions
• Thinking competitor keywords are hidden