Google Keyword Tools - Different Data?

[GlenH]

HI all,

As you know Google has these two keyword tools

https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal and Search-based keyword tool

Now, let say you have the keyword “golf clubs” (that’s phrase match)

You type that into the tool.
https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal

You put the setting at English, US ( which is the default)

And Google returns you about 200 keywords with all their values.


Now, you type the same keyword “golf clubs” into the tool:

https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal

The default English, US is left set.

But here you don’t input any URL into the ‘Website’ field. You just put the keyword into the ‘Word or Phrase’ (In Keyword only) field.

The results returned with this tool are around 800 keywords.

Then if you compare the ‘Monthly Searches’ with that of the ‘Local Search Volume’ given in the Google Keyword Tool External, they are vastly different.

Of course I realize there is an overall opinion that Googles data is way off anyway, but it seems to me that both of those tools seem to pulling data from different sources.

Can minds greater than mine enlighten me?


--Glen

[warrior123]

This is straight from Google:


How does the Search-based Keyword Tool differ from the Keyword Tool in AdWords?


The main difference between the Search-based Keyword Tool and the Keyword Tool currently in AdWords is that the former generates keyword ideas based on your website, and identifies those currently not being used in your AdWords account. Additionally, the Search-based Keyword Tool provides more detailed data for each keyword, such as category information, suggested bid that may place the ad in the top three spots of a search results page, and ad/search share. Both tools, however, offer the option of browsing all keywords across all categories.

You may also notice that some of the data (like such as the monthly search volume) may vary slightly between the two tools, which is due to different methods of calculation at this time.

[GlenH]

Thanks warrior123.

As I said, with the Search-based Keyword Tool I did NOT enter any website URL.

I just entered the keyword.

But the fact that Google uses different data to calculate each makes it confusing as to what tool really give the more ' correct' data.

I suppose it will remain a mystery

--Glen

[warrior123]

Well, neither tool is likely to be perfect with it's data. I'm guessing Google is testing different methods at the moment and will eventually stick with one.

I like using SbKT once in a while for finding keyword ideas and sorting them by search count and competition. But I still find the Adwords Keyword tool is easiest to use and does the job pretty well.

If you truly want to find the demand of a keyword it's best to bid on that keyword with PPC [exact match] -- bid on the term for a week or whatever and then look at the impressions. This will give you the best data