Can someone explain this part of Google keyword tool

[sitehero]

I just done a search in the Google Adsense Keyword tool for a domain I bought yesterday and this is the result I got:

Broad: 40,500
Exact: 8,100
Phrase: 18,100

I was shocked the results were so high, is that unusual for a $4 domain?

Anyway, I can see why the 'exact' result is one of the most important but can someone please explain the differences between Broad and Phrase? I understand that they mean the keywords were used within a query but I've never managed to work out what the difference is between the two for some reason? I know this is pretty novice stuff but the longer I've left asking someone, the harder its got to ask someone if you know what I mean. Anyway, this morning I thought 'to hell with it!' I'm just going to ask anyway.

[UMS]

Let's say your keywords were 'white wedding car'

broad match results include those words in any order, eg:

She had a white wedding in a brand new car
The white car arrived at the wedding late

Phrase match result has the keywords in the exact order, but includes punctuation, eg:

The bride's dress was white. Wedding car drove off into the night.


Exact match is what it says, eg:


The bride and groom drove off in their white wedding car.

[sitehero]

Originally Posted by UMS

Let's say your keywords were 'white wedding car'

broad match results include those words in any order, eg:

She had a white wedding in a brand new car
The white car arrived at the wedding late

Phrase match result has the keywords in the exact order, but includes punctuation, eg:

The bride's dress was white. Wedding car drove off into the night.


Exact match is what it says, eg:


The bride and groom drove off in their white wedding car.

Thats brilliant, at last I now know.

OMG, i've even misunderstood what 'Exact' match meant... I always thought it was an EXACT match where only the exact keywords formed the whole query. I didn't realise this was also within a query with other words. Oh dear me. Thanks for explaining.

Although don't you think Google should add an option where they show the number of searches that exactly match the keywords typed on their own? Thats what I thought I was getting with the exact option all this time. LOL

[ttkim]

From what I understand, that isn't correct. The Google Adwords Keyword tool shows the results of how many queries there are per month. This has nothing to do with the descriptions in the search results.

Lets say you are searching "college basketball".

If you select broad for the tool, it will show the number of searches for...

- college basketball
- basketball for women
- basketball
- college
- basketball shoes

In other words, you see the number of times people have searched for any terms that has the words "basketball" or "college" in it.

If you select phrase, it will show the number of searches for...

- college basketball
- best college basketball teams
- college basketball sucks

You see the number of times people have searched for any phrases that includes the words "college basketball". That phrase must be in the search query, although extended phrases may exist.

If you select exact, it will only show the number of searches for "college basketball". It doesn't matter if I typed in "college basketballs". That extra s makes it so that the two search queries are different. As a result, the search queries "college basketball" and "college basketballs" are different.

[sitehero]

Originally Posted by ttkim

From what I understand, that isn't correct. The Google Adwords Keyword tool shows the results of how many queries there are per month. This has nothing to do with the descriptions in the search results.

Lets say you are searching "college basketball".

If you select broad for the tool, it will show the number of searches for...

- college basketball
- basketball for women
- basketball
- college
- basketball shoes

In other words, you see the number of times people have searched for any terms that has the words "basketball" or "college" in it.

If you select phrase, it will show the number of searches for...

- college basketball
- best college basketball teams
- college basketball sucks

You see the number of times people have searched for any phrases that includes the words "college basketball". That phrase must be in the search query, although extended phrases may exist.

If you select exact, it will only show the number of searches for "college basketball". It doesn't matter if I typed in "college basketballs". That extra s makes it so that the two search queries are different. As a result, the search queries "college basketball" and "college basketballs" are different.

That makes a lot of sense too. Now I'm confused!! Who is correct, you or UMS??? Hhmmm!

I must admit, your discription of the 'EXACT' search is what I originally thought it was where its an exact match between keywords and monthly queries with no other words added. Plus, your right, if you add an 'S' on the end of a keyword you will get a completly different result and this does seems to indicate its an exact match.

Okay, so now I need more people to tell me what they think they mean just to be sure who is correct.

[saralim]

The definition of "Broad Match"is: when a user searches for a term that contains one of the words of the targeted keyword

The definition of "Phrase Match"is when a user searches for a term that contains the entire phrase of the targeted keyword in sequential order

For example: the keyword being searched "the best coach"

Broad match results would be like:

-the best list of coach
-best place to find the best coach

Phrase match results would be like:

-the best coach in Atlanta
-the best coach for internet marketing

Does this help?

[Sojourn]

Read Google's own definition of match types: https://adwords.google.com/support/a...tp&answer=6100

That should clear things up for you.

[Steven Cavan]

Just from my own experience, I use Google Keyword Tool as a guide to find decent keywords, however, I do not trust it. As I do not trust wordtracker either. I even have my doubts about alexa.com. However, I have found alexa to be the most useful when determining relevant keywords to use in my SEO campaigns. Just download the alexa toolbar, then go to google and type in a keyword. next to each result should be an alexa bar. If the alexa bars are filled blue through most of the front page results and carry and alexa rank between 1-500,000 than you have found a good keyword niched to use.

[sitehero]

Originally Posted by Steven Cavan

Just from my own experience, I use Google Keyword Tool as a guide to find decent keywords, however, I do not trust it. As I do not trust wordtracker either. I even have my doubts about alexa.com. However, I have found alexa to be the most useful when determining relevant keywords to use in my SEO campaigns. Just download the alexa toolbar, then go to google and type in a keyword. next to each result should be an alexa bar. If the alexa bars are filled blue through most of the front page results and carry and alexa rank between 1-500,000 than you have found a good keyword niched to use.

Thats a great bit of advice. Many Thanks for that. I will definatly be downloading the aleaxa toolbar and giving your process a trial run to see how it pans out for me. Its always nice to hear what other people do as most people have their own little method of doing things. Cheers my friend.

[sitehero]

Originally Posted by saralim

The definition of "Broad Match"is: when a user searches for a term that contains one of the words of the targeted keyword

The definition of "Phrase Match"is when a user searches for a term that contains the entire phrase of the targeted keyword in sequential order

For example: the keyword being searched "the best coach"

Broad match results would be like:

-the best list of coach
-best place to find the best coach

Phrase match results would be like:

-the best coach in Atlanta
-the best coach for internet marketing

Does this help?

Starting to get the idea now.

Originally Posted by Sojourn

Read Google's own definition of match types: https://adwords.google.com/support/a...tp&answer=6100

That should clear things up for you.

Hallelujah!!! I finally get it now.