I need a refresher on keyword research for adsense

by jlady
5 replies
  • SEO
  • |
I think I need a refresher on how to choose keywords for adsense sites (microniche small 5 page sites), I realize alot of you don't believe in them, that is not what I want to discuss, I want to know how to do keyword research.

Here is what I think I know using googles keyword tool in adwords (I don't want to use a paid tool):

1. Change match type to EXACT/LOCAL
2. Look for long tail keywords that get search volume over 800 for CPC of at least 2.00 meaning we should get about 1/2 of that. (I realize this is subjective as to what numbers and CPC to look at). I look at google and spyfu to check this...see below I'm confused here.
3. Check on page 1 of google for that term to see how hard to rank check for PR/number of links to page and domain (PR of 3 and under with 100 links or less, newer sites 1 year or less is easier to rank)
4. So combined 5 keywords I am looking for around 5000 exact local search volume for the microniche...of course if I find high paying words I can go for less.

Here is where I am confused:

1. Google keyword tool shows CPC alot higher than SPYFU in many instances...so should I go with googles CPC to get an idea of what I might get??
2. Under traffic estimator in googles keyword tool...is that a good barometer to show number of clicks daily if I were in position 1??
3. Is Adwords the other side of Adsense...meaning the people bidding/buying adwords are advertising on our sites?
4. Does the cost of the click change based on position in google of webpage. I had a site that was in the top 5 paying more per click to me then it moved down and it started paying much less?
5. In Spyfu...it shows number of clicks per day and then cost per day but to me that means take number of clicks per day times cost per click and the math should work out (as it does in googles keyword tool) but in Spyfu it doesn't at all....should I even be looking at this. To me this means if cost is 100.00 per day to advertiser and I am in position 1...I should get about 50.00 day (give or take..I number that is a mystery). Am I looking at that part wrong??

I want to just use googles keyword tool to do my keyword research...I know there are tons of other software out there to buy, I have done that, I have micro niche finder and I found it just as easy to use googles keyword tool.

I just want to know if I am missing something.
#adsense #keyword #refresher #research
  • Profile picture of the author jlady
    My main area of confusion is how to tell CPC or how much I will make per click and how to tell the clicking potential if I make it to position 1. To me that is a make it or break it area to consider.
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    • Originally Posted by jlady View Post

      My main area of confusion is how to tell CPC or how much I will make per click and how to tell the clicking potential if I make it to position 1. To me that is a make it or break it area to consider.

      Advertisers have to opt into or out of (haven't checked which recently as I don't do much Adwords anymore) the content network. So they may not be spending what you think they are. Google also allows 3rd party network ads to appear on your sites - you have an option to allow or disallow networks in your Admin Panel inside Adsense.

      The published payout for content is 68% of the payment Google Receives. But the "catch" is you don't know what amount the 68% is being applied to so it's not really that useful.

      The information you want is what we all want, but it is NOT published... it's secret.

      Your best bet is to target niches that require a fair amount of spending for customer acquistion or products that have a nice high profit margin.

      Type these keywords into Google... do you see a lot of Advertisers? Are the advetisers big time companies who spend in other mediums like Television, Print and Radio? If so you are on the right track.

      If not then probably not going to pay you much.

      Good luck.
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  • Profile picture of the author outwest
    Hmmm I would say are you using a paid tool to analyze the top 10 on Google, if not how are you doing that

    Adwords is the paid per click advertising program that makes Google billionaires. Adsense is where webmasters place Google ads on their sites, and get paid per click and yes these are Adwords advertisers. However the CPC values on google adwords tool IMO and the opinion of many others are not accurate to go by

    these are the CPC rates google charges adwords advertisers to post on Google.com. Adsense adversers display Ads with a much lower CPC than those values. Go to adwords kw tool and click on "contextual" tool, that will show you a much lower, much more conservative, much more accurate value for the CPC thats the one I use. It is normally no more than 50 percent of the value that Adwords displays, and sometimes it is WAY less than that. I just ignore the Adwords CPC Number

    So you use MNF to analyze the top 10?
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  • Profile picture of the author JoshuaG
    1. Google keyword tool shows CPC alot higher than SPYFU in many instances...so should I go with googles CPC to get an idea of what I might get??
    The GKT shows the average CPC of keywords on the search network. You need to use the contextual targeting tool to get more accurate number for the content network.


    2. Under traffic estimator in googles keyword tool...is that a good barometer to show number of clicks daily if I were in position 1??
    No, the number of clicks has nothing to do with traffic. Clicks will vary depending on an array of factors including but not limited to: Ad text, niche, and keyword.


    3. Is Adwords the other side of Adsense...meaning the people bidding/buying adwords are advertising on our sites?
    Yes.

    4. Does the cost of the click change based on position in google of webpage. I had a site that was in the top 5 paying more per click to me then it moved down and it started paying much less?
    Short answer: No.

    Long answer: Depends. Some adsense publishers use custom channels to allow advertisers to bid on specific ad unit placements. Someone in the first position on google is more likely to get bids on their custom channels and therefor earn more per click due to the increase in bidding.

    5. In Spyfu...it shows number of clicks per day and then cost per day but to me that means take number of clicks per day times cost per click and the math should work out (as it does in googles keyword tool) but in Spyfu it doesn't at all....should I even be looking at this. To me this means if cost is 100.00 per day to advertiser and I am in position 1...I should get about 50.00 day (give or take..I number that is a mystery). Am I looking at that part wrong??
    I don't know why the spyfu numbers don't work out. But I can tell you that as an adsense publisher you get 65% of the bid price. Glad to solve the mystery for you

    I want to just use googles keyword tool to do my keyword research...I know there are tons of other software out there to buy, I have done that, I have micro niche finder and I found it just as easy to use googles keyword tool.
    Just my opinion, but MNF is a really good tool. I actually use it everyday. Everyone has their preferences, but you might want to think a bit more about how you can use it in your business. Sounds like you might be missing out!
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  • Profile picture of the author jlady
    I use SEO QUAKE to analyze the top 10, it is free a plugin for firefox. I haven't used MNF for about a year, from what I remember there recommendation for ranking difficulty is not based on 1st page only but total numbers and that is not what I understand matters...just 1st page.
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