Is The Google Keyword Tool Really Accurate?

[Truegho]

Is the Google keyword tool really accurate? I ask this because initially I thought it was really useful the way it gave you indications of traffic, search volumes for keywords etc. However, after having read a few unfavourable comments about its "questionable" accuracy on various web forums, I am now worried that I am wasting my time with it, and that maybe I should turn to alternative programs like Micro Niche Finder.

What do you all think?

By the way, when I do use Google Keyword Tool, I do make sure I have the search option set to "Exact Match."

[RhinoFish]

predictive tools supply numbers based on others results, flawed, but what better look back data can a predictive tool be based on.

over reliance on tools is common malady.

use your organic seo and other traffic data in analytics to feed your ppc dragon.

[Hendrix]

GKT -is nice and free tool, but it has one serious problem: queries, which it can handle are limited by those who entered them.Unfortunately no Seo service can predict all queries, but there're services that can get much more than GKT. For example we ask for "king toy" and get 5 similar variants, if we make query in Semrush we'll get 117 different variants. Feel the difference!

[LucidSW]

The tool tells you past numbers, not what they will be. If you check the GKT numbers against the numbers in an Adwords campaign, they are accurate. You can use the tool as a predictor based on past numbers but it does not mean that's what you'll get each and every time.

This will be the same for any keyword tool. What makes you think MNF will give better results? Google is the source! What better than the company in that business with all the data? MNF and others probably use the same numbers.

Agree with RhinoFish: many are over relying on tools.

[mhansen]

maybe I should turn to alternative programs like Micro Niche Finder.

Just a heads up for you... MNF and many of the other commercial tools on the market use the same exact Google keyword tool data to compile their results. So, if you are expecting different sources for the keyword data, you may be disappointed.

All said - MNF does do a good job of aggregating several common SEO related queries, compiling the data and putting it into a measurable table for you. At the end of the day, the query volume, words and some other info is the exact same, just in a different layout.

I also understand the Google adwords keyword tool to be filtered and skewed to the adwords "ads" program for commercial viability. In other words, you will find a lot of commercial intent words shown, but research-type intent phrases are filtered out.

So... if you are using the Google keyword tools for commercial intent, its great. If you are trying to harvest some long tail general queries, not so great.

MH