Google Keyword v Traffic Tool

[Mark]

I have a question - what is better, or which is more accurate for exact local monthly searches, the Google Keyword Tool or Google Traffic Tool?

This came from an earlier question about how the Netfleet metrics seem to differ from the Keyword tool. Well, the answer is it use the Traffic Tool. For those who don't know, the 'Keyword Tool':

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

Has a section on left hand side to choose between:

Tools
Keyword Tool
Traffic Estimator

Both tools show 'Local Monthly Searches', but the results differ greatly!

I've done some googling, but can't find a reliable answer...

What are you thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[WG2010]

I use the keyword tool in conjunction with insights and compare it to keywords that I already rank #1 for.

For example, let's say I rank #1 for the keyword Apples. The keyword tool tells me that it receives 10,000 searches a month but my website only receives around 5,000. Let's ignore my title, meta description and CTA for arguments sake.

I then decide I want to start a website about Oranges. The keyword tool tells me that it too receives 10,00 searches a month but when compared alongside Apples in insights, the graphs don't match. Oranges is trending less than half of what Apples is, that might mean I'll only receive around 2,500 visitors.

Regardless of what the keyword tool says, searches don't equal visits and I typically discount the number by 50% to get a vague idea on what traffic might be like at the #1 spot as given my experiences, that is what happens.

 

[Mark]

Thanks Jonathan

Although I guess my question is more which is correct - Keyword Tool or Traffic Estimator Tool. Entering Australia only, exact match, for 'pet insurance' on each tool, shows 6,600 for the keyword tool, and 1,900 for the traffic estimator tool.

The definitions if you hover over the ? by Local Exact Matches are identical, but the volume is clearly different...

 

[WG2010]

I think estimator is in regards to CPC and how much traffic you might expect to gain from paid search instead of organic.

 

[soj]

Isn't the Traffic Estimator Tool for AdWords, so telling you how many clicks to expect if you were in positions 1,2 or 3 of AdWords for the particular keyword.

 

[Lorenzo]

Isn't the Traffic Estimator Tool for AdWords, so telling you how many clicks to expect if you were in positions 1,2 or 3 of AdWords for the particular keyword.

yes, it's a different thing from the monthly searches

 

[Mark]

I'm not sold yet....they both have a "Local Monthly Searches" column (and global), and both give you the tip:

"If you specified a country or language for your search, this is the approximate 12-month average number of user queries for the keyword for those countries and languages. It is specific to your Keyword Match Type selection."

If you change Max CPC and Daily Budget, your avg CPC and ad position and what you expect differ, but your search volumes remain the same.

I think the Local Monthly Search column is meant to be just that..?

 

[Drop.com.au]

Hi Mark,

I would say the difference between the keyword tool and the traffic tool is the keyword tool shows searches, and the traffic tool shows clicks on PPC ads (based on your adwords budget).

Cheers
Andrew

 

[DavidL]

Yeah it's a strange one.

In tomorrow's drops for example, I saw WrestlingNews.com.au and I noticed it because it's actually for sale on NF

http://www.netfleet.com.au/index.php?a=d&id=37717

Exacts on the KW tool are a whopping 9,900 compared to just 187 in the traffic tool.

Even stranger phrase matches on the traffic tool are 12,000 which doesn't tally with exacts at 187?

And I thought these data have become better in the last year or so...

 

[James]

Please explain what the traffic tool is and what data set does it use?

I have tested 10 different keyword tools for the AU market most suck.

 

[DavidL]

On the LHs as Mark said there's now an option

Keyword Tool or Traffic Estimator

 

[DavidL]

Need to get rid of this spammer, soj

 

[Mark]

Quick update - we have now updated the Netfleet search volume metric to use the Keyword Tool instead of Traffic Tool...