How Accurate Is Google Keyword Planner, and Is There Anything Better for SEO?

Many marketers start with Google Keyword Planner for search engine optimization (SEO) research. However, Google created the tool for pay-per-click (PPC) ads, so how accurate is Google Keyword Planner for SEO?

The answer matters because good data-driven marketing can increase brand awareness by 50%. Learn whether Google Keyword Planner is accurate and how other tools stack up.

How Accurate Is Google Keyword Planner?

Google Keyword Planner only estimates keyword search volume. Google itself acknowledges that the figures are not exact. 

In fact, a study by Ahrefs discovered that 91% of Google Keyword Planner’s search volumes were overestimations. 54% of results were dramatic overestimations, while 45% were “roughly accurate.”

However, that doesn’t mean the tool is useless. While not precise, the final results are generally correct for determining which topics are getting more attention online. This can be extremely helpful when creating a content strategy for a small business needing trending or seasonal data to capitalize on. 

Therefore, the data provides general guidance for deciding what subjects to focus on in content creation. Also, the date range and forecasting features can show you the popularity of keywords at different times of the year.

So while Google Keyword Planner may not be completely accurate, it can still be an extremely helpful tool when developing an SEO content strategy for a site that has seasonal ebbs and flows.

Why Isn’t Google Keyword Planner Completely Accurate?

You might suppose that Google Keyword Planner is more accurate than any other tool, being that it comes directly from the search engine. However, a few factors prevent it from giving you precise numbers.

For one, no tool will be perfectly accurate because of the sheer volume of information going through the web. Updating the data is a monumental task, so all SEO tools with keyword statistics can only provide estimates, albeit very helpful estimates.

Another reason is that Keyword Planner lacks some context. It does not distinguish between search terms with different intent, which is why it ends up with overestimations. For example, its dashboard groups searches for “Bank of America” and “American banks” together. Such queries have different intent and skew the data.

Is There Any SEO Tool as Good as Google Keyword Planner?

Yes, you can find SEO tools that are as good as or even more accurate than Google Keyword Planner. Paid tools generally offer the most helpful features, and top software includes Semrush, Moz, and Ahrefs.

Google Keyword Planner has helpful information, but it requires data or processing from other sources to become actionable for content marketing. Paid SEO tools save you from doing this work manually. 

Which Is Better, Semrush or Google Keyword Planner?

In general, Semrush proves to be a better tool for SEO than Google Keyword Planner alone. Both get their data from the same Google API, but Semrush offers additional insights. 

For example, Semrush helps you understand the search intent behind keywords. Also, once you get past the learning curve, Semrush is more user-friendly. 

True, the most powerful features of Semrush are in a paid account. However, the company offers two types of free accounts to help you try it out. (If you decide to buy, be sure to use our link for a 20% discount.)

Get Accurate Google Keyword Planner Data From Our SEO Experts

Google Keyword Planner is a good tool, but it’s not the only thing you can rely on for successful SEO. You also need other tools and the know-how to interpret and implement the results.

Is that too much to add to your workload right now? BKA Content can help. Contact our SEO specialists to discover a smart way of analyzing and using accurate Google Keyword Planner results for marketing.