Unlocking Precise Search Volume in Google Ads

Google’s Keyword Planner shows frustrating ranges like “10K-100K” to non-advertisers. A small advertising spend unlocks exact monthly search volumes, providing the precise data needed for keyword selection.

The Lock Mechanism

Free Google Ads accounts see only broad search volume ranges. Google reserves detailed data for actual advertisers. The precision difference matters: is a keyword searched 12,000 times monthly or 90,000? The range doesn’t tell you.

The Unlock

Create a Google Ads campaign with minimal budget. Once the account has any advertising spend history, Keyword Planner begins showing exact numbers: “14,800 average monthly searches” rather than “10K-100K.”

The transition typically takes about two days of active advertising. Even small spending unlocks the data permanently.

Using Keyword Planner

Navigate to Tools → Planning → Keyword Planner in the Google Ads interface. Choose “Discover new keywords” or “Get search volume and forecasts.”

Input target keywords (batch input supported) and select target countries. Results show precise monthly averages, competition levels, and bid ranges.

Promotional Credits

Before launching campaigns, search for Google Ads promotional credits. New advertisers often qualify for matching credit offers (spend $500, get $500 free). These effectively halve your data acquisition cost.

Cross-Validation

Compare Google’s official data against third-party estimates. Use Google Trends to compare relative volumes between keywords when you know one’s exact count. The known keyword anchors your estimates for related terms.

The small advertising investment pays dividends through confident keyword selection based on authoritative data rather than estimates.