Its good news folks!

Google has changed the way it showed the results in its Keyword Tool. Instead of showing the Approx Search Volume in form of a graphical representation that looked like a green bar, it is now showing approximate number of search queries generated in the previous month on Google and the search network.

Even the Approx Average Search Volume is now showing approximate number of monthly search queries that were performed over a recent 12-month period.

Lets look at the benefit of this:

1. Eliminate Guess Work: Before search marketers guessed looking at the green bar. If it was full it meant a lot of searches, but there was no way to know how much. Now they know exactly how many searches are made and approximately how many clicks they can expect to receive every month. (Please note that Google tool offers this too, but my experience says its far more than what we actually receive. Its best to compare your results with Google’s and come to a conclusion.)

2. Plan Budget: Search marketers can now plan their budget for pay per click campaigns. Now that they can calculate approximately the number of clicks they can expect to receive, they can allocate budget for each campaign.

3. Create New Campaigns: Since numbers can be arranged, you can now arrange keywords in increasing or decreasing order of the number of searches made and make new Campaigns in your AdWords account. These campaigns can contain different AdGroups having keywords depending on the number of searches.

4. Competitors Lose: There are many online keyword tool providing companies who sell the approx number of searches made on Google and other search engines. Now that this number will come for free, we don’t have any need to buy such a service.

5. Numbers say more than Graph: I am sure there are many who left a few keywords looking at the small green bar thinking it might give them very less traffic. Now that they get numbers, they may rethink.

These are some benefits of Google keyword tool offering approx average search numbers instead of a graph. If you feel I have left out a few points, please do mention.