AdWords Keyword Planner update appears to be rolling out in the new interface

The latest version features streamlined workflows and reflects the design updates in the new AdWords experience.

Chat with SearchBot

Keywords Magnifying Research Ss 1920

Google appears to be rolling out an overhaul of AdWords Keyword Planner in the new AdWords interface.

The workflows in the new Keywords Planner are much more streamlined than the current/old version, and it uses Google’s Material Design, matching the new AdWords interface. The best indication of this new approach is immediately apparent from the start screen. Whereas the old version had multiple options and links, the new start screen condenses things down to just two options: “Find new keywords” and “Get metrics and forecasts for your keywords”.

Adwords Keyword Planner New V Old Start Screen

Here’s a look at some of the changes you’ll find in the new Keyword Planner.

Keyword ideas

The Keyword ideas chart in the new Keyword Planner shows total monthly search volumes like the old version, but also shows mobile search volume in the main chart. In the old version, mobile search volume is only available from the Search volume trends drop down menu. 
Adwords Keyword Planner Ideas New

However, the ability to see ad impression share comparisons to competitor and market leader domains is not available from the search volume trends dropdown in the new Keyword Planner.

To filter out negatives or keywords already included in the account, users can click the filter icon below the chart.

There are two new metrics available in Keyword ideas. Users can now see Organic impression share and Organic average position for the keywords if a site ranks for them and enough data is available. To see this data, the AdWords and Search Console accounts need to be linked and users need to add the columns to the Keyword ideas report.

Adwords Keyword Planner New Columns

Organic impression share and organic average position columns are available in the new AdWords Keyword Planner.

Forecasting

In the forecasts section of the tool, the old version requires users to set a bid to get forecasting, and users can adjust the slider in the chart to see how bid changes affect the other performance metrics, as shown below.Adwords Keyword Planner Forecast Old

The new forecasts section immediately shows total estimated performance impact, including a max CPC, from the keywords. There is an option to play with bid settings by clicking the drop down on the plan estimates or by selecting the max. CPC field.
Adwords Keyword Planner Forecast New

Rather than having to toggle between menu tabs to see device and location breakouts, a new plan overview includes cards for devices and locations. Users can adjust the metrics shown in those cards.

Adwords Keyword Planner Keyword Plan Cards New

It’s not clear how widespread the roll out of the new Keyword Planer is at this point, so you may not see it in your accounts yet. We’ve reached out to Google for comment and will update here if and when we get a response.

It will take a bit of getting used to, but overall these changes do seem to be an improvement on the old Keyword Planner, which had become cumbersome to navigate.

Correction: An earlier version of this article said it was not possible to play with bid settings in the new forecasting section. The article has been updated to clarify that that functionality remains.


Opinions expressed in this article are those of the guest author and not necessarily Search Engine Land. Staff authors are listed here.


About the author

Ginny Marvin
Contributor
Ginny Marvin was Third Door Media’s former Editor-in-Chief (October 2018 to December 2020), running the day-to-day editorial operations across all publications and overseeing paid media coverage. Ginny Marvin wrote about paid digital advertising and analytics news and trends for Search Engine Land, MarTech and MarTech Today. With more than 15 years of marketing experience, Ginny has held both in-house and agency management positions. She can be found on Twitter as @ginnymarvin.

Get the must-read newsletter for search marketers.