How to Access the Google Keyword Planner

Sometime since I last used it (a couple of years ago) the Google Keywords Planner seems to have been hidden behind the Google AdWords account setup. Account setup involves entering billing information, budgeted advertising amounts and a whole bunch more stuff that you may not be prepared to enter right now.

I really want to optimise for organic search results, not advertise with Google.

I get it that Google should not really need to bother looking after me and has no obligation to provide me with this wonderful free tool, but hey, if I could still use it that would be wonderful.

There is a way.

How To Access the Google Keyword Planner

On the first page you find when you start down the path of the Google AdWords setup be sure not to click "Continue" but instead choose the "Skip Guided Set up" link at the top of the screen. (In order to see that link you need to be in the "Set up a new Google AdWords Account" mode, so you'll need an email address not already tied to an AdWords account.)

[caption id="attachment_81" align="aligncenter" width="1026"] How To Access the Google Keyword Planner - Skip This Step![/caption]

Clicking the "Skip the guided setup" link allows you to skip straight to the email based account verification step and eventually into the AdWords Home page, from where you can access the Keywords Planner form the Tools menu.

You will have an AdWords account but you will not enter any billing information  nor set an advertising budget or start an ad campaign.

Oh, by the way, expect a few emails and even a phone call or two from Google's AdWords Marketing department. They insist on trying to help get your campaign up and running. Ignore them for a couple of weeks and they'll soon quit...