Good keyword research starts with the customer’s problem, not with a tool. Use the ideas below as a starting point, check real search volume and competition in Google’s Keyword Planner when you have an account, and then build your own list in the tracker at the bottom of this page.
Keyword ideas with volume, CPC, and competition guidance
The ranges below are planning guidance for common small-business topics, not live data. Competition and CPC change by country, city, device, and season, so treat them as relative signals: high competition usually means more advertisers and higher CPCs.
| Keyword idea | Typical intent | Volume guidance | CPC guidance | Competition guidance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| google ads for small business | Research and learning | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| how to set up google ads | Learning, some buying intent | Medium to high | Low to medium | Medium |
| emergency plumber near me | Ready to buy or book | Medium, very local | High | High |
| best running shoes for beginners | Comparison shopping | High | Medium | High |
| online yoga classes for beginners | Consideration | Medium | Low to medium | Medium |
| accountant for freelancers | Ready to enquire | Low to medium | Medium to high | Medium |
Match types explained
- Broad match: your ad can show for related searches, including synonyms. Widest reach, least control. Use it carefully and watch the search terms report.
- Phrase match: your ad can show for searches that include the meaning of your phrase. Example: “running shoes” may match “best running shoes for flat feet”.
- Exact match: your ad can show for searches with the same meaning or intent as your keyword. Tightest control, usually lower volume.
Negative keyword guidance
Negative keywords stop your ads showing for searches you do not want. A job agency advertising paid courses should consider negatives such as “free”, “jobs”, and “salary” if those searches waste budget. A shop selling new shoes should consider “used”, “second hand”, and “repair”. Review the search terms report weekly at first, add negatives in groups, and do not add a broad negative that could block good searches by accident.
Your keyword tracker
Add your own keywords below. The tracker works in this page during your visit; it does not save data to our server. For a lasting record, copy your finished table into a spreadsheet.
| Keyword | Match | Rank | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| google ads for small business | Phrase | Example | Example row – replace with your own data |
Next steps: read keyword research for beginners and common beginner mistakes, then plan spend with the Budget Calculator.