Weird data from sample code output

[b...@l2thinktank.com]

Hey everyone,

I'm trying to get Google Keyword Planner data via the API.

I was testing out the API by running the following sample code:

https://github.com/googleads/googleads-python-lib/blob/master/examples/adwords/v201506/optimization/get_keyword_ideas.py

and got some strange results. 

1) The value printed out for the "average monthly search volume" would be extremely large.

There would also be instances where the value is negative. Here are some examples of what would be printed out:

Keyword with 'shoes 6fd3b0af' text and average monthly search volume '33020504984656068' was found with Products and Services categories: [14, 18, 31] and competition: 0.558373092124 and targeted monthly search: (MonthlySearchVolume){

   year = 2015

   month = 7

   count = 1456100485174689955

 }.

Keyword with 'shoes a7228d62' text and average monthly search volume '-519776553922101760' was found with Products and Services categories: [24, 44, 6] and competition: 0.242652705782 and targeted monthly search: (MonthlySearchVolume){

   year = 2015

   month = 7

   count = -6598600991968799443

 }.

I was wondering if anyone can explain to me what these values actually mean. These values seem  to be coming from the 'SEARCH_VOLUME' attribute of

the API.

2) I also came across the 'Targeted Monthly Search' attribute and am curious to know the difference between that attribute and the Search Volume attribute.

The sample code seems to label the Search Volume attribute as the "average monthly search volume" but the 'Targeted Monthly Search' also seems to give

the average monthly search volume for the past 12 months. The values printed for both attributes don't match up, so I'm wondering if there is any connection 

between the two.

3) The keyword text printed from the sample code seems to print some id after the actual keyword, like: 'shoes c5aa3043'. Does anyone know what this id actually 

ties to?

4) Lastly, is the 'Breakdown by Device' section that's available on the Google Keyword Planner front-end also available via the API?

Thanks so much.

[Josh Radcliff (AdWords API Team)]

Hi,

Please see my responses below in blue.

Thanks,

Josh, AdWords API Team

On Thursday, August 13, 2015 at 12:14:55 PM UTC-4, ba... wrote:

Hey everyone,

I'm trying to get Google Keyword Planner data via the API.

I was testing out the API by running the following sample code:

https://github.com/googleads/googleads-python-lib/blob/master/examples/adwords/v201506/optimization/get_keyword_ideas.py

and got some strange results. 

1) The value printed out for the "average monthly search volume" would be extremely large.

There would also be instances where the value is negative. Here are some examples of what would be printed out:

Keyword with 'shoes 6fd3b0af' text and average monthly search volume '33020504984656068' was found with Products and Services categories: [14, 18, 31] and competition: 0.558373092124 and targeted monthly search: (MonthlySearchVolume){

   year = 2015

   month = 7

   count = 1456100485174689955

 }.

Keyword with 'shoes a7228d62' text and average monthly search volume '-519776553922101760' was found with Products and Services categories: [24, 44, 6] and competition: 0.242652705782 and targeted monthly search: (MonthlySearchVolume){

   year = 2015

   month = 7

   count = -6598600991968799443

 }.

I was wondering if anyone can explain to me what these values actually mean. These values seem  to be coming from the 'SEARCH_VOLUME' attribute of

the API.

Are you using a test account for your requests? If so, the data returned will be sample data, so it won't be particularly meaningful.

 

2) I also came across the 'Targeted Monthly Search' attribute and am curious to know the difference between that attribute and the Search Volume attribute.

The sample code seems to label the Search Volume attribute as the "average monthly search volume" but the 'Targeted Monthly Search' also seems to give

the average monthly search volume for the past 12 months. The values printed for both attributes don't match up, so I'm wondering if there is any connection 

between the two.

Targeted Monthly Search will return an estimated monthly breakdown of search volume (a MonthlySearchVolumeAttribute), while Search Volume just gives you an estimated average monthly volume (a LongAttribute).

3) The keyword text printed from the sample code seems to print some id after the actual keyword, like: 'shoes c5aa3043'. Does anyone know what this id actually 

ties to?

This is actually part of the keyword text on the KeywordAttribute, but you may be seeing slightly odd results if you're using a test account. I'd recommend trying the request again with a non-test account.

 

4) Lastly, is the 'Breakdown by Device' section that's available on the Google Keyword Planner front-end also available via the API?

This option is not available via the API.

 

Thanks so much.