API keyword suggestions differ with UI keyword suggestions

[Roel]

Hello,

When I use the GoogleAdWords API I can generate keyword suggestions for a website. When I try to do the same via the API the suggestions differ a lot. 

In my tests I used the website "http://php.net".

The UI will return the following suggestions:

• hosting
  
• webhosting
  
• website hosting
  
• dedicated server
  
• vps hosting
  

This while the API request returns:

• new extensions
  
• downloads windows
  
• php performance test
  
• php scripting
  
• rc-6
  

I've read several topics about this, but they all seem to indicate differences between the settings in the UI and in the API request.

I have made a picture of my UI configuration:

My parameters in the (Python) code are:

language_criteria_id = 1010 # Dutch
url = 'http://php.net'

{
    'searchParameters': [
        {
            'xsi_type': 'RelatedToUrlSearchParameter',
            'urls': [url]
        },
        {
            'xsi_type': 'LanguageSearchParameter',
            'languages': [{'xsi_type': 'Language', 'id': language_criteria_id}]
        },
        {
            'xsi_type': 'NetworkSearchParameter',
            'networkSetting': [{
                'targetGoogleSearch': True,
                'targetSearchNetwork': False,
                'targetContentNetwork': False,
                'targetPartnerSearchNetwork': False
            }]
        }
    ],
    'ideaType': 'KEYWORD',
    'requestType': 'IDEAS',
    'requestedAttributeTypes': ['KEYWORD_TEXT'],
    'paging': {
        'startIndex': 0,
        'numberResults': 10
    }
}

I have tried different combinations of network settings, but whatever I do I cannot reproduce the same results as seen in the UI.

Does anyone know what is going on?

Roel

[Michael Cloonan (AdWords API Team)]

Hello,

Unfortunately, since your screenshot is in Dutch, it is very difficult for me to comprehend it to compare the settings to those set on the API. However, with identical settings, in theory the two should produce identical results, so I urge you to double-check that everything is the same.

One section of our Targeting Ideas guide is about mapping to the keyword planner, so hopefully this helps.

Regards,

Mike, AdWords API Team

[Roel]

Hello Mike,

Thank you for your response.

I´ve double/checked all settings, but really cannot find the different setting that is causing the problem. I have attached a new screenshots in English. I've listed the options in the UI and the corresponding API setting behind it in blue.

Your product or service: - / -

Your landing page: http://php.net / http://php.net

Your product category: - / -

Targeting location: All locations - Not set. I expect that not setting it means all locations are used, but this is not clear from the documentation. Setting both to a certain country does not make the results match anyway.

Languague: Dutch / Dutch (language ID 1010)

Networks: Google / targetGoogleSearch is set, other network settings are not. I have tried different combinations of these network options, but it doesn't make much of a difference.

Negative keywords: - / -

Date range: Show avg. monthly searches for: Last 12 months / Not included in the API request. Documentation "Date Range (Monthly Search Volume)" links to selecting the "TARGETED_MONTHLY_SEARCHES" attribute type, but this does not affect the returned keywords. Changing this in the UI does not seem to affect the returned keyword ideas there either.

Keyword filters: - / -

Keyword options: - / -

Keywords to include: - / -

Regards,

Roel

Op donderdag 17 december 2015 18:47:14 UTC+1 schreef Michael Cloonan (AdWords API Team):

[Michael Cloonan (AdWords API Team)]

Hello,

Thank you for the detailed breakdown. I have contacted our engineering team about this issue and will let you know when I hear back from them.

Regards,

Mike, AdWords API Team

[Roel]

Hello,

Did you manage to find out more about the issue?

Regards,

Roel

Op vrijdag 18 december 2015 15:45:47 UTC+1 schreef Michael Cloonan (AdWords API Team):

[Michael Cloonan (AdWords API Team)]

Hello,

No news yet, unfortunately. I've followed up with engineering again and I'll respond here when I hear back from them.

Regards,

Mike, AdWords API Team