Explore the top 150 pricey Google keywords in our latest blog post. Uncover trends, insights, and bid strategies for 2024. Don’t miss out!
If you’ve ever delved into the world of online advertising, you’ve probably come across Google Ads, a platform that promises a quick return on investment (ROI) from search engine traffic. The beauty of Google Ads lies in its pay-per-click (PPC) model, which means you only pay when users click on your ads and visit your website. However, the potential cost of running Google Ads, especially for highly competitive keywords, can be a cause for concern. In this comprehensive exploration, we’ll unravel the intricacies of Google Ads and uncover the reasons behind the soaring costs of certain keywords.
How Google Ads Determines Keyword Costs
Google Ads is a major source of revenue for the tech giant, and it revolves around displaying ads alongside search results for specific keywords. The cost of advertising with a particular keyword is influenced, in part, by the frequency of searches. Simply put, the more people search for a particular keyword, the more expensive it becomes.
Your ad’s placement is determined by a combination of two factors: the maximum bid you set for the keyword and the Quality Score assigned by Google to your ad. These factors collectively determine your ad rank, with higher bids and superior ad quality securing the best positions.
If a user clicks on your ad, the cost of that click is determined using the following formula: The ad rank of the advertiser below you divided by your quality score plus $0.01. This means that with a well-crafted keyword strategy and high-quality ads, you can secure prime ad placements even when competing against organizations with larger ad budgets. The only caveat is the level of competition in your niche.
The Most Expensive Keywords by Industry
Quantifying the cost of keywords on Google is challenging due to the ever-changing nature of data in this dynamic ecosystem. Nevertheless, we’ve dissected the most expensive keywords in various industries to shed light on what businesses face when competing in the digital marketing arena.
- Legal Industry
- Top CPC: $1,090.00
- Average CPC: $6.75
The legal sector boasts some of the highest CPCs (Cost Per Click) in the digital advertising realm, primarily due to fierce competition and the substantial costs associated with legal services. In this industry, we examined keywords related to “lawyer,” “attorney,” “legal services,” and similar terms. Here are notable keywords:
- HOUSTON MARITIME ATTORNEY – $1,090.00
- offshore accident lawyer – $815.00
- best motorcycle accident lawyer – $770.00
- 18-wheeler accident lawyer San Antonio – $670.00
- scranton personal injury lawyer – $560.00
- Medical Industry
- Top CPC: $90.00
- Average CPC: $2.62
Surprisingly, keywords related to urgent care and detox programs took the lead in terms of high CPCs, even when targeting common medical professions. Here are some noteworthy medical keywords:
- URGENT CARE EMR – $90.00
- hospital alcohol detox – $65.00
- dermatological problem – $65.00
- fort lauderdale hospital detox – $65.00
- transporter hospital – $60.00
- Marketing & Advertising
- Top CPC: $165.00
- Average CPC: $3.33
Marketing professionals may be well-versed in cost-saving advertising strategies, but they still see value in Google Ads. The average CPC in this industry is relatively reasonable, but certain keywords command high costs. Notable marketing and advertising keywords include:
- WHAT IS MARKETING CHANNELS – $165.00
- call tracking marketing – $125.00
- marketing your law firm – $120.00
- SEO and social media marketing services – $115.00
- affiliate marketing software free – $110.00
- Business Software
- Top CPC: $95.00
- Average CPC: $3.80
In the business software realm, we focused on aggregate keywords around “business software” to identify the most expensive CPCs. Some standout keywords include:
- COMPLETE BUSINESS SOLUTION – $95.00
- top 10 help desk software – $95.00
- Help desk software for small business – $90.00
- small business call center software – $85.00
- accounting online program – $70.00
- Real Estate
- Top CPC: $95.00
- Average CPC: $2.37
Surprisingly, descriptive keywords such as “sell house fast” and “with cash” outpaced keywords related to real estate agents and REALTORS when it came to CPC. Some noteworthy real estate keywords include:
- SELL HOUSE FAST AUSTIN – $95.00
- sell my house fast phoenix – $70.00
- sell my house fast austin – $65.00
- Sell my house fast San Diego – $65.00
- Selling a house as-is by-owner – $60.00
- Home Improvement Services
- Top CPC: $320.00
- Average CPC: $6.40
The home improvement industry encompasses various services, with air conditioning and water damage-related keywords commanding dominant CPCs. Some standout home improvement keywords include:
- AC REPAIR CORAL SPRINGS FL – $320.00
- emergency flood repair – $265.00
- flood restoration san diego – $210.00
- air conditioning repair weatherford tx – $210.00
- best ac repair phoenix – $185.00
- Automotive
- Top CPC: $50.00
- Average CPC: $2.46
In the automotive industry, keywords related to “auto repair,” “auto body,” and “dent removal” took center stage, excluding insurance or car accident litigation keywords. Noteworthy automotive keywords include:
- AUTO REPAIR SHOP MODESTO CA – $50.00
- paintless dent repair denver colorado – $45.00
- abs unlimited auto repair – $45.00
- paintless dent repair mn – $40.00
- denver auto hail repair – $35.00
- Insurance
- Top CPC: $280.00
- Average CPC: $3.44
Car insurance keywords dominate the insurance industry, reflecting the competitiveness of the auto insurance market. Notable insurance keywords include:
- COMPARE VEHICLE INSURANCE – $280.00
- oklahoma auto insurance quotes – $210.00
- insurance companies okc – $185.00
- cheapest auto insurance reddit – $170.00
- insurance strategy – $160.00
- Loans & Finance
- Top CPC: $320.00
- Average CPC: $3.44
The finance sector encompasses a broad range of keywords related to banking, credit, debt, loans, mortgages, and more. High-CPC keywords in this sector are often associated with debt relief or loan acquisition. Notable finance keywords include:
- IRS TAX DEBT RELIEF PROGRAM – $320.00
- va loan multi family – $190.00
- tax credit for college students – $135.00
- va loan after chapter 7 – $130.00
- how to get preapproved for a va home loan – $125.00
- Education
- Top CPC: $140.00
- Average CPC: $2.40
In the education sector, online learning-related keywords take the lead. These high-CPC keywords often involve certifications, courses, and training. Notable education keywords include:
- ONLINE BUSINESS DEGREE PROGRAMS ACCREDITED – $140.00
- online accredited psychology degree – $135.00
- online degree in educational psychology – $135.00
- online business degree florida – $135.00
- online university college – $125.00
Some Notes About Our Methods
Our list of highest CPC keywords was derived from an extensive dataset of approximately 10,000 related keywords per industry. This data was sourced from Ahrefs and compiled as of April 3, 2020. It’s important to note that this data should be used for editorial purposes only, as CPC values are subject to change based on industry and economic conditions. Additionally, keyword tools may yield varying data, so conducting your own keyword research is advisable before making advertising decisions.
The average CPC per industry is challenging to determine from small datasets, so we obtained this information from WordStream’s keyword benchmarking report.
How to Find Out How Much a Keyword Costs
Google Ads offers a wide range of CPC values, with the average CPC estimated to be between $1 and $2, according to WordStream. To make informed decisions about your Google Ads campaigns, you need to understand the true cost of your desired keywords. Here’s how to estimate keyword costs without committing to a campaign:
Use a Third-Party Keyword Research Tool
While Google’s Keyword Planner is no longer accessible without an account, several third-party keyword research tools can provide valuable insights into CPC values. Here are a few options:
- Brand Overflow: This tool allows you to look up ten keywords for free, making it suitable for preliminary research. Plans start at $9 per month.
- Navigate to the Keyword Tool.
- Type your desired keyword in the first field.
- Ensure the second field accurately describes your target geographic location.
- Click the “Search” button.
- Look for the “AVG CPC” box on the left.
- SEMrush: A comprehensive SEM and SEO platform, SEMrush offers keyword research as one of its features. While there’s no free option, you can take advantage of a 7-day free trial. Plans start at $99.95 per month.
- Create an account or log in.
- Type your keyword into the search bar at the top.
- Click “Search.”
- The “CPC” is located at the bottom of the first box on the left.
- Ahrefs: Another comprehensive SEM and SEO platform, Ahrefs offers a 7-day trial for $7 to assess its suitability. Plans start at $99 per month.
- Create an account or log in.
- Click on “Keywords Explorer” in the top menu.
- Ensure “Google” is selected at the top.
- Type your keyword(s) into the field, separated by commas if necessary.
- Click the magnifying glass button.
- CPC is displayed in the third box in the top row.
Set Up a Fake Campaign in Google Ads
If you’re averse to paying for third-party tools, you can still use Google’s Keyword Planner by temporarily setting up a campaign and then pausing it. Note that this approach involves a temporary $50 authorization to verify your payment information, which is typically refunded within a week.
Here’s how to estimate CPC using Google’s Keyword Planner:
- Sign up for a Google Ads account.
- Create your inaugural campaign by following the prompts.
- Once the campaign is set up, click “Explore Your Campaign.”
- In the card displaying your newly created campaign, click the arrow next to “Pending.”
- Select “Pause campaign.”
- After confirming the pause, you’ll have access to Google’s Keyword Planner for free, once the verification funds are refunded to you.
Determining the CPC costs of your target keywords is the first step in preparing for a successful Google Ads campaign. Next, you’ll want to calculate the budget required to power your lead generation engine and achieve your advertising goals.
For an in-depth guide on Google Ads and an effective Ads keyword strategy, consider downloading our free Ads Kit or exploring our Ultimate Guide on Google Ads. Harness the power of data-driven advertising to outshine your competitors in the digital marketing arena.
