Getting Set Up with WordStream

Once you've signed up for the free trial of WordStream, you'll need to set up your account. The process is easy and can be done in a matter of minutes.

The first step in setting up your WordStream account is to import keyword data.

You can do that by any of the following means:

1. Import keywords through our Google Analytics integration

2. Import keywords with the WordStream keyword suggestion tool

3. Import keywords using our Spy on Competitor Keywords tool

4. Import keywords from a text file (CSV or TSV; this would likely be for the importation of analytic files or data mined from third-party keyword tools)

5. Import keywords by copy/pasting a list

6. Import from Web server log files
   

Next, assuming you are interested in using the tool's AdWords integration functionality, you'll want to move on to:

Linking Your Account to Google AdWords

And, finally, you'll learn how to:

Install WordStream Tracking and Web Analytics

Feel free to jump to any of the above links to learn more about that particular issue.

Import keywords with the WordStream keyword suggestion tool

WordStream includes a keyword suggestion tool similar to Google's external keyword tool. To get started, just start typing a few keyword phrases. The tool automatically generates a list of popular keywords relevant to that topic or website.

You can add to your list by selecting related keywords:

Alternatively, you can filter your list by viewing Google and Bing search trends, and then using one of the two delete options.

Delete a single keyword:

Delete a modifier from your entire keyword list:

When you are satisfied with your list you can add it to your WordStream database:

Import Keywords From a Spy Tool

To access this option simply click Spy on Competitor Keywords from the Discover Keywords control panel. Then, enter your competitor's home page, or a specific URL you are interested in.

You also have the option to scrape your competitor's entire website. This option is ideal if your competitor's business offerings are very closely aligned with yours.

When you're ready to add the keywords to your WordStream keyword database, you can click "Add to My Keywords."

Import Keywords From a Text File

The next option is to import keywords from a CSV or TSV file. This is also an easy process. Select the CSV or TSV File Upload option, and then attach the file you'd like to upload (much the same way you would with an email attachment). When it is done processing ("Complete"), click Next in the bottom right-hand corner.

You will be asked to review your keywords and visit counts. Check to make sure you're uploading the correct keywords and adjust the visit counts if necessary:

When you're ready to add the keywords to your WordStream keyword database, you can click "Add to My Keywords."

Import Keywords Via Copy/Paste

Finally, you can import keywords by copying and pasting them into a text field. First, select the Copy & Paste Keywords option in the Keyword Discovery control panel.

Simply export keyword data from analytics or a keyword research tool, then copy the data you'd like imported. Next, paste the copied data into the blank text field, and click "Next."

You will be asked to review your keywords and visit counts. Check to make sure you're uploading the correct keywords and adjust the visit counts if necessary.

When you're ready to add the keywords to your WordStream keyword database, you can click "Add to My Keywords."

Import via Google Analytics Integration

This is a convenient way to import Paid and Organic keyword analytics data. Linking your Google Analytics account also creates a constant feed of new keyword ideas into your WordStream account.

You can set up your Google Analytics Integration through either the Discover Keywords or the Settings tab.

If you are setting up your Google Analytics integration through the WordStream set-up process you will need to follow these steps:

• Login to Google Analytics

• Grant WordStream access to your Google Analytics account

• Select the Google Analytics account you want to associate with your WordStream account

If you are setting up your Google Analytics integration through the Settings tab the process will be same, except for one additional step:

• Choose how you would like to import data—Historical plus Daily Data, or Daily Data only

For more detailed information read the Google Analytics Integration Tutorial.

Import from Web Server Log Files

NOTE: You can download the WordStream Keyword Discovery Tool by clicking this link.

If you do not have access to your Google Analytics account or website code, this is a helpful workaround for uploading historical keyword data into WordStream. Server log files offer a thorough means of generating keyword lists.

As soon as you log into your WordStream account, you'll be prompted to upload keywords. Select the advanced option to import Web server log file data.

Download the WordStream Keyword Discovery Tool when prompted (also available at that link) and run it against your log files, as illustrated below. Note that this same executable file will work on Windows, Mac or Linux.

Contact your IT department or your webmaster, and have them get a hold of as much of your website's log data as possible. You can store these log files in folders locally on your computer (on your desktop, in a documents folder, etc.).

Run the application and follow these instructions:

• Find your Log Files: Specify where your website's log files are located - ideally you should go as far back as you possibly can - the more the better. Click either the "Add File(s)" button to add a single log file, or "Add Folder" to add an entire directory (as shown in the following illustration). If your log files are in different directories, feel free to add multiple folders.
• Enter your WordStream Login Info: Enter your assigned WordStream username and password (the same that you'll use to enter your account), and then click "Discover". This ensures that we store your valuable keyword data in the correct account.

The WordStream Keyword Discovery Tool will now start parsing through your log files, extracting keyword data and then sending that information into your live WordStream account so that you'll have plenty of relevant keywords to work with in optimizing your PPC campaigns.

Discovering keywords in your log files can take as little as a few minutes to as long as a few hours depending on how many log files you have, and how big they are. Here are some tips:

• Run the Parser Locally: Depending on the volume of your website traffic, log files can range from very small to super huge. If your log files are in the 100's of gigabytes (or even terabytes) try copying the files over to your local computer before running the WordStream Keyword Discovery Tool, or alternatively, run the parser application on the computer that hosts the log files. This will substantially reduce file I/O and speed up the process considerably.
• Use as Many Log Files as Possible: The way WordStream works is that the more data it has, the greater the number of keyword suggestions and pricing advantages offered you and your account. So if you can go back several years in terms of log file history, by all means go for it! Alternatively if you're eager to just get started as fast as possible, you can run it on say, the first year's data and run the WordStream Keyword Discovery Tool again at a later time on the rest of your data - the tool is smart enough to never count the same data twice.
• You'll Need an Internet Connection: Obviously the parser needs to send your keyword data over to our WordStream servers and in order for this to work you'll need a speedy internet connection. Rest assured, your keyword data is stored in a private database and we'll never share it with other companies.
• Grant WordStream Firewall Access: Along the same lines, if you're running Windows personal firewall and it asks you to grant the WordStream Keyword Discovery Tool access to a port, click "OK".

Linking Google AdWords accounts

You'll need to link your PPC advertising account(s) to WordStream. To do this, you simply need to log in to your WordStream account, and to click on the "Create PPC Campaigns" tab in the top left of your browser window, and then the "Accounts" tab within the PPC campaigns section of WordStream.

Next, click "add new account" and fill in the required Google AdWords Account email and password information as illustrated here:

Click "Apply" and then download account changes. That's it! Your AdWords info should now be available in the left-hand navigation of your screen.

installing WordStream tracking and web analytics

WordStream is a learning system - every day it learns more and more about how your customers are finding your site so that you can keep growing your long tail of keywords and using that data to optimize and grow your search marketing efforts. In order for WordStream to learn about how people are finding your site in real time, you'll need to install the WordStream Tracker- a snippet of JavaScript code on each of your website's pages. You can find the code in either the Discover Keywords or the Settings tab:

You simply copy the code and paste it into the footer of your website's pages (just above the closed </body> tag).

You will also want to define goals within your WordStream account. To learn more about how this works, take a look at the action tracking setup tutorial.

really getting started with WordStream

Congratulations. Your WordStream trial is now set up and ready to rock. You can now start leveraging this abundance of long-tail keyword data for creating high Quality Score ad Groups, ad text, optimizing your pay-per-click campaigns, and more. For more information about using WordStream, take a look at any of these comprehensive resources:

• User Manual - In depth how-to materials that will show you how to use the product.
• Best Practices Guide - This is a collection of tutorials containing various tips and suggestions for getting the most out of your trial or account.

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