Getting Set Up with WordStream
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 link your Google AdWords account, which you will be prompted to do in the setup wizard. This will allow you to manage your entire AdWords account from the WordStream interface.
To link your AdWords account simply enter your AdWords user name and password and click to verify your account information.
If you are logging into a MCC account, a dropdown menu will appear asking you to select which client account you would like to link to WordStream.
Once your AdWords account is linked your next step is to import keyword data.
You can do that by any of the following means found in the Discover Keywords tab:
- Import keywords through our Google AdWords integration
- Import keywords through our Google Analytics integration
- Import keywords with the WordStream keyword suggestion tool
- Import keywords using our Spy on Competitor Keywords tool
- 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)
- Import keywords by copy/pasting a list
- Import from Web server log files
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
Found under the heading of “Enable Continuous Keyword Discovery,” 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
Not sure which option applies to you? Choose Option 1 (Import Historical plus Daily Data) if this is your first time linking a keyword stream- you have not previously linked Google Analytics or the JavaScript Tracker. Choose Option 2 (Import Daily Data) if you have previously linked Google Analytics, or are removing the WordStream Tracker.
For more detailed information read the Google Analytics Integration Tutorial.
Import from Web Server Log Files
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
In the “Enable Continuous Keyword Research” tab you can set up regular Search Query Report downloads.
Te recap, there are four places in WordStream where you can integrate your Google Adwords account:
- During the initial Set-up Process
- The first time you click on the Manage AdWords tab
- The Enable Continuous Keyword Discovery section of the Discover Keywords tab
- Settings
When prompted, fill in the required Google AdWords Account email and password information, select your MCC profile (if applicable), verify the account and click Confirm/Continue.
If you did not integrate your Google AdWords Account during the Set-up Process you will need to complete an additional step if you want to immediately start working with your search queries in WordStream. Otherwise the search queries will be imported into your WordStream account during the regularly scheduled weekly download- Sunday at 6am PST. There are two places you can download your Google AdWords search queries:
- The Enable Continuous Keyword Discovery section of the Discover Keywords tab
- Settings
That's it! Your AdWords account information is now available in the Create PPC Campaigns tab, and your paid search queries are now available in the Organize Keywords section of Manage Keywords.
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