What does the [ ]s mean in the google keyword tool?

I just noticed during keyword research that a long tailed keyword without the [ ]s around it generate 5x the traffic of the same longtail keyword string with the [ ] things around it.
I clicked the "exact" check box as well as the "show ideas closely related" checkbox.

What is the difference?
For instance:
how to make icecream = 1200 local monthly searches
[how to make icecream] = 800 local monthly searches
"how to make icecream" = 275 local monthly searches

I know what quotes do in a query, but what are the [ ]'s for?

Thanks!

sandiegodude said:

I just noticed during keyword research that a long tailed keyword without the [ ]s around it generate 5x the traffic of the same longtail keyword string with the [ ] things around it.
I clicked the "exact" check box as well as the "show ideas closely related" checkbox.

What is the difference?
For instance:
how to make icecream = 1200 local monthly searches
[how to make icecream] = 800 local monthly searches
"how to make icecream" = 275 local monthly searches

I know what quotes do in a query, but what are the [ ]'s for?

Thanks!

Click to expand...

The number of monthly searches containing your keywords in their exact order, along with any number of other words in the search.

Ok. so how does it have even less results than the query without the [ ]s?

If you are bidding on keywords this plays a huge importance.

Without symbols is how often that keyword appears in queries either exact, longtail, or phrase. Ice cream, ice cream cone, where to buy ice cream are all combined in that result.

With brackets is how many times that exact keyword gets searched and no other variations are included.

With quotations is how many times that keyword is used in queries other than the exact match. Vanilla ice cream, chocolate ice cream, how do you put ice in cream. Crap like that.

Broad, exact , and phrase

Others can probably break it down a little better than me but that's how I understand it.

THANKS DANKERMAN!
You have always been a great resource to me.
I appreciate it!

If you look to the left of the keyword tool where it says, "Match Types," there's a ?. Put your mouse over it and it explains it. Here's the exact definitions:

"Match Types

The traffic volume that appears in the statistics table for a specific match type is an approximation of the traffic that a keyword gets in a month on Google with that match type.

Broad match: The sum of the search volumes for the keyword idea, related grammatical forms, synonyms and related words
Phrase match: [] The sum of the search volumes for all terms that include that whole phrase
Exact match: " "The search volume for that keyword idea
Learn more about keyword match types."

So both dsnking and dankerman666 are both right!

It's a good question that many people are unclear of. So remember this and you'll be good to go!

Joe

I checked the "exact" match button on the left. Does that not just show the exact phrase results?

DAMMIT!
I did it again.


I bought a domain thinking that the exact search phrase was the high query result number- F&CK

Remember, anything between [ ] is searched for in that order and " " is exact phrase. I wouldn't be too upset, your new domain at least has what appears to be common search terms, and with decent seo, you should do well.