Google Adwords traffic estimator

For a long time, the only way to play around with Google advertising possibilities was to join Adwords and then you could choose different keywords, see search volume information, estimate the ad position, clicks per day, etc.... I've been tempted many times to look into Adwords (which is the flip side of AdSense...) Many times. In fact, I still may, but today the Inside Adwords blog has announced the standalone traffic estimator that can be used without logging into your adwords account.

From what I've seen so far, it's interesting. I do find a few limitations in a lack of estimates for locally targetted keywords (which is more what I see as being more interesting to me at this point in time.) The standalone traffic estimator is at this link.

It does look promising and, as I said, I would be most interested in local targeting right now. After a bit of experimentation this tool may give me MORE incentive to go ahead and join up with Adwords to give it a good test. I guess from the buying side of advertising I've never had great experience. I remember paying $120 for ads that netted me 1 customer and a job which was a bit more trouble than it was worth, word of mouth has been far much better to me (and easier on the wallet of course...) But, I think doing google adwords has potential. Maybe not marketing to EVERYBODY on earth, but specifying a certain market, city, etc.