Understanding Google’s No Data Policy
Google’s No Data Policy refers to measures taken by Google to limit or completely remove certain keyword data from tools such as Google Keyword Planner (GKP). This policy typically applies in two main scenarios:
Sensitive or regulated topics: If a keyword relates to potentially sensitive content (e.g: drugs, cigarettes, weapons, sex, children, or medical terms).
Google may restrict or hide its data to comply with advertising policies or protect user privacy.
Low or unreliable search volumes: If a keyword has very low search volumes, or if the data is judged to be statistically insignificant or unreliable, Google may decide to reduce its visibility entirely.
In practical terms, this means that keywords you previously tracked in Trajaan could suddenly show no data, even though you still see related searches or know there is an interest for them. Google can fully remove a term from its tools without prior notice, and there is no guarantee it will reappear.
Why does this happen?
We have observed that Google sometimes removes data for keywords related to certain subjects. In one concrete example, the keyword “ostéopathie” had data available until November, after which it was removed from Google Keyword Planner, and thus could no longer appear in Trajaan. Similar situations have happened with other health-related keywords such as “eczéma” or “acné”.
Here,"ostéopathi" remplaces "ostéopathie".
What can I do if this happens to my project?
Although Trajaan cannot override Google’s No Data Policy, there are a few strategies to mitigate the impact:
Add typographic variants
Small spelling variations or typos can still capture traffic that Google continues to report. For example, if “ostéopathie” disappears, you might still find volumes for:osteopatie
osthéopathie
osteopathi
ostéopaty
ostéopahie
These variants can act as proxies for demand, providing you with directional data even when the exact term is hidden.
Use Trajaan’s typo suggestion feature
Within the Trajaan app, you can use the Generating typos function available in the 'Add queries' button (see below). This will automatically create a new “Trajaan Cleaning” column with suggested variations tagged as new, helping you identify alternative keywords more easily.
Monitor for keyword returns
Occasionally, hidden keywords do reappear in Google’s data after some time. It is good practice to check back periodically, especially for critical terms.
Still have questions?
If you notice missing keyword data and are unsure whether it relates to Google’s No Data Policy, feel free to contact us. Our team can help you investigate, and suggest the best workaround to keep your project moving forward.