#1 Long-Tail Keyword Research Tool

Long-Tail Keywords in SEO - Everything You Need to Know

When it comes to optimizing your website for search engines, understanding how keywords work is essential. But beyond just knowing about keywords, there's a whole world of possibilities that open up once you understand long tail keywords. So, let's dive in!

What Are Long Tail Keywords?

Long tail keywords are specific, often longer phrases that people use when they're closer to the point of purchase or when they're using voice search. They're called 'long tail' because if you plot the frequency of keywords against their ranking in demand, you get a long-tailed distribution - with many less competitive terms making up the majority of searches.

For instance, rather than the generic term "running shoes", a long tail keyword could be "women's waterproof trail running shoes". Users who search long tail keywords like these are likely to be highly targeted and more apt to convert or perform the action you want.

What is Long-Tail Keyword Research?

Long-tail keyword research is a process used in search engine optimization (SEO) where people identify and analyze specific, multi-word search phrases that are less common but could be highly relevant to a product, service, or topic. These keywords tend to have lower search volume when compared to more generic terms, but they often convert better because they capture a more precise user intent. The "long-tail" descriptor comes from the graphical representation of search demand, in which these less common, more specific keywords collectively form the long tail of the distribution curve. This kind of research is done to optimize content for these highly-focused search queries and attract high-quality, targeted traffic.

Long vs. Short Tail Keywords

To better grasp what a long tail keyword is, it's helpful to compare it with its counterpart: the short tail keyword. A short tail keyword, also known as a head term, is a keyword that consists of one or two words at the most. For instance, "coffee" or "filter coffee" would be considered short tail keywords.

The main difference between short tail keywords and long tail keywords lies in the level of specificity, competition, and conversion rate.

Short tail keywords are less specific, have high search volumes, and face a lot of competition. On the other hand, long tail keywords are more detailed, have lower search volumes, but they are generally less competitive and have higher conversion rates.

While short tail keywords are broader and can attract large, mixed audience types, long tail keywords are effective in attracting a more targeted audience. Say you're a boutique coffee shop selling specialty filter coffee beans. Ranking well for a broad term like "coffee" could result in high traffic, but the visitors might not be looking for what you offer. Instead, ranking for a more specific long tail keyword like "specialty Ethiopian filter coffee beans" is more likely to drive the right customers to your site.

Remember, the goal isn't always to reach more people — it's to reach the right people. That’s where the true power of long tail keywords comes into play.

Importance of Long Tail Keywords in SEO

Role in Search Engine Ranking

Whenever a user types a query into a search engine like Google, Bing, or Yahoo, an incredibly complex algorithm whirs into action. The goal? To provide the searcher with the most relevant and useful results. As you can imagine, many variables factor into this algorithm, including the website's age, number of backlinks, quality of content, and, importantly, keywords.

When it comes to search engine rankings, long tail keywords play a significant role. They might not be as flashy or obvious as their shorter counterparts (think "pizza" versus "best pepperoni pizza near me"), but they have several advantages.

Firstly, long tail keywords tend to be less competitive. Less competition means it’s easier for your website to rank higher. It's much harder to compete against thousands of websites using short, popular keywords than it is to target niche, specific phrases that perfectly describe your content or product.

Secondly, they help you to attract quality traffic. Visitors who find your site through a detailed search are likely already interested in what you're offering - they were specific enough in their search to find your niche! This traffic typically has a higher conversion rate because these visitors are more likely to engage with your site, whether that's purchasing a product, signing up for a newsletter, or another desired action.

Relevance to User Searches

Beyond rankings, let's talk about the relevance of long tail keywords to user searches. In recent years, there’s been a shift towards a more conversational tone in search queries, largely due to the rise of voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant. When people speak their searches, they naturally use longer, more detailed phrases - aka long tail keywords.

In fact, according to Hitwise, approximately 60% of search queries are comprised of four words or more. These long tail searches are often highly specific, and if you can match these queries with your content, then you've struck gold. You'll be able to provide highly relevant content to a motivated audience.

For example, someone typing in "blue shoes" might just be browsing. But, someone searching for "women's navy blue running shoes size 7" is very likely ready to purchase. If your website sells exactly this product and you've used such a specific keyword in your product's SEO strategy, you're bound to attract this customer.

By understanding the importance of long tail keywords, you can make them work for your advantage in SEO. Remember, the goal isn't to attract just any traffic - it's to attract the right traffic. With long tail keywords, you can reach a targeted audience who is more likely to engage and convert on your site, making them a powerful tool in your SEO arsenal.

Benefits of Using Long Tail Keywords

Higher Conversion Rates

One of the crucial benefits of long tail keywords is their correlation with higher conversion rates. These keywords tend to be more explicit about what a user is searching for; therefore, they typically result in more focused web traffic.

For instance, say you sell handmade wooden furniture and you're trying to attract customers. Someone who types "furniture" into a search bar might be looking for anything – from pictures for inspiration, to a local furniture store, to a DIY tutorial. However, someone who types "buy handmade wooden bedside table" knows exactly what they want. If that specific product is on your website, you have a good chance of making a sale.

The specificity of long tail keywords allows you to target users who are further along in the decision-making process, increasing the likelihood of securing a purchase.

Less Competition

Another significant advantage of long tail keywords lies in their potential to face less competition. While general or short-tail keywords may be heavily contended among businesses, long tail keywords can provide a niche where your brand can shine.

Let's return to our earlier example: ranking highly for a popular keyword like "furniture" would require competing with multinational companies and well-established businesses. In contrast, aiming for a personalized term such as "buy handmade wooden bedside table" has significantly fewer competitors. By focusing on these more detailed search terms, you increase the odds of driving targeted traffic to your website.

Using tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or Ahrefs can help you find long tail keywords that are relevant to your business but not overly competitive.

Better for Voice Search SEO

The rise of AI assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant has led to an explosion in voice searches. These often involve complete sentences or questions rather than traditional keyword phrases, making long tail keywords incredibly valuable for optimizing voice search SEO.

When people speak, they tend to use natural language and full sentences. So, instead of saying disjointed keywords like "handmade wooden table," they're more likely to ask, "Where can I buy a handmade wooden bedside table near me?" This conversational tone matches perfectly with long tail keywords, giving your website a better chance of coming up in voice search results.

In sum, by embracing long tail keywords, you can tap into high-converting traffic, lessen your competition, and better align your website with evolving search trends like voice search. Remember to focus on the user's intent when identifying and implementing these keywords, as this strategy will position your content to answer the exact queries users are asking.

Long Tail Keywords Examples (Success Stories)

When it comes to understanding the power of long tail keywords, nothing is as convincing as real-life success stories. These examples will provide a clear picture of how businesses have harnessed the potential of these often-overlooked SEO jewels to achieve remarkable results.

Etsy: Etsy, an e-commerce website focused on handmade or vintage items, has successfully used long tail keywords to drive traffic to its individual product pages. For instance, instead of relying solely on broad terms like "vintage furniture", Etsy vendors often tailor their listings with specific descriptors such as "mid-century teak coffee table". This method allows them to capture audiences searching for that exact item, leading to higher conversion rates.

Amazon: Amazon is another excellent example of making use of long tail strategy. Let's say you're looking for "science fiction books about time travel with female protagonists". In response to this ultra-specific query, Amazon can display thousands of relevant results because it has optimized its product pages for such niche, long-tail keywords.

How to Implement a Long Tail Keyword Strategy

Creating a successful long tail keyword strategy involves much more than just coming up with a list of keywords. It's about understanding your audience, their needs, and how you can meet those needs through your content.

Integration in Content

The most effective way to integrate long tail keywords into your content is by creating high-quality material that naturally includes these phrases. These long tail keywords should come as a part of the conversation, rather than being forcibly inserted. Let's say you're writing a blog post on "how to make vegan chocolate cake". Your main keyword could be "vegan chocolate cake", but using long tail alternatives like "easy vegan chocolate cake recipe" or "best dairy-free dark chocolate cake" in your content would help you to rank for multiple search queries.

Don't try to shoehorn them in where they don't fit; it will make your text sound unnatural and forced. Instead, focus on providing useful, relevant information that answers the questions that your chosen keywords pose. A crowded paragraph filled with unnecessary keywords is not only unattractive, but Google might also consider it keyword stuffing, which can harm your SEO ranking.

Use in Title Tags, Meta Descriptions, Headers, and URL

It's crucial to place your long tail keywords strategically around your site. Here are some areas where these keywords can have a significant impact:

• Title tags: The title tag gives search engines and users a quick snapshot of what your page is about. Make sure it includes your primary long tail keyword.

• Meta descriptions: This is the short snippet that appears under your webpage's URL on the search engine results page. Including your long tail keyword here will help search engines understand your content and attract users to click.

• Headers: Using your long tail keyword in header tags (like H1, H2, etc.) can help emphasize what your content is about. For instance, if you were writing a post about "best low-cost airlines," sections could include headers like "Why Choose Low-Cost Airlines?" or "Top 5 Best Low-Cost Airlines."

• URLs: Try to include your long tail keyword in your URL. Not only does this help with SEO, but it also makes the URL more user-friendly by giving a clear indication of what the page is all about.

Remember, while integrating these keywords, always prioritize making sense and delivering value to your readers over trying to stuff keywords everywhere.

Balancing Keyword Usage (Avoiding Keyword Stuffing)

Keyword density, or the number of times a keyword appears on a page compared to the total number of words, used to be a major factor in how well a page ranked in search results. However, nowadays, search engines prefer natural language and high-quality content over keyword-stuffed pages.

While there's no hard and fast rule about the perfect keyword density, a good practice is to aim for your keyword to comprise between 1-2% of your article's total word count. Any more than that, and you risk getting penalized for keyword stuffing.

For example, in a 500-word article, your keyword should ideally appear 5-10 times. But remember, context matters. Ensure the keyword fits naturally within your content - don't force it.

Using synonyms or related terms can also lessen the repetitive feel and help avoid keyword stuffing. In fact, Google's algorithm is smart enough to understand synonyms and related terms. So, if your long tail keyword is "how to bake a cherry pie", alternate phrases like "cherry pie recipe" or "making a cherry pie" can also work effectively.

To conclude, a well-executed long tail keyword strategy will help your website draw more qualified traffic, rank higher in search engines, and provide valuable content to your audience. While it's important to use these keywords in your content, remember not to lose sight of the bigger picture – providing valuable content that your readers will enjoy and find helpful.

Best Practices for Using Long Tail Keywords

Balancing Keyword Length and Specificity

When it comes to long tail keywords, there's a delicate balance between length and specificity. It's not just about packing as many words into a keyword phrase as possible. Instead, it's about capturing the exact intent of the searcher:

• Length: Long tail does mean 'long,' but this isn't a hard and fast rule. The length should come naturally from being specific.
• Specificity: This is where the magic happens. Using specific phrases that closely match your users' search intent will help tailor your content to their needs.

For example, instead of targeting 'coffee shops,' a long tail keyword might be 'specialty coffee shops in downtown Chicago.' It's not significantly longer, but it becomes much more specific, reducing competition and better matching user queries.

Contextual Usage of Long Tail Keywords

We've established that long tail keywords are essential, but they won't work unless they're used properly. In the early days of SEO, it was enough to stuff your web page with as many keywords as possible. Thankfully, those days are over, replaced by a need for meaningful, context-aware content.

Search engines like Google now understand the context of a webpage. It knows if you've just stuffed a bunch of keywords into it or if you've written valuable content around those keywords. So, while it's important to include your long tail keyword, make sure it fits naturally within the context of your content.

A good rule of thumb is to use your long tail keyword in:

1. The title of your webpage or blog post
2. The introduction paragraph
3. One or more of your headings
4. The conclusion paragraph

And remember: always prioritise readability for your human audience over trying to impress search engine algorithms.

Common Mistakes when Using Long Tail Keywords

Keyword Stuffing

Keyword stuffing is one of the oldest sins in the world of SEO. In the early days of search engines, it was a common practice to fill a page with as many keywords as possible, hoping to trick the algorithm into ranking the page higher. However, modern search engines like Google have algorithms that are much smarter and more complex.

Today, keyword stuffing doesn’t just fail to improve your rank—it can actually harm it. Search engines now prioritize content quality and relevance. Overuse of keywords, especially long tail ones, can make your content seem unnatural and spammy, leading to penalties from search engines.

A better approach is to use your long tail keywords naturally within your text. They should fit seamlessly into your content and not disrupt the flow or readability. Remember, you're writing for humans first, and search engines second.

Ignoring User Intent

The second common mistake is ignoring user intent. This refers to not considering what a user is likely looking for when they type in a particular search query. Each search query hints toward a user's intent—are they looking to purchase something? Are they searching for information? Understanding this intent is crucial.

For instance, someone typing "buy red running shoes" is likely looking to make a purchase, while someone typing "how to clean red running shoes" is probably looking for guidance or advice.

If you don't align your long tail keywords with user intent, you may attract traffic, but it won't be the right kind. You'll get visitors who bounce off your page when they realize it doesn't provide what they’re looking for. To avoid this, do thorough research to understand the needs and wants of your target audience, and tailor your keywords accordingly.

Neglecting to Update Keyword Strategies

SEO isn't a set-it-and-forget-it strategy—it evolves constantly. What worked a year ago might not work today. The same thing applies to long tail keywords. Many businesses err by neglecting to review and update their keyword strategies periodically.

Search trends change over time, influenced by seasons, events, news, cultural shifts, and more. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, searches for phrases like "home workout equipment" spiked dramatically. Businesses that noticed this trend and incorporated relevant long tail keywords into their content strategy would have benefited immensely.

Therefore, regularly review your keyword performance. Use tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console to monitor which keywords are driving traffic to your site. Make adjustments based on these insights, adding new long tail keywords that are trending and phasing out those that no longer serve your purpose.

Remember, SEO and keyword strategy is a marathon, not a sprint. Continuous optimization will keep your content relevant and help you stay ahead of your competition.

Final Thoughts

To sum it up, the importance of long-tail keywords is undeniable. They enable companies to establish their unique digital identity, pull in relevant audiences, and elevate conversions. Keeping up with the dynamic sphere of SEO is essential, where long-tail keywords continue to play a pivotal role.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are long tail keywords better?

Long tail keywords can be better depending on your goals. They are typically less competitive than shorter keywords, making them easier to rank for in search engine results. They also tend to attract more targeted, specific traffic which often corresponds to a higher conversion rate because these users have a clear intent. However, they usually have lower search volumes, so while the traffic quality is high, the quantity might be low. Therefore, a balanced SEO strategy often includes a mix of both long-tail and short keywords, tailored to suit the specific needs and objectives of your website or online business.

What is considered a long tail keyword?

A long tail keyword is a search term that is highly specific and usually consists of three or more words. Unlike short, generic keywords, long tail keywords are longer and more descriptive. They are called 'long tail' because of the way they appear in keyword distribution graphs - with a high volume of unique, less popular search terms appearing in the 'long tail' end of the graph. These keywords often have lower search volume but can have higher conversion rates because they target users who are further along in the buying cycle or looking for very specific information. These types of keywords are commonly used in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to improve rankings on search engines, as they tend to have less competition than more generic keywords.

How many words are needed to make a keyword long-tail?

A long-tail keyword typically consists of three to five words, but there isn't a strict rule. The idea is that these keywords are more specific than common one or two-word keywords. This specificity allows them to target niche demographics rather than mass audiences. They're less competitive, and while they attract fewer searches, the traffic they do bring in is often more relevant and likely to convert.