Webnity Agency

What Are Long Tail Keywords?

A long tail keyword is a longer, very specific keyword phrase that is typically three to five words (or even more). Long tail keywords have specificity as their goal. They help with a very specific intent compared to generic short tail keywords (such as the difference between “shoes” or “digital marketing”). For example, a possible long tail keyword would be “best running shoes for flat feet”. Long tails, though less common, typically have less overall search volume, but attract a specific audience who is likely to take action.

Why Long Tail Keywords Matter for SEO

Higher Conversion Rates

• Long tail keywords bring users with choosing intent, which results in better conversion rates since visitors are far more likely to find what they are searching for.

Lower Competition

• Long tail keywords tend to be less competitive because fewer affiliate websites are targeting these specific phrases, meaning these long tail phrases will be an excellent strategy for new, or low authority websites to rank quickly.

Cost-Effective PPC Campaigns

• Long tail keywords are generally cheaper to bid on for paid ad campaigns (PPC), which can be an affordable way to target buyers who are at the decision phase.

Highly Relevant

• Content that has been optimized for long tail queries better meets searchers’ intent, which leads to more qualified traffic and better engagement.

How to Find Long Tail Keywords

1. Utilize Keyword Research Tools 

SEO services, such as Semrush, Ahrefs, and KeywordTool.io, offer filters for both word volume and lower search volume. Both of these options can help find long tail phrases. 

Example: Use the “Questions” filter in Semrush to find long-tail queries shaped like user questions.

2. Analyze Google Autocomplete and Related Searches 

Type your seed keyword into Google and look for auto-complete suggestions, “People Also Ask,” and “Searches related to…” sections at the bottom of the screen to gain inspiration. 

3. Analyze Online Communities and Forums 

Look through niche forums, Reddit, Quora, and social media channels to examine the language and phrases used—these requests offer long tail keyword ideas that stem directly from your audience’s questions and needs. 

4. Competitor Analysis 

Leverage SEO services to take an audit of competitors’ top performing content pages to identify their long tail keyword strategies. Always seek out any keyword gaps, or keywords that they have missed that are relevant to your audience.

5. Use Free Tools to Explore 

KeywordTool.io, as well as KWfinder, allow you to explore location-specific or niche long tail terms to gain deeper reach.

How to Use Long Tail Keywords Effectively

• Grouping and Clustering

In order to broaden your reach and align with various user intents, you can group or cluster together a number of related long tail keywords under one content cluster or web page.

• Optimizing Blog Posts and Landing Pages

To enhance your visibility and relevance, incorporate these long tail keywords in your titles, subtitles, meta descriptions, and throughout the copy of the blog post itself or throughout your landing page.

• Align with Specific Search Intent

Adapt the content of your pages to align with the intent of the user who searched for the long tail keyword. For instance, if a visitor sought “best vegan protein powders for weight loss,” a great option would be to write a comparison and review type post to satisfy their search intent.

• Evaluate and Optimize Your Keyword Strategy

Utilize Google Search Console or analytics tools for measuring search engine optimization (SEO) performance and conversions, and adjust your content accordingly based on the changing user behavior.

Short Keyword	Long Tail Example
“digital marketing”	“digital marketing strategies for startups”
“running shoes”	“best running shoes for marathon men”
“gardening”	“organic vegetable gardening tips for beginners”

Key Takeaways

• Long tail keywords are longer, more specific terms, which have higher conversions with lower competition than short-tail keywords do. 
• Discovering these keywords can involve research tools, Google’s suggestions, online forums, and competitive analysis. 

• Long tail keywords serve a valuable role in terms of generating the appropriate traffic, which also supports SEO results on any website.

Mastering long tail keywords opens powerful prospects to grow your business, develop qualified leads, and achieve lasting SEO success.