Keywords with long tails can be extremely efficient in improving the performance of a site’s search engines like Google as well as Bing. They’re an excellent method of reaching a larger targeted audience than usual keywords since they are more likely to be more specific in their purpose for the search.
It’s also a popular myth among marketers that longer-tail keywords are more difficult to rank than shorter-tail ones. In reality, it is all dependent on how they are used.
In this article, we will explain the reasons and the best way to utilize long-tail keyword phrases to enhance the SEO of your website. The article will also discuss the various types of these keywords and provide a guideline for conducting efficient research into long-tail keywords.
What is a Long-Tail Keyword? The word “long tail” has nothing to do with relate to the length of the request. Actually, it refers to their location on the chart called”the “search demand curve.”
Head (short-tail) keywords typically consist of only one or two keywords that may get millions of search results every month. In the example above, “Japan” receives 502k monthly searches in the US, while a longer-tail search term like “Is Japan open for travel?” is able to receive around 2,000.
It is not surprising that the single-word head keyword is highly competitive, and it can be difficult to rank. Ahrefs’ database of keywords indicates that there are 31,000 keyword phrases that get more than 100k searches per month, whereas those with lower than 10 searches per month exceed 4 billion.
Keywords with long tails typically get fewer searches per month they are compared with their short-tail (head) equivalents. This is because this kind of keyword is a long and more intricate query. The more words are included more people are unable to be able to match all of them when they search. Consider someone who is using the vocal search or the language of conversation.
Keywords with long tails typically offer better conversion rates because of their unique characteristic. They could bring in lower traffic, but people who visit websites are aware of exactly what they’re looking for.
Be aware that there are many search terms that have at least five words that are still receiving over 100k searches. Do not fall for the trap of being of the opinion that all long-tail search questions are more competitive.
Why Are Long-Tail Keywords Important for SEO?
There are three reasons that your strategy for implementing keywords must include keywords with long tails.
1. They generally are more than.
Searching for keywords related to popular or trendy subjects can be a tedious job, and the process of ranking for these keywords is nearly impossible. That’s why using longer-tail keywords is the best option for making content that is relevant to competitive topics.
The majority of keywords that pertain to popular topics like cryptocurrency, major sports events or social media platforms come with the highest keyword difficulty (KD) score, which makes these keywords unrealistic. It is therefore advised to think outside of the box and explore other long-tail keywords that have a lower KD score.
2. Writing content to target long-tail keywords could be a lot easier.
When you choose headwords which aren’t long typically, you’ll have to go over the details in order to make sure you’ve covered all the details to beat the other competitors.
But, creating content that is targeted specifically for keywords that have KD scores that are low allows you to answer your question more concisely but still provide your reader with the necessary information. It makes creating content simpler and more scalable.
3. There are a myriad of long-tail terms to pick from.
The use of a single long-tail term won’t bring massive numbers of visitors to your site however, targeting several keywords can make a huge difference. There are a lot of long-tail phrases you can benefit from, providing an endless opportunity to connect with potential customers.
Using Long-Tail Keywords: Supporting and Topical
It is also important to know that there exist two types of long-tail keywords that can be used for your search – “supporting” and “topical.”
Supporting Long-Tail Keywords
Keywords that are long-tail compatible include variants of the most popular search phrases, which means that if your site is ranked for a particular search term, it is likely to be ranked for variations of the keyword as well.
In the example above, if your website is ranked for a key phrase, for example ‘”lawn maintenance invoice templates,” it could also be ranked with variations like “lawn care invoice builder” or “bill template.” Similarly, it is possible to rank highly in search engine results for the term “professional printing company,” along with other terms, like “printing service” or “business.”
It is possible to target a variety of long-tail terms with just one page of content.
Topical Long-Tail Keywords
Keywords with a long tail that are topical contain something that makes them distinct from other variations.
In the case of the example, if you’re creating content that is related to the field of optometry, one of the keywords might include “what are effective optometry treatments?” This keyword could become a more topical phrase by adding a phrase like “nonsurgical” to it (“What are the most effective nonsurgical optometry treatment options ?”), because this shifts the direction of the article totally.
It could be the case with websites which rank highly in the search results for “IT support”; if you search for the relevant “cloud IT support,” that could affect the SERPs completely.
Producing content that is targeted at Long-tail keywords definitely has merit for those who want to focus on extremely specific niches.
How to Find Long-Tail Keywords: Research Methods
There are many ways to conduct keyword research that you could utilize to discover a wealth of keywords with long tails. A few of these techniques are fairly easy, while others will require some time (and the budget).
Ahrefs Keywords Explorer
Keyword Explorer is a tool that can be used to find keywords. Keyword Explorer tool is quite user-friendly and can assist you in identifying a variety of long-tail terms and also more than just competitive keywords. Just type in a word which defines the area that you’re targeting and sort through the results, allowing you to access hundreds of long-tail keywords that could be used.
The results of the keyword search by using the Ahrefs Keyword Tool for the phrase “angle grinder.”
If you’re a brand new site with new website, the keyword difficulty filter will help you find more competitive keywords. This allows the creation of unique material that has an opportunity to rank.
“Questions “Questions” button can also bring up a number of long-tail keywords that can be written as questions. These can be used to create material that is relevant to a particular target audience. Questions can be excellent as headings in the content.
Incorporating a query as the heading of your article and then providing an answer in a concise manner underneath will help you get Google’s featured snippet to answer that question.
Search Reddit and other niche online communities.
Reddit, along with Quora, are usually the sites that answer the question following Google or other search engines such as Bing as well as Yahoo. These sites can help you discover relevant keywords, which can be examined using Ahrefs Keyword Explorer to evaluate their level of difficulty.
This is also true for online forums and communities with a connection to your area, which taps into the wisdom of users who are passionate about their particular area. The majority of them have a finger on the pulse, so you’ll be up to date with all the latest news.
The process is demanding. However, when you combine it with a powerful keyword tool, the process is much easier. Use free software such as answerthepublic.com as well as Exploding Topics which can assist you in looking for the latest trends in search, aiding you in further defining your searches.
A sample of a Trend Report from Exploding Topics
The analysis of which keywords your major rivals are using could reveal several long-tail keyword gems. Analyzing competitor keywords could be particularly useful when you’re a local company planning a local SEO plan.
In order to do this, type the competitor’s URL in an online explorer tool on platforms such as Moz and Ahrefs. It will create reports of the keywords used in their websites that drive organic traffic.
Repetition of this procedure on all competitors could assist you in creating an extensive list of long-tail keywords that you could be able to use.
Avoid using Google Autosuggest.
Alongside being aware of how to develop a long-tail keywords strategy, it’s useful to understand what keywords to be wary of to ensure you’re using your time efficiently.
Google Autosuggest has some merit when it comes to search engine research, especially when it comes to determining what the most searched-for keywords are related to specific areas. It’s not very useful when we’re trying to find low-effort long-tail keywords. Google auto-suggest is the best option in the process of creating lists of keywords.
Conclusion
Long-tail keywords are characterized by a lower search volume, making them more popular. That’s why creating material that is targeted at these types of keywords could make a great SEO technique, allowing you to get ranked for searches that might have missed the competition. Keywords with long tails are great for smaller or newer websites, which may be struggling to be competitive with well-established websites which target keywords.
