What if there was a way to blow up your website’s traffic without breaking the bank or taking a long time and effort? Well, there is – and it’s called long-tail content. In this post, you will learn what long-tail content is, how to use them, and tips for getting started.
Most people don’t realize long-tail keywords’ potential for their business. That’s because they think in ways of general, high-traffic keywords. Yet that’s only a fraction of what is missing.
Long-tail content can help you draw more leads and customers to your business. You do this by targeting specific search queries, which are more likely to end in conversions. It takes more effort, but the reward can be huge.
What are Long-Tail Keywords?
Long-tail keywords are a specific type of keyword that is more specific than the average.
According to Ahrefs, over 92% of keywords get only ten searches or less per month.
They are often three or more words in length. The idea is to target particular searchers who are looking for precise information.
Because they are relevant to what the user is searching for, they are more likely to result in a conversion.
For example, if we look at the term running shoes, a long tail keyword might be “women’s size ten running shoes.” While this keyword phrase is not as well-known as a general term like “running shoes,” it is much more targeted. Meaning it can be more effective in driving traffic to your website.
As a result, including long-tail keywords in your content can effectively improve your SEO and drive more traffic to your site.
Source: Backlinko
Why Use Long-Tail Keywords?
Compared to popular, high-traffic keywords that receive a lot of competition from other websites, long-tail keywords are less competitive and (generally) easier to rank. They are less common in use, meaning less content targets them.
It makes them helpful because they develop a higher ROI (return on investment).
When you target long-tail keywords, you can attract customers who are already interested in what you have to offer instead of attracting people who may not even be aware of what your business does.
Less Expensive Than PPC Advertising.
Whether you promote your business or sell your services online, there are many options. Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising and long-tail keywords are two of the most popular ways.
So, which is more effective?
Well, it depends on your goals. PPC can be great for getting quick results and generating traffic to your website. Yet, it can also be costly, and the results are not always sustainable in the long run.
Long-tail keywords tend to be more beneficial in the long run. They may not generate as much traffic as paid advertising. Still, they usually result in higher-quality traffic, which is more likely to convert customers or clients.
Because long-tail keywords are generally much less expensive than PPC, it makes them a more cost-effective option in the long run.
So, long-tail keywords are a better option if you’re hunting for a great way to generate traffic and grow your business.
Easy to rank (Usually A Lot Less Competitive).
Many businesses entering the world of SEO tend to make the same mistake. Usually, it targets the super broad terms (short tail keywords) instead of the often neglected long tail keywords.
And if you’ve ever tried to rank for a highly competitive keyword, you know how difficult it can be.
Not only do you have to create optimized content for that keyword, but you also have to hope that your site can outrank all the other competing websites.
To show this, let’s look at an example of common search queries and their associated search volume.
I will use a real-world example that I recently found myself in. My runners had just finished running their last mile, and I desperately needed a new pair. So I turned to search engines for answers.
Allows for More Targeted Traffic.
As any experienced online marketer knows, keywords are essential for driving traffic to your website. But not all keywords are the same.
While broad keywords may get you a lot of hits, they’re not necessarily going to result in high-quality traffic that is interested in what you offer.
It’s all about the search intent of the keyword. If someone were to search for the term “car,” how do you know what they are looking for?
It could be someone looking to buy a new car, or maybe they want to fix a specific car part.
It’s too broad (and competitive) to try to go for a head keyword like that. You will need to cover everything within the article (and have the domain authority) to even rank on the first page.
As a result, using long-tail keywords may get less traffic than broad keywords, but the traffic you get will be far more likely to convert.
This is because the questions or information someone is looking at within the articles have a specific goal.
The questions I asked with the car are great examples of the many posts you could write as long tail keywords.
There are Endless Amounts of Them.
One of my favorite things about using long-tail keywords is the endless possibilities. It can often lead to more targeted content that you or your team will generate.
Yes, the keywords you use will not open floodgates for the website. But, you can eventually add something massive with increased search traffic.
Because you can find many keyword phrases in almost all industries, you will unlikely see any shortage here.
Long-Tail Keyword Examples.
| Head Keyword (More Competitive) | Long Tail Keyword (Less Competitive) |
| Running Shoes | Size 10 Running Shoes For Men |
| San Diego | Best San Diego Beaches to Visit |
| Kitchen Knife | 8 Inch Santoku Kitchen Knife |
How to find long-tail keywords?
Here are some of the successful methods for you to find long-tail keywords.
Use Google’s Autocomplete Function.
Here is how to use Google’s autocomplete function.
Type in the first letters of the word or phrase you are after.
For example, if you want to find information on the Academy Awards.
You type in “academy awards a,” and the autocomplete will fill in the rest of the phrase. Then, once you have completed the letter a, you move on to the letter b, and so on.
Known as the “alphabet soup” method, it can be a great time-saver when researching information on a topic.
Source: Google
Google’s People Also Ask (PAA) Method.
You may have noticed the “People Also Ask” section if you’ve used Google’s search function to find something.
You can find the PAA section near the top of the search results page. This feature can be a great way to find long-tail keywords that you might not have thought otherwise.
Click on one of the questions to see a list of related questions, and then scroll through to find ones relevant to your next post. You can also use the “More questions” link to see even more associated queries at the bottom of the section.
Source: Google
Best of all, this information is entirely free and can be a valuable addition to your toolkit.
Use Forums and Social Media.
If you’re looking for long-tail keywords, forums like Quora and Reddit can be great resources. People on these forums are typically very knowledgeable about their topics of interest. This is great because they’re often willing to share information that can be helpful to others.
Besides, because these forums are so large and diverse, you’ll likely find a wide range of potential keywords. But, it’s a good idea to remember that not all the information on these forums is accurate.
You’ll need to use common sense to decide which keywords are most relevant to your needs. But if you’re prepared to do some digging, you can find many long-tail keywords on Quora and Reddit.
Related Searches.
Google’s related searches can be a great way to find extra long tail keywords. Enter your main keyword into Google and scroll down to the bottom of the search results page.
There you will come across a list of related searches.
These are all long-tail keywords that you can use to target your content.
Source: Google
Use a Keyword Tool.
There are a few different keyword tools that you can use to find long tail keywords. One of the best tools, in my opinion, is Ahrefs.
To use this particular software, you’ll first need to develop a list of seed keywords. Seed keywords are the main keywords that you’re targeting with your website or blog post.
For example, suppose you’re writing a blog post about paying for college. In that case, your parent keywords might be “paying for college,” “financial aid,” and “grants.”
Once you have a list of parent keywords, you can place them into the keyword tool of your choice. You will then get a list of related long-tail keywords. Here is an example of that in action.
Source: Ahrefs
Google Trends
Probably one of the most underrated methods to find new words, but it’s one I love to use, and it’s free!
When doing keyword research and looking for new opportunities, it’s easier to “ride the start of the wave” instead of being over it. You want to find a trend that has the potential to grow, but it just hasn’t taken off yet.
Here is how this works:
- Go to Google Trends and enter the desired search term.
Source: Google Trends
2. Take a look at the trajectory of the graph. The idea here is to note the amount of interest over time. A perfect keyword is one still on an upward trend. Also known as “riding the wave.”
3. An example of this is the keyword “fodmap diet.”
Source: Google Trends
4. Use the compare button to put several different keywords side by side.
5. You can filter keywords by your target country or set it to “worldwide” if you’re after a global market.
You don’t want to see a keyword that has well and truly passed its used-by date.
Here is an excellent example of what I mean.
Source: Google Trends
Get the Most From Long-Tail Keywords
When ranking high in search engine results, using the right keywords is essential.
Yet, simply stuffing a webpage with keywords is not enough. Search engines are getting smarter and can identify when a blogger uses keywords excessively.
Readers can become disengaged quickly by keyword-stuffed content that is difficult to read. The secret to effectively using keywords is to focus on quality over quantity.
Use the Keywords Naturally.
A powerful way to use long-tail keywords is to place them naturally in your content. Be sure that it flows with the rest of your text rather than using them as a way to cram in extra keywords.
It’s not always easy to do this because these keywords are specific. So get a little creative and look to other pages for ideas.
Drip your Keywords Throughout the Content.
Another strategy is to place long-tail keywords throughout your content. What this means is targeting specific sections of your text. Areas such as the title, headings, and body are where readers are most likely to pay attention in an article.
Using long-tail keywords in these areas makes readers more likely to remember your content.
Final Word
Applying long-tail keywords to your SEO strategy can improve your website’s ranking. While at the same time driving more targeted traffic.
By choosing less competitive keywords, you make it easier for your site to rank and pull visitors who are already curious about your offer.
With so many different long-tail keywords available, there’s no excuse not to start using them today!
