Long-Tail Keywords: Why and How to Target Intent for SEO
Learn about the advantages of highly focused, intent-driven search phrases. Here’s how to locate and use long-tail keywords to your benefit.
Broad keyword strategies that stand alone are a thing of the past. Long-tail SEO methods will be more important than ever in 2022, thanks to Google’s focus on user experience and intent, as well as the advent of conversational search and applications like voice search. Years ago, it could have appeared like a waste of time and effort to look for long-tail keywords with little search volume.
Long-tail keyword research, targeting low-competition phrases with excellent conversion rates, and using long-tail keywords to promote your content has never been easier. That’s exactly what this guide will show you how to do.
Long-Tail Keywords: What Are They?
Long-tail keywords are highly specialized search phrases that serve the intent of the searcher. Low search volume, low competition, and good conversion rates are typical of these phrases.
We call these keywords long-tail because, if you map your keywords by search volumes, they’ll be on the “long tail” end of the search demand curve, implying that only a small number of people are searching for them each month. Long-tail keywords, despite their low search volume, are often easier to rank for and yield higher conversions than seed keywords. Long-tail keywords are intent-driven, which means they indicate a specific client demand that you can meet.
You may produce content that specifically targets questions and converts when you understand search intent. A user searching for “Adidas Ultraboost 5.0 DNA Shoes”, for example, is clearly looking to buy. In comparison, looking for [shoes or trainers] is a lot more difficult.
It’s worth noting that the length of these keywords doesn’t really matter. Due to their precision, long-tail keywords are usually at least three words long, however precise low-volume searches that are just one or two words long (such as many brand names) are also called long-tail keywords.
Why Do Long-Tail Keywords Matter in SEO?
According to Backlinko’s examination of 306 million keywords, long-tail keywords account for 91.8 percent of all search inquiries. Consider what you could achieve if all of those laser-focused queries sent new leads straight to your high-converting assets.
There are three major advantages to focusing on these specific keywords.
1. There is less competition
Because long-tail keywords are exclusive to your company and niche, search volume is minimal. The benefit of this is that ranking well for your selected long-tail keywords requires far less work. If your targeted terms are specific enough, some easy on-page SEO and link building should launch your landing pages into prominence.
2. Increased Conversions
You’ll be able to recognize inquiries that suggest buyer intent (e.g., [purchase UK 150 collector’s coins]) and a need for further information with search intent (e.g. [how to target long-tail keywords]). This information can be used to guide highly qualified prospects into your sales funnel and to supplement your content marketing efforts.
3. It Aids in Semantic, Conversational, and Voice Search Optimization
Long-tail keywords are an important aspect of semantic search optimization. We live in a time where 55% of millennials use voice search on a daily basis. These consumers utilize long-tail keyword phrases such as inquiries ([what are the greatest sushi restaurants nearby?]) and commands with obvious purpose when querying these platforms ([compare the price of the dresses from Blush and Sherri Hill]).
To effectively target these long-tail keyword phrases, try to guess the intent behind naturally spoken and voice search questions so you can provide answers about your business and services. Remember that even if search density is low, high-converting long-tail keywords can still be quite profitable for your organization if you target them.
Where Can I Look for Long-Tail Keywords?
It’s possible that ranking for the proper long-tail keywords is more important than striking gold. It’s simple to come up with fresh long-tail keywords, and you can compile a large list in a matter of minutes. First, take a look at your Search Console for long-tail keywords that you know you rank for. Download the same data for your PPC ads, Facebook page, Twitter account, YouTube videos, Instagram, and any other measure that can disclose new phrases.
Next, look for fresh long-tail keywords in your niche that you might be able to rank for. Here’s how to manually generate a list of potential long-tails:
- Make a list of potential seed keywords. To develop a list of seed keywords, use a keyword planning tool, but avoid Google AdWords. While this free tool is great for coming up with a list of commercial terms to target, it purposely avoids long-tail terms with little search traffic, which makes it useless for our needs.
- Take a look at the autocomplete suggestions on Google. Each seed keyword should be entered into Google and the autocomplete recommendations should be written down.
- Compile a list of Google’s related search recommendations. Write down the relevant searches as you scroll to the bottom of each SERP.
- Repeat for Bing Search Suggestions and any other search engines you’d like to optimize.
- Add these long-tail keywords to your list of possibilities. Prepare to start reducing your list by grouping all of your terms.
It’s time to start trimming your list now that you have a full list of all of your prospective keywords. Remove any phrases that don’t explain user purpose clearly. The query “short tail keywords” isn’t particular enough in the “long-tail keywords related search results” stated above, for example.
You’ll be ready to start optimizing your pages and adding them to your content once you’ve narrowed down your list to the best candidates (anything from a half-dozen to a few hundred long-tails).
How to Create Content with Long-Tail Keywords in Mind
What do you do now that you’ve compiled a list of long-tail keywords for which you can optimize? The answer is contingent on the number of long-tails you’re pursuing and how closely their themes overlap. According to conventional opinion, you should construct a dedicated page for each long-tail keyword. If you can, that’s fantastic! However, this isn’t always possible.
When you’re targeting hundreds of long-tails, you’ll need material other than specialized landing pages that you can optimize for them.
Make an easy-to-understand list of prospective long-tail keywords categorized by searcher intent from your list of potential long-tail keywords.
If you already have this content on your site, you might be able to naturally include these long-tails into your copy. If not, you now have some ideas for what your next post should be about. Remember to include internal links whenever you post fresh content. These are some of the greatest places to use the long-tail terms you spent so much time researching.
Last Thoughts
Now you know how to find and leverage long-tail keywords to your advantage. However, keep in mind that your long-tail targeting is only as good as your content. If you aren’t already known as an authority in your area, it’s time to start developing high-value materials, blogging about it, and rewriting your site text to explain your unique value proposition (UVP) to your clients in 2022.
While you’re creating your content and optimizing your pages to include your new long-tail keywords, don’t forget to measure your rankings and traffic. As you do so, you may discover even more keyword phrases you can target, and that will help you continue to build your reputation and improve your on-page SEO.
More Resources: