Are you looking for a way to increase your website traffic?
If so, then consider using long-tail keywords. Long tail keywords are more specific and targeted phrases than standard search terms. They can be very powerful in bringing qualified visitors to your site, searching for exactly what you offer.
This blog post will discuss the advantages of using long-tail keywords and how they can help you get better results from your online marketing efforts.
What Are Long Tail Keywords?
Long tail keywords are longer and more specific phrases than traditional, shorter search terms. They often contain three or more words, which makes them highly targeted and effective in helping to draw the right kind of visitors to your site who are looking for exactly what you offer.
Other Underlying Benefits
Because they are so specific, long-tail keywords also tend to result in higher click-through rates (CTRs) and better quality leads since these people likely already know what they are looking for. This means that the visitors who do come may be more likely to convert into customers.
Furthermore, using long-tail keywords can help you optimize your content more effectively for search engine optimization (SEO), allowing you to rank higher in organic searches. This can increase visibility on SERPs (search engine results pages) and more qualified leads from organic sources.
Examples of Long-Tail Keywords
Long tail keywords often focus on a particular product, service, or industry. They can include words like ‘buy,’ ‘best,’ ‘discounts,’ and so on. For example, some long-tail keywords might look like this:
- “Buy discount shoes online”
- “Best home security camera system”
- “Accounting software for small businesses”
- “Affordable web hosting services for entrepreneurs”
Benefits of Using Long-Tail Keywords
- Long tail keywords can be incredibly powerful for driving website traffic and boosting conversions.
- By using specific phrases tailored towards user intent, you can reach significantly more qualified leads faster than the traditional shorter search terms.
- They tend to have lower competition and lower search volume, making them ideal for small businesses and new websites.
- Plus, a long-tail keyword strategy often results in higher click-through rates (CTRs) and better quality leads since these people likely already know what they seek.
- Using long-tail keywords can also help you optimize your content more effectively for search engine optimization (SEO), allowing you to rank higher in organic search or voice search.
- This can increase visibility on SERPs (search engine results pages) and more qualified leads from organic sources.
- Using long-tail keywords can also help businesses target users at different buying cycle stages.
How to Find Long Tail Keywords
Use SEO Tools
Many free and paid keyword research tools are available to help you find high-quality, relevant long-tail keywords that will help you reach qualified leads faster than generic, shorter terms. When searching for long-tail keywords, it’s important to consider your target audience and their intent.
Brainstorm Keyword Phrases
Try to think about the questions they would be asking or the information they would seek when they type in a query. This will help you develop more specific keyword phrases that better reflect users’ desires in their searches.
Try Google Keyword Planner
Google’s Keyword Planner tool is also a great source for finding long-tail keywords. The tool allows you to search by keyword phrase and view each term’s relative search volume and competition level.
Target by Region
You can also sort by geographic region to target local customers or by device usage to attract mobile users. This tool can also provide insights into related terms that could be used as secondary or tertiary keywords when you create a highly relevant content strategy.
Use Answer the Public
Finally, you can use tools like AnswerThePublic and Buzzsumo, which offer keyword ideas based on user questions and trends from popular topics on social media, respectively.
What Are the Features of Long-Tail Keywords?
Super Specific
Long-tail keywords are highly specific terms often longer than the generic, shorter phrases used in search queries. They are typically 3-4 long words and can contain a mixture of singular and plural words, acronyms, misspellings, synonyms, and locations.
Less Competitive
These keywords tend to be less popular than their shorter counterparts, but they are also less competitive. As a result, it’s easier to rank for them, and they can help you target qualified leads with higher purchase intent.
Higher CTR
Compared to short-tail keywords, long-tail keywords have several distinct advantages. For instance, they generally have higher click-through rates since the user is more likely to find what they want with this specific search query.
Target Multiple Funnels
Moreover, long tail keyword searches offer businesses an opportunity to target users at different stages of the sales cycle; someone searching for “buy discount shoes online” may be ready to buy right away, while someone searching for “best home security camera system” may still be doing the research before making a decision.
Enhance Website Traffic
Finally, leveraging long-tail keywords is an effective way to improve website traffic and conversions from qualified leads.
Benefits of Long-Tail Keywords Compared to Short-Tail Keywords?
- One of the key benefits of using long-tail keywords compared to short-tail keywords is that they are generally less competitive with low search volume, making it easier to rank for them.
- With short-tail keywords, there is typically much more competition, and it can be difficult to break through the noise and get noticed by potential customers and Search Engine Land.
- Long-tail keywords offer businesses a greater chance of success because they are more targeted and usually attract fewer searches but generate higher quality leads than generic terms.
- Long-tail keywords also allow businesses to target users at different sales cycle stages. Someone searching for “buys discount shoes online” may be ready to purchase right away, while someone searching for the “best home security camera system” may still be researching before deciding.
What Are the Disadvantages of Long-Tail Keywords?
Difficult to Identify
One of the main disadvantages of long-tail keywords is that they can be difficult to identify and choose. Due to their specificity, it can be challenging for businesses to determine which terms are most relevant and effective for their target market.
No Real Competition
Further, while long-tail keywords tend to be less competitive than generic terms, there may still be some competition that needs to be considered when optimizing for them.
Fewer Searches
Another disadvantage of long-tail keywords is that they are typically less searched than short-tail keywords, meaning fewer potential visitors will find your website when searching for these specific terms.
Niche-Centric
Plus, since long-tail keywords are more niche, it can be difficult to gauge the overall effectiveness of the keyword phrases because there is a much smaller pool of searchers using them.
Time-Consuming
Finally, although targeting long-tail keywords has the potential to generate more qualified leads over time, they can also take longer to create results compared to shorter phrases. SEO requires time and effort for businesses to improve their ranking on search engine result pages (SERPs).Â
Are Long-Tail Keywords More Expensive?
Long-tail keywords are typically less expensive than short-tail keywords. The cost of using a keyword phrase is often determined by how competitive it is and how much competition there is for the term on search engine result pages (SERPs). While short-tail keywords may be more competitive and, therefore, slightly pricier, this is only sometimes the case.
FAQs
Are long-tail keywords cheaper?
Long-tail keywords are typically cheaper than short-tail keywords. The cost of using a keyword phrase is often determined by how competitive it is and how much competition there is for the term on search engine result pages (SERPs).
Do long-tail keywords have higher CTR?
Yes, long-tail keywords often have higher click-through rates (CTR) than short-tail keywords. This is because they are more specific and therefore tend to attract visitors who are already more familiar with the topic and closer to making a purchase.
How do you optimize long-tail keywords?
To optimize long-tail keywords, businesses should research which terms are most relevant and effective for their target market. Additionally, companies must ensure that they are using the right keywords in the right places on their website off-page content, like articles or blog posts.
How many long-tail keywords per page?
The recommended number of long-tail keywords per page is 3 to 5. However, it is important to remember that keyword stuffing should be avoided.
Wrapping Up
Long-tail keywords are an effective and powerful SEO strategy.
They allow businesses to narrow in on more specific search terms, capture qualified leads closer to making a purchase, and even outshine short-tail keywords regarding CTRs.
Although these phrases may only sometimes be cheaper than their short-tail counterparts, they can still provide great value for businesses when used correctly and strategically.
