When recently surveyed, six in every ten SEO experts said they believed SEO had become more challenging in the last decade. Is that your experience? If so, you may need to try a new tactic.
The answer to your SEO challenge could be long-tail keywords. Long-tail keywords are more specific; thus, they can identify your target customer or audience.
If you’re wondering how to find long-tail keywords, you’re in the right place. Here, we’ll show you the best resources and tactics to help you boost your SEO.
What Are Long-Tail Keywords?
Long-tail keywords are highly specific search terms. They are often composed of multiple words and phrases that target a narrow range of customers. They also tend to be longer terms.
Here are some examples of long-tail keywords:
- Affordable small business web hosting plans
- Best women’s running shoes for flat feet
- Organic vegan meal delivery services in NYC
Many long-tail keywords will cover niche topic that interests potential buyers, and they are sometimes in the format of questions.
Long tail keywords are not part of the standard keyword list on search engine results. Instead, they’re focused on an overarching topic or industry.
Business owners need to understand how to employ long-tail keywords to improve their online presence and reach the right customers.
Benefits of Long-Tail Keywords
You should always take advantage of long-tail keywords because they are one of the best ways to reach your target audience. Here are some of the most notable benefits:
Greater Precision to Reach Your Target Audience
Long-tail keywords have lower search volumes but are much more precise in targeting those interested in the offered product or service.
For example, if you are trying to sell cars in a particular area, target “best new car deals in [your area].” That keyword phrase allows you to reach local buyers more accurately and efficiently, increasing the likelihood of closing the sale.
Higher Rankings
Long-tail keywords can offer you the potential for higher and better rankings. Short-tail keywords are often more general and don’t always accurately reflect the query’s intent.
On the other hand, long-tail keywords are typically composed of three or more words, making them more precise and targeted. That helps search engines better understand the user’s query and produce more relevant results.
Long-tail keywords are also less competitive as they are less likely to be used by other websites, meaning businesses have better chances of showing up higher in the SERPs.
Improve Your PPC Ad Performance
You can attract more qualified customers to your website with the help of long-tail keywords in ads. As these phrases and questions are more specific and targeted, they are more likely to convert.
Focusing on long-tail keywords in your PPC ads will reduce your cost-per-click and increase your conversion rate.
Additionally, long-tail keywords are less competitive, so you’ll be able to gain more visibility in search engine results and reach high-value customers.
User Intent Insights
Long-tail keywords are more specific, leaving less ambiguity and making them better at targeting a user’s search intent.
You can gain valuable insights into what customers are looking for, enabling you to optimize your content better to fulfill their needs.
Utilizing long-tail keywords can improve our content marketing, thus improving your SEO, leading to a better customer experience and, ultimately, a higher sales conversion rate.
Choosing Long-Tail Keywords
The good news is that it’s never been easier to discover long-tail keywords. You only need to know where to look. Here are some proven ways to find long-tail keywords for any niche.
Try Keyword Research Tools
Start by using a keyword research tool like Google Keyword Planner, SEMRush, or KWFinder to find relevant terms related to your niche with low competition scores and high search volume.
Organize these long-tail keywords by relevance and popularity and use them to create a content plan for your website.
Always track your keywords and analyze the performance of your content to ensure it is resonating with your audience and yielding the desired results, and tweak your research accordingly.
Research Competitors
Use search engines, industry publications, and online review sites to identify your competitors. Once you’ve done that, look at the keywords they’re targeting to get an edge on your SEO strategy.
Once you know who you’re competing against, research their backlinks to uncover the types of websites that are linking to them.
Finally, go the extra mile and look for long-tail keywords based on the competitor research you’ve done. But don’t follow your competitor’s keywords word-for-word. Instead, focus on phrases most related to your business or product.
Use Google Related Search
Google-related search is the little feature you see on a Google search result that tells you similar search terms used by other users. It’s a great way to find long-tail keyword ideas.
First, enter your primary keyword in the search bar. After, scroll to the bottom of the page and look for the heading “searches related to,” and copy those list of search terms.
Use your preferred keyword tool to research more long-tail keywords using those related searches. Remember to monitor competition and search volume during this process.
Brainstorm Ideas
Traditional brainstorming techniques can come in handy when researching long-tail keywords.
Start by creating a list of words related to your topic. For example, a website about cars might include keywords like “vehicle,” “sedan,” and “SUV.”
Then, consider variations on those keywords, such as “luxury sedans” or “sports sedans.” Prefixes and suffixes can be added for a longer phrase, such as “fuel-efficient vehicle” or “high-performance vehicle.”
Combining terms like “sedan” and “SUV” can create “luxury sedan SUV.” You can also consider geographic locations, brands, and modifiers such as “affordable sports sedans.”
These brainstorming techniques can help you develop a wide array of long-tail keywords to attract more visitors to your website.
Try a Customer Survey
Use a customer survey to dig deeper into your customers’ motivations and interests. Ask questions like:
- What search terms did they use to find your website?
- What search terms would they use to find similar products or services?
- What questions did they have before they decided to purchase from your website?
- What other topics would they be interested in learning about your products or services?
- How would they describe your products or services in their own words?
- What other search terms would they use to find products or services like yours?
- What words or phrases would they use to search for similar topics?
- What other websites or online resources do they rely on for information related to your products or services?
By asking these questions, you can uncover long-tail keywords related to your business, allowing you to create content that is more likely to rank in the search engine results pages (SERPs).
Google Autocomplete
Using Google Autocomplete, you can quickly and efficiently create a keyword list to optimize your search engine presence and drive more traffic to your site or product.
Begin by typing a seed keyword in the Google search bar. Look for the autocomplete dropdown below the search bar, and take note of the suggested terms.
Select the ones relevant to your query and refine them by adding words or phrases to either the start or end of each suggestion. Continue this process until you’ve compiled a comprehensive list of long-tail keywords.
Google Trends
Discover the power of Google Trends to uncover long-tail keywords that can drive more traffic to your site.
Enter a keyword or phrase related to your topic into the search bar – then review the results to get an idea of related search terms. Want to access more data?
Click “Explore” for a wealth of options. The “Regional Interest” tab shows related search terms from different parts of the world. Or, dive into “Related Queries” for more long-tail keyword possibilities.
Check out the “Interest over Time” graph to spot keywords with high search volume. Then, discover new topics with the “Related Topics” tab, and find rising queries with the “Rising Queries” tab.
Forums and Q&A Sites
You can use forums and Q&A sites to find long-tail keywords for your campaigns.
Start by conducting a keyword search and look for questions and answers related to your topic. These questions can provide valuable insight into the types of long-tail keywords that could be used.
Take variations and combinations of the suggested words and make them more specific. Group the identified keywords into categories such as topic, product, and location to better organize them.
Use an analysis tool to refine your list and determine which long-tail keywords are most effective. Finally, test the keywords on search engines to ensure they are relevant to your target audience and will perform well.
How to Find Long-Tail Keywords: Next Steps
Now that you know how to find Long-tail keywords, there is nothing to stop you from trying this. You’ll discover that they are a great way to identify and target the specific people you are looking for in your keyword research.
They are more precise and can identify the exact customer or audience you need. When used effectively, long-tail keywords can help you optimize for better search engine rankings and increase your website’s visibility.
You can fast-track your SEO efforts by hiring experts. So if you want fantastic results, head here to book a free growth strategy call with us, and we’ll share our knowledge and advice to help you climb those search results pages.
