Long Tail Keywords in SEO: What Are They and How Do You Use Them?
Have you ever felt that your SEO efforts are just a drop in the ocean of generic search terms? Tired of blending in with the crowd?
It’s time to learn the secret of the SEO elite: long tail keywords.
These longer and specific sentences not only make you unique, but also lead to more traffic to your website.
In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the world of long tail keywords, discussing how to research and find them, how to use them in your SEO strategy, and how to measure their success.
What are Long Tail Keywords?
Long tail keywords are phrases that are longer and more specific than short tail keywords. They usually consist of three or more words and are more descriptive in nature.
They are often more targeted and less competitive than short tail keywords, making them a good option for smaller businesses or niche markets.
An example of a short-tail keyword could be “coffee”, because it is broad and not specific.
An example of a long-tail keyword could be “best coffee beans for cold brew” because it is specific and well defined.
On the other hand, short tail keywords are usually just one or two words and are more general in nature. They are often very competitive and can be more difficult to rank.
In short, Long-tail keywords are more specific and targeted than short-tail keywords, and therefore generally easier to rank for, but less general and with fewer searches. Short-tail keywords are broader and more competitive, but are more common and have more search volume.
Research on keywords using SEO tools
Analyzing search intent and user language is a crucial step in finding long tail keywords that will be effective for your SEO strategy. It’s about understanding what people are looking for and why, as well as the language they use to describe their needs and wants.
You can do this by researching and analyzing the search results for related keywords, and by looking at user reviews and feedback on your own website and other relevant sites.
One way to tap into search intent and user language is to use question-based keywords. These are keywords that have been asked in the form of a question, such as “What is the best coffee brand?”. These types of keywords are a great way to answer specific user questions. These question-based keywords are easy to target, as matching the searcher’s language and intent is pretty clear.
Once you’ve identified a list of long tail keywords, it’s important to use them naturally throughout your website. This may include including them in your website content and meta tags, building internal and external links with keywords, and optimizing for voice search and local SEO. Make sure you don’t force your keyword on your page. Readability and usability always come first. A readability checker will help you avoid this problem.
Long Tail Keywords for Local SEO
Long-tail keywords are more specific and targeted phrases that contain location-based information. For example, instead of the keyword “pizza”, a long-tail keyword could be “best pizza delivery in Chicago”.
This can be done by including location-based keywords in the website content, meta tags and page titles, and by building local backlinks and incorporating the business into relevant directories.
In addition, it is important to optimize the Google my business page, which helps to increase visibility in Google Maps. Overall, long-tail keyword optimization is a powerful strategy for local businesses to improve their online visibility and attract more customers.
