There are so many digital marketing buzzwords out there that it’s sometimes hard to keep up. As a digital marketing agency, it’s our job to stay up-to-date on the latest trends in SEO so that our clients stay informed and ahead of the competition.
That brings us to today’s lesson: What is a long tail keyword?
Unlike any old regular keyword, a long tail keyword is a short phrase containing three to five words. The point of using long tail keywords is to target niche demographics so that you can find “quality over quantity” in your website visitors and therefore boost your site’s conversion rate.
How to Use Long Tail Keywords
Using long tail keywords can be something of an art and if you aren’t comfortable or familiar with SEO practices, finding a knowledgeable SEO partner can go a long way getting your SEO strategy off the ground. The truth is, an effective organic SEO strategy can be a great way to build brandwareness if you’re just starting out, and one of the greatest ways to compete for relevant search terms within your industry is to use long tail keywords. In order to get started with this form of SEO, you might turn to your blog, conducting topic research that is relevant to your industry. For instance, if your company’s products can be found in a national grocery store, but you’re struggling to surpass well known competitors that have been in the same market for years, you may have a chance to stand out online if you create higher quality, educational content.
In order to get started using long tail keywords, first think about some topics relevant to your company’s services or products. For instance, if you make clean-burning candles you might search “what is a clean-burning candle?” and review the types of search results you see. “What is a clean-burning candle” is a long tail keyword whereas “clean burning candles” is not. Once you discover a collection of long tail keywords that are relevant to your services, you can build off of them to create long-form content like blogs and articles to edge out your competitors on search engines and compete on low competition queries that will help get your budding brand in front of prospective customers.
How to Find Long Tail Keywords
Finding long tail keywords may require a bit more research, but in the end, it will be worth it for your SEO strategy. Here are five ways to find long tail keywords:
1. Google “Searches Related To…”
Have you ever made it to the bottom of a Google search result? If you have, you’ve noticed a box titled “Searches Related To…”. This is a great place to start if you’re trying to build ideas for long tail keywords. The first thing you’ll want to do is type a generic keyword in the search bar that you want to rank for. Then the magic happens. Once you hit “search”, scroll to the bottom of the page and find Google’s recommendations for link building and long tail keywords! You can even create a nice domino effect by using terms from the bottom of the page and typing them back into the search bar for even more niche results. It’s like the Russian nesting doll strategy of SEO!
2. Google Autocomplete
Autocomplete is fun because it takes what you’re starting to type into the search bar and attempts to finish your thoughts/show what’s most being searched for. Just enter a broad search term and play around with the results.
3. Google Trends
This is a great Google tool that shows just how popular (or, unpopular) your desired keywords are. Simply enter the keyword you’re looking for, and Google will show you its “interest over time”. You’ll also be able to find related queries here that show more popular, long tail versions of what you’re looking to rank for.
4. “People Also Ask…”
Whenever you type a question into Google, you’ll notice a box pop up toward the top of the results page, called “People Also Ask…”. This will show you what other actual users have searched in relation to your industry. When you expand upon each question shown in the box, you’ll find even more specific long tail keyword examples. Users and Google are basically doing the work for you!
5. Target Audience Forums, Blogs, and Message Boards
If you have a good handle on who your target audience is, why not follow them around the Internet (in a non-creepy way, of course)? Consumers often check out specific publications and blogs to learn from industry experts and engage with their peers about specific topics, products, services, etc. Take the language they use on these sites and test them out as long tail keywords in the Google Keyword Planning tool!
Benefits of Long Tail Keywords in an SEO Strategy
It’s important to create an SEO strategy that makes your organization stand out from the competition. Using long tail keywords is just one way to do that. Some of the benefits of long tail keywords are:
- Attracting higher-quality users to engage and create conversions on your site.
- Personalizing your content so that users associate your brand with a specific industry, products, or services.
- Streamlining your blog and overall website content for success (when you research what your audience is researching, you can use the terms to your advantage and develop a more meaningful blog strategy).
- Ranking higher for shorter keywords (chances are your long tail keywords include what would be used as broader, shorter search terms).
If you need help putting together a strategy for long tail keywords and how to implement them into your overall SEO goals, we can help! Contact our SEO pros at Logical Media Group, today!
