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What Is Longtail Keyword In SEO? – Explained

What Is Longtail Keyword In Seo? - Explained
Contents

Have you ever wondered what a longtail keyword is in SEO?

In this article, we’ll break down the basics of SEO and explain exactly what longtail keywords are, why they’re important, and how you can use them effectively in your SEO strategy.

By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of this crucial SEO concept.

Understanding the Basics of SEO

Before diving into longtail keywords, let’s make sure we’re on the same page about SEO fundamentals. 

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is all about making your website more visible in search engine results pages (SERPs). 

The goal is for your content to rank highly when people search for relevant keywords.

Some key aspects of SEO include:

  • Using relevant keywords strategically in your content
  • Optimizing your website’s structure and speed
  • Building high-quality backlinks
  • Providing a great user experience
  • Making your site mobile-friendly

When done right, SEO brings you free, targeted traffic from search engines. More visibility means more clicks, leads and customers.

Introduction to Longtail Keywords

Now let’s talk about longtail keywords. 

Unlike short, generic keywords, longtail keywords are longer, more specific phrases. 

A generic keyword might be something like “shoes” while a longtail version could be “comfortable running shoes for women.”

Because longtail keywords are so specific, they tend to have lower search volume than generic terms. 

But here’s the key – they also usually have much less competition, so it’s easier to rank for them. 

Plus, the traffic longtail keywords bring is usually highly targeted. Someone searching for “comfortable running shoes for women” is probably much closer to making a purchase than someone just searching for “shoes.”

Here are a few more characteristics of longtail keywords:

  • Usually 3+ words long
  • Very specific
  • Often mimic how people naturally ask questions
  • Great for voice search optimization

How Longtail Keywords Differ from Short Tail Keywords

To further clarify, let’s directly compare longtail and short tail keywords:

Short Tail1-2 wordsBroad topicHigh search volumeVery competitiveMore general traffic
Long Tail
3+ words
Specific subtopic
Lower search volume
Less competitive
Targeted, ready-to-convert traffic

An example would be:

  • Short tail: “cat food”
  • Long tail: “organic grain-free cat food for senior cats”

While the short tail keyword will get way more searches, the longtail keyword will bring traffic that’s much more likely to convert.

The Importance of Longtail Keywords in SEO

So why exactly should you care about longtail keywords in your SEO strategy?

Here are the key benefits:

Why Use Longtail Keywords?

  1. Less competition, easier to rank for
  2. Bring in highly targeted traffic
  3. Searchers using longtail keywords are often closer to point of purchase
  4. Great for optimizing content deep into your site architecture
  5. Essential for voice search optimization

The Role of Longtail Keywords in Search Engine Rankings

Essentially, by targeting less competitive, highly specific longtail keywords, you can start to see SEO results and climb the rankings much faster than you could by only going after short tail keywords. 

Longtail keywords let you gradually build up authority and rankings for more general terms over time.

How to Find and Use Longtail Keywords

Hopefully you’re convinced of the power of longtail keywords! Now let’s get into how you can actually find and use them.

Tools for Finding Longtail Keywords

Some great diy SEO software for longtail keyword research include:

  • Google Keyword Planner
  • Moz Keyword Explorer
  • SEMrush
  • Answer the Public
  • Ubersuggest
  • People Also Ask on Google

These tools will help you uncover relevant longtail keywords and get data on search volume and keyword difficulty. 

Aim for keywords with decent search volume but low to medium competition.

Strategies for Incorporating Longtail Keywords into Your Content

Once you have your longtail keywords, it’s time to use them! Some tips:

  • Incorporate into page titles, headings, meta descriptions
  • Use naturally throughout body content
  • Create blog posts optimized for specific longtail keywords
  • Optimize product and category pages for relevant longtail keywords
  • Create FAQ content optimized for common longtail questions


The key is using the keywords naturally and providing truly valuable, relevant content for that search query. Don’t force keywords where they don’t belong.

Case Studies and Examples of Successful Longtail Keyword Use

Let’s look at a couple real-world examples of longtail keywords in action:

Example of a Successful Longtail Keyword Strategy

Imagine you run a fitness site. You’re having trouble ranking for general terms like “weight loss.” 

So you decide to target longtail keywords like “best diet for women over 50” and “HIIT workouts for quick weight loss.”

By creating highly targeted content optimized for these specific searches, you start to rank, bring in targeted traffic, and make more sales of your workout plans and courses. 

Those initial longtail wins help you build authority to eventually rank for the bigger keywords.

Case Study: Longtail Keywords in Action

Kitchen Cabinet Kings, an online cabinet retailer, saw a 20% boost in search engine traffic by expanding their site architecture to target more longtail searches. 

Instead of just broad category pages like “kitchen cabinets,” they created extensive product descriptions optimized for searches like “dark cherry kitchen cabinets with glass doors.” 

That ultra-specific approach brought in buyers searching for exactly what they offer.

Conclusion

By now, you should have a clear answer to “What is a longtail keyword in SEO?” 

To recap, longtail keywords are longer, more specific keyword phrases that have less search volume but also less competition than generic short tail keywords. 

Longtail keywords are crucial for bringing in targeted traffic, optimizing for voice search, and getting quicker SEO wins while building toward broader keyword rankings.

The key takeaway is not to ignore longtail keywords in your SEO strategy. 

Use keyword research tools to uncover relevant longtail keywords, create valuable content optimized for those terms, and watch your search engine traffic and rankings start to climb. 

With a solid longtail keyword strategy, you can outrank bigger competitors and connect with your ideal customers right when they’re searching for what you offer.

Picture of Walter Voronovic

Walter Voronovic

Founder @ WalterVoronovic.com. I've worked as a performance marketer since 2019. Today, I write about SaaS marketing & design and test & review marketing tools.
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