Long-tail keywords offer significant advantages for your website, including higher rankings and conversions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this guide, you'll learn what long-tail keywords are, why they matter\u2014especially for small businesses\u2014and how to find them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In This Article<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- What Are Long-Tail Keywords?<\/a><\/li>
- Long-Tail Keyword Examples<\/a><\/li>
- Long-Tail vs Short-Tail Keywords: Which Is Better for SEO?<\/a><\/li>
- How to Find Long-Tail Keywords Using SEO Tools<\/a>
- 1. Enter Your Keyword in the KWFinder<\/a><\/li>
- 2. Use the Word Count Filter<\/a><\/li>
- 3. Curate Easy Ranking Opportunities<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- How to Find Long-Tail Keywords for Free<\/a>
- 1. Use Google Autocomplete<\/a><\/li>
- 2. Scan the People Also Ask Box<\/a><\/li>
- 3. Look at People Also Search for Results<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- WordPress Users: Long-Tail Keyword Research Tool<\/a><\/li>
- Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
What Are Long-Tail Keywords?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Long-tail keywords are phrases users enter into search engines when looking for something specific. They typically consist of 3 or more words<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This word count is higher than short-tail keywords, which only have 1\u20132 words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While long-tail keywords typically have lower search volumes than broad keywords, they cater to a more niche audience. This targeted traffic translates to higher conversion rates<\/strong> and makes them easier to rank for<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Long-Tail Keyword Examples<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Here are some examples of long-tail keywords:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- vegan gluten-free chocolate cake recipe<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- best hiking trails in rocky mountains<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- how to knit a scarf for beginners<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
If we were to create a short-tail keyword for each of these examples, it may look like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- cake recipe<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- hiking trails<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- knitting guide<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Do you see the difference?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our long-tail keywords<\/strong> have much clearer <\/strong>search intent<\/strong><\/a> than the second set of examples. We know exactly<\/em> what the user is looking for when they type these queries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The short-tail keywords<\/strong>, however, are ambiguous<\/strong>. There isn\u2019t much to go off of, so search engines would serve a wide variety of results that are less targeted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Long-Tail vs Short-Tail Keywords: Which Is Better for SEO?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Both long-tail and short-tail keywords have their place in SEO. Short-tail keywords can drive significant traffic, but they are highly competitive. Long-tail keywords, on the other hand, may have lower search volume but are easier to rank for and target a more specific audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Infographic](\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/long-tail-keywords-infographicpng.jpeg\" "\\"Long-Tail")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIn general, long-tail keywords offer a better return on investment<\/strong> (ROI) for SEO. You can attract more qualified traffic and improve your website's rankings faster than with broad keywords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is particularly true for small businesses that can't compete with high domain authority websites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the best SEO strategies optimize for both long-tail and<\/em> short-tail keywords. Focus on long-tail keywords but naturally mix in short-tail keywords too. This approach maximizes your online visibility while targeting qualified leads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to Find Long-Tail Keywords Using SEO Tools<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Long-tail keyword research is easy when you have the right tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For our tutorial, I\u2019ll use LowFruits<\/a>, a keyword research tool designed specifically for small business owners. The general process applies to other SEO tools though, like Semrush and Ahrefs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Enter Your Keyword in the KWFinder<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
To begin, search a seed keyword in the KWFinder<\/a> tool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At this stage, your keyword doesn\u2019t necessarily need to be long tail. However, I\u2019d recommend using a minimum of 2 words to get the best results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Search](\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/kwfinder-search.jpg\" "\\"KWFinder")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFor our tutorial, I\u2019ll search \u201clos angeles florist.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am going to leave the United States and English settings, but you may change these to your preferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Click Search<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While you\u2019re waiting for your report to generate, you\u2019ll reach the following loading screen:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"LowFruits](\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/long-tail-keyword-search-lowfruits.jpg\" "\\"LowFruits")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nNotice how LowFruits extracts long-tail keyword ideas from Google Auto Complete<\/strong>. This is one of the best ways to get long-tail keywords, but it can take a lot of time to do manually. (I\u2019ll still show you how in a later section.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But this is what makes LowFruits so powerful for long-tail keyword research. It automates the Google Auto Complete research process<\/strong>, so you get hundreds, if not thousands, of keyword ideas in mere seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From here, you\u2019ll need to pick how you want to view your report. I\u2019m going to select the second option, which analyzes all high-intent keywords in one go. These are buyer-intent keywords<\/a> that have high conversion potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(If you\u2019re low on credits or prefer to analyze keywords manually, you can select the first option.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Options](\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/florist-keyword-ideas-found.jpg\" "\\"Options")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n2. Use the Word Count Filter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Once you\u2019ve made your selection, you\u2019ll get a keyword report that looks like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"LowFruits](\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/los-angeles-florist-kw-report-1024x432.jpg\" "\\"Keyword")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nRight off the bat, we can see that the first results are all long-tail keywords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, to ensure we\u2019re only<\/em> getting long-tail results, let\u2019s apply a filter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Click the pre-analysis filter<\/strong> from the top menu bar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Pre-analysis](\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pre-analysis-filter.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThis action will open a pop-out menu of filters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Expand the # Words<\/strong> (word count) filter, and set the min to your desired word count. For long-tail keywords, we\u2019ll use 3<\/strong> and click Apply<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Word](\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/word-count-filter-1024x862.jpg\" "\\"Word")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOur list now only shows keywords consisting of 3 more words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At this stage, you\u2019ve successfully generated a list of long-tail keyword ideas<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, let\u2019s use LowFruits to its full potential and see how we can prioritize which of these keywords to target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Curate Easy Ranking Opportunities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s where LowFruits really shines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can curate your keyword list to have easy keywords that empower your content strategy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re going to refine our list in further by using an additional filter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Select the SERP Difficulty Score<\/strong> (SD) filter and set the max<\/strong> to 1<\/strong>. This is the LowFruits version of keyword difficulty<\/a>, with 1 being the easiest and 3 the hardest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"SERP](\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/florist-sd-filter-1024x446.jpg\" "\\"Keyword")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nNow, our keyword report has long-tail keywords with an easy SD<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You should also pay special attention to the Weak Spots<\/strong> column. These are weak domains ranking on the first page of Google for that keyword. They have a domain authority below 20, meaning they\u2019re easy to outrank even for new websites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The more weak spots there are for a keyword, the easier it will be to win one of the top positions<\/strong> on the SERP<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Long-tail](\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/sd-weak-spots-lowfruits-1024x487.jpg\" "\\"Long-Tail")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAt this point, you have several long-tail keywords<\/strong> that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Have an easy keyword difficulty<\/strong> (1 SD)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Have multiple weak spots <\/strong>on the SERP<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
This is a dream list of easy ranking opportunities for a small business or new website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s packed with content ideas and the exact keywords you can use to maximize your visibility in search results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to Find Long-Tail Keywords for Free<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
While LowFruits is one of the best long-tail keyword research tools on the market, there are ways to get keyword ideas for free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are 3 methods for finding free long-tail keywords using Google:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Use Google Autocomplete<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Google Autocomplete <\/strong>is an effective method for generating long keyword ideas. Start by typing in your short-tail keyword (don\u2019t hit enter) and see what results it gives you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Google](\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/google-auto-complete-939x1024.jpg\" "\\"Google")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe Autocomplete feature gives you related searches to your seed keyword.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can add these long-tail keywords to a spreadsheet and repeat the process with another keyword.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(As we saw earlier, LowFruits uses Google Autocomplete to generate keyword ideas. However, it does it automatically, so you don\u2019t have to perform several searches. This makes it a huge time-saver over the manual process.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Scan the People Also Ask Box<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The People Also Ask<\/strong> (PAA) box is another great resource for finding long-tail keywords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This section of the SERP offers users related questions to their search.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Google](\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/long-tail-keywords-google-paa-1024x441.jpg\" "\\"People")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIn our example, we have 4 results of long-tail keywords in question form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As you expand a question to reveal the answer, the list will continue to grow, offering new related questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You could continue expanding results to get more keyword ideas indefinitely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Look at People Also Search for Results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The final place to check on Google for free long-tail keyword ideas is the People also search for<\/strong> results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These are related searches to the user\u2019s initial query.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can find these results by scrolling to the bottom of the SERP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"People](\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/people-also-search-for-keywords-1024x791.jpg\" "\\"Google")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nLike the other steps, go ahead and add these keywords to your spreadsheet to use for your content strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
WordPress Users: Long-Tail Keyword Research Tool<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Since many of you use WordPress, I\u2019d also like to recommend a final tool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All in One SEO<\/a> (AIOSEO) is an SEO plugin with unique keyword research capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It connects with your Semrush account to generate keyword ideas directly in the WordPress editor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s a brief overview of how it works:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Set a <\/strong>focus keyword<\/strong><\/a> in the post or page you\u2019re working on.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Add](\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/aioseo-focus-keyword-1024x381.jpg\" "\\"Add")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n2. Click Get Keyphrases.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Get](\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/get-additional-keyphrases-aioseo.jpg\" "\\"Get")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n3. Select long-tail keywords from the generated list.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ll get a list of keywords, many of which will be long-tail keywords. You can click Add Keyphrase<\/strong> to include it in your content optimizations. Once you\u2019ve made the optimizations for that keyword, TruSEO<\/a> will let you know how it performs in a series of SEO checks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Long-tail](\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/additional-keyphrases-aioseo-1024x775.jpg\" "\\"Long-Tail")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOverall, if you\u2019re a WordPress user who wants to streamline the long-tail keyword research process, AIOSEO\u2019s integration with Semrush makes it super fast and easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Long-tail keywords are highly specific search terms that can significantly boost your SEO efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By understanding their unique characteristics and leveraging them in your content, you can attract more targeted traffic and improve your website's rankings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As for what\u2019s next, here are some resources for optimizing your content for maximum visibility:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- 15 SEO Best Practices That Really Work (& How To Do Them)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 7 Tips to Improve Your Organic Clickthrough Rate (CTR)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- How to Write Meta Descriptions [Best Practices & Examples]<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Keyword Density: What It Is & How to Calculate It [3 Methods]<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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- 7 Tips to Improve Your Organic Clickthrough Rate (CTR)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Have multiple weak spots <\/strong>on the SERP<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Have an easy keyword difficulty<\/strong> (1 SD)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 2. Scan the People Also Ask Box<\/a><\/li>
- 2. Use the Word Count Filter<\/a><\/li>
- Long-Tail Keyword Examples<\/a><\/li>