WHAT ARE LONG TAIL KEYWORDS?

If you’ve ever tried to rank on Google using a simple, one-word keyword, you’ve realised that it’s about as effective as shouting into the void. That’s where long tail keywords come in. They’re the secret weapon of SEO, less competitive, highly targeted, and much better at bringing in people who want what you’re offering.

A long tail keyword is a longer, more specific phrase that people type into search engines when they know exactly what they’re looking for. Instead of searching for “shoes,” someone might type “best running shoes for flat feet” or “comfortable leather boots for winter.” These keywords tend to have lower search volume but much higher conversion rates because they match what users want.

The reason they’re called “long tail” is because of how they appear on a graph of search queries. Short, generic keywords have massive search volume, creating a spike at the start of the graph. Meanwhile, longer, more specific phrases make up the “tail” of the graph, hence the name.

Why Are Long Tail Keywords Important?

Long tail keywords may not bring in millions of searches, but they attract the right kind of traffic. Someone searching for “laptop” is just browsing, but someone searching for “best budget laptop for video editing under £1000” is much closer to making a purchase. That’s the power of long tail keywords, they connect you with people who are more likely to act, whether that’s buying a product, signing up for a newsletter or contacting you for services.

Another huge benefit is less competition. Ranking for “digital marketing” is impossible unless you’re an SEO wizard with a massive budget. But ranking for “best digital marketing strategies for small businesses”? That’s a much easier battle to win.

Long Tail Keyword Examples

To give you a clearer picture, here are some examples of long tail keywords in different industries:

• Fitness: “Best home workouts for weight loss without equipment”

• Travel: “Affordable holiday destinations in Europe for families”

• Tech: “How to fix a slow laptop without buying new parts”

• E-commerce: “Where to buy handmade scented candles online”

• Food: “Easy vegan dinner recipes with few ingredients”

These phrases may not get millions of searches per month, but the people using them know exactly what they want, and if your website provides the answer, they’re much more likely to click and engage.

How to Find Long Tail Keywords

If you want to uncover long tail keywords for your own niche, there are plenty of tools that can help. Google’s autocomplete feature is a great place to start, just type in a general keyword and see what suggestions pop up. Google’s “People Also Ask” and related searches at the bottom of the results page are also goldmines.

For a more data-driven approach, tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, Ahrefs and SEMrush can show you search volume, competition and even keyword difficulty. The trick is to find phrases that have a decent number of searches but aren’t so competitive that ranking for them feels like climbing Mount Everest in flip-flops.

Final Thoughts

Long tail keywords might not be flashy, but they’re one of the smartest SEO strategies out there. They help you attract the right audience, increase conversions and stand out from the competition. So, the next time you’re thinking about SEO, don’t just chase the biggest keywords, look for the hidden gems in the long tail. They might just be the key to boosting your traffic and growing your business.