A ‘long tail keyword’ is an incredibly powerful tool for marketers and businesses looking to increase their search-engine visibility and website traffic. Put simply, long tail keywords are a combination of words or phrases that someone is likely to type into a search engine like Google when looking for something specific.
These long tail keywords can have a greater impact than just individual keywords, as they help search engines identify content that’s more useful and relevant to a searcher’s intention. They can also open up opportunities to new markets and niches that you may not have previously captured.
Using long tail keywords can give your site a real SEO boost and help attract more targeted, qualified traffic to your website. They are also much less competitive than traditional keywords, so it may be easier for your content to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).
Understanding Long Tail Keywords
Before you can make use of long tail keywords in your marketing activities, it’s important to understand what they are and why they are so powerful.
Put simply, a long tail keyword is a search term that consists of multiple words, usually three or more. These words are strung together naturally to create a phrase that people would naturally use when searching for a specific type of information.
For example, if you wanted to sell luxury watches, you might use the keyword ‘luxury watches.’ However, this term is so generic and popular that it’s unlikely that you’ll stand out from the competition. Instead, you might use the long tail keyword ‘luxury watches for men.’ This is more targeted and specific than the single keyword, and will likely lead to higher quality traffic and better conversion rates.
Another example might be the keyword ‘console games.’ This is too broad, so to attract more targeted visitors, you could use the long tail keyword ‘PS4 games for children.’
Understanding Your Audience
Now that you know what a long tail keyword is and how it can help your site, the next step is to understand your target audience. When it comes to long tail keywords, the more specific you can be with the type of visitors you’re targeting, the better.
Think about who you’re trying to reach and what type of information they’re looking for. Try to get in the mind of your target audience and consider what search terms they might type into a search engine rather than simply guessing.
You might also want to conduct keyword research to find out which terms your target demographic is already using and how popular they are. This will give you a better understanding of the types of phrases your audience uses and help you come up with effective long tail keywords.
Using Long Tail Keywords Effectively
Become a Sales & Marketing Rainmaker
Learn valuable skills to win more customers, grow your business, and increase your profits.
Once you’ve come up with a list of potential long tail keywords, it’s time to incorporate them into your website’s content.
Start by including them in your page titles as this will help search engine spiders identify the page and its content more precisely. It’s also important to use the keywords in the meta description and headings throughout the page. This will not only help search engines rank your content higher, but it will also make the page more appealing to visitors.
In addition, use the keywords in the body copy naturally, but avoid ‘stuffing' or overusing them or you risk getting penalised by search engines. Don’t forget to check your spelling and grammar too, as you want your content to be easy to read and understand.
Finally, it’s important to track and measure the impact of your long tail keywords. Use Google Analytics to monitor your website’s performance and find out which pages are performing best. Ensuring that your long tail keywords are working for you is essential for the success of your SEO and marketing strategies.
General Guidelines and Best Practices
To summarise, here are some general guidelines and best practices when it comes to using long tail keywords:
• Research your target audience and use the keywords they are likely to use when searching;
• Utilise keyword research tools to come up with potential keywords;
• Include the long tail keywords in your page titles, meta descriptions, and headlines;
• Use the keywords naturally in the main body of your content, but don’t ‘stuff’ them;
• Make sure your spelling and grammar is correct;
• Monitor your website’s performance and check the impact of your keywords.
Using long tail keywords effectively can give your website a real SEO boost and can help you attract the right kind of visitors. Although it may take time and effort, the end result of increased traffic and improved conversion rates will be more than worth it.