You might be asking yourself, “What the heck are long-tail keywords?” But they could be the secret weapon you need to level up your SEO game.
What Are Long-Tail Keywords?
Think of long-tail keywords as the opposite of short and sweet. Instead, they’re longer phrases that are more specific and targeted. For example, “sneakers” might be a short-tail keyword, while “size 12 men’s basketball sneakers” would be a long-tail keyword.
What are the benefits?
Longer keywords offer several benefits over short-tail keywords. Here’s why they matter:
- Less competition: When you’re trying to rank for a broad term like “sneakers,” you’re up against every brand on the planet. But when you go after a longer keyword like “size 12 men’s basketball sneakers,” you’re facing less competition and have a better chance of ranking higher.
- Higher conversion rates: Because long-tail keywords are more specific, the people who find your content are more likely to be interested in what you’re offering. That means they’re more likely to stay on your site, engage with your content, and even make a purchase.
- Better targeting: With longer keywords, you can target your content to very specific audiences. This can help you build a loyal following and establish yourself as an authority in your niche.
How to Find Long-Tail Keywords
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to finding longer keywords, but you might try:
- Using Google’s auto-suggest feature to see what people are searching for
- Analyzing the keywords that your competitors are using
- Thinking about what phrases your customers might use when they’re looking for your product or service
Best Practices for Incorporating them into Your SEO Strategy
Here are a few tips for getting the most out of your long-tail keywords:
- Use them in your page titles, meta descriptions, and headings
- Make sure your content is high-quality and matches searcher intent
- Create content that specifically targets long-tail keywords
Long-tail keywords might not be the sexiest topic in the world, but they’re incredibly powerful. Keyword research and analysis is one of the many components offered as part of our Woods MarCom’s strategy service. Reach out and contact us if you want to level up your website and start leveraging a stronger keyword strategy. Your rankings–and your bottom line–will thank you.
