Marketing is always a significant concern for many online business owners who want to build their own websites. It’s the only way to get their goods or services in front of people without a brick-and-mortar presence. And sometimes getting ads and content in front of people isn’t enough.
Online businesses need to target the right people.
So, it’s not enough to use basic SEO keywords in content and advertising. You need to go that extra mile and integrate long-tail keywords into the mix.
If you need an overview on how to identify long tail keywords, you’ve come to the right place. Keep reading to learn more about identifying long-tail keywords and some valuable tools to help you get started.
How to Identify Long Tail Keywords With 5 Simple Research Strategies
You know the primary keywords for your online business, but now it’s time to do some research. Check out some basic strategies for determining the most popular keywords for your business.
Google is an online business owner’s dream, especially for those just starting. Think of it like that best friend who always knows what’s trending. Google’s matrix makes it simple to find out what people are interested in and how they’re looking for it, and best of all – it’s free. Here’s how it works.
Google-Related Searches
Anytime you use a Google Search bar, you may see a list of keywords related to the one you conduct at the bottom of the first page. It usually says, ‘Searches related to…’ and then your search keywords, and they’re typically long-tailed. You can find many long-tailed keywords related to your queries right there for the taking.
Google Suggests
Google Suggestions are another source for long-tailed keywords. Simply begin typing your base keyword into the search box and see what Google suggests for you. If you see it in the suggestion box, it’s a good bet that plenty of other people have searched that exact phrase already.
Keep in mind, though, that just because it shows up on ‘Google Suggests’ doesn’t mean it’s automatically a viable option. You still have to research and find out how it ranks in different search engines.
Google Trends
Google Trends is an excellent place to find keywords that are trending right now. The helpfulness of trending keywords may vary depending on your industry, but it can give you an idea of what people care about at the moment.
Keyword Search Tools
If you’ve exhausted your Google tools, there are other places you can look for long-tail keyword ideas. Try the search bar on social media platforms like YouTube and Twitter. Or you can try WordStream’s free keyword tool for more options.
Also, there are a variety of SEO tools on the market right now. You may have to pay a premium for their exclusive features, but the trade-off is a more efficient way to conduct SEO analysis. Plus, most tools offer extras that can help with overall SEO optimization and traffic to your site.
Q&A Sites and Forums
When people have questions, they usually go to Q&A sites to get answers. Websites like Quora, Yahoo Answers, and LinkedIn Answers are great places to find some long-tailed keywords and get ideas about content.
If your online business is particularly niche, you can also try looking in popular forums related to your industry. Or you can always enter the following query into your search bar: [generic search term] + forum.
Analytics
Sometimes the best place for online business owners to find long-tailed keywords is right in their backyard. Check out keyword phrases that attract visitors to your website. The expression may not lead directly to a single page on your website, but it may be relevant enough to inspire you to add one.
Competitors
Checking out your competitors isn’t a bad thing when you use it for research purposes. Simply search for your keyword phrase and see what pops up on the organic results page. Check out the top-ranking pages or your competitor’s pages, and see which keywords they’re using.
FAQs
What is a Long-Tail Keyword (Examples)?
It’s easy to assume that long-tail keywords are called because of their length, but the explanation is not that simple. Instead, it has to do with a keyword’s specificity and likelihood to be included in ‘unpopular’ searches.
In a graphical representation, long-tailed keywords have a very long tail at the end of the graph because they aren’t searched very often. However, this may be a good thing because people who search for a specific term may be closer to the point of purchase than those looking for general information.
- Some examples of long-tail keywords include:
- Organic produce near me
- DIY office furniture recycled materials
- Antique love seat for sale near me
- International tax advice for individuals
- Best running shoes for women
How Many Words is a Long-Tail Keyword?
Word count doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with a long-tail keyword. Specificity is what matters when you’re trying to pinpoint long-tail keywords in your industry.
For example, if you’re searching for a hairstylist near you, searching ‘hair salon San Francisco’ is not necessarily a long-tail keyword. However, if you’re searching for the ‘best hair salon San Francisco 2021,’ it may be considered a long-tail keyword. Using precise words like ‘best’ and ‘2021’ turns a basic search into a niche one.
Do Long-Tail Keywords Still Work?
Yes, long-tail keywords still work for a variety of reasons, including:
- High conversion rates
- Low(er) competition
Online businesses that focus on long-tail keywords generally have a better click-through rate (CTR) than those focusing on basic search engine optimization keywords.
Why Focus on Long-Tail Keywords?
If there’s a lot of competition in your market, long-tail keywords are the way to go. These keywords can help you stand out amongst the competition by attracting visitors who have a specific search intent in mind and are closer to conversions.
How to Rank for Long-Tail Keywords?
You can use tools like Google Search, SERP Overview, and Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer to check out the top-ranking keywords and their position in search results. Longtail Pro is also a good option if you want to concentrate on only long-tail keywords in your SEO research.
Of course, there are a few free options like Keyword Tool Dominator and Wordtracker. They’re a good solution for businesses on a budget, but you may have to compromise functionality with free tool versions.
Recommendations
If you’re in the market for a helper on your long-tailed keyword search, look no further. Check out some of the top tools on the market to help with your keyword research process:
Ahrefs has many features to make you an SEO pro, or at least, seem like one. They almost offer too many tools and can seem overwhelming for new users. Once you get the hang of the different features, though, you’ll find that each one serves a purpose on your SEO journey.
Their most popular feature is called Site Explorer. The feature gives you valuable data about SEO performance, such as traffic information and backlinks on a web page or site. More specifically, though, it allows users to view organic traffic and backlinks in one place.
Ahrefs also has Keyword Explorer that can help with long-tail keyword research. Unlike other tools, you can analyze keywords from a variety of sources instead of one. The app pulls data from popular platforms like Amazon, Bing, YouTube, and Google. The possibilities are nearly endless with different data groups like search volume, CTR, and competition in a single report.
Ahrefs is a one-stop-shop for researching keyword rankings and competition keywords. It also has some great filtering options. One of the main features that make Ahrefs shine is the data collection across various websites. Most SEO tools focus on Google data to relay comprehensive information to its users. While Google is still one of the most used search engines globally, it isn’t the only place to find potential leads, and Ahrefs understands that.
If you’re looking into tools to help with search engine optimization, the odds are that SEMrush has come across your radar. They’ve been around since 2008 and have become one of the most popular tools for SEO in the industry.
The company gives you a lot of data to work with, and there are various ways to use it. Some of the most popular ways include link-building and website analysis for higher search ranking to increase traffic exponentially.
SEMrush gives you everything from keyword suggestions to rankings for specific phrases in searches. Their ‘Keyword Overview’ feature gives you different scores for ‘keyword difficulty’ and several searches per month and sites that rank for it.
Unfortunately, most of their metrics are based on Google-only searches. Other online businesses may want to focus on broader search engine metrics, but it may be a small compromise for those relatively small companies or who are first starting out.
SEMrush is relatively pricey, even at its lowest tier, in comparison to its competitors. However, it does pack many features into one price plan – and they’re still growing.
One of the best features for online business owners looking for SEO analysis is a feature called ‘SEO Ideas.’ The feature gives you possible keyword recommendations along with CTR optimization and projected traffic increases. SEO Ideas can save business owners time with proactive keyword suggestions and the data to back it up.
Longtail Pro is an SEO tool designed specifically for those elusive and unique keywords that turn strangers into viable leads. This handy tool does exactly what it says it does without all the extra bells and whistles and inflated prices to go with it.
Like SEMrush, Longtail Pro gives you a variety of keyword suggestions so that you can identify keyword opportunities quickly. Where this tool shines, though, is the ability to generate hundreds of results for seed keywords. The tool makes it simple to choose profitable keywords with low competition because it eliminates short tail keywords from its results. No more wading through overused keywords to find the perfect phrases to use.
Longtail Pro does exactly what it says it does without extras you may not need for your business. If you want a better way to search for less competitive long-tail keywords, this tool is your best bet, and it has a price point to match.
Give Your Keywords a Long Tail
Searching for the correct phrases to use for SEO content is one thing, but trying to find those that have a viable ranking is an entirely different story. Fortunately, online business owners don’t have to wonder how to identify long tail keywords by themselves. There are a variety of tools available to help your SEO research endeavor.
SEMrush is one of the best keyword research tools in the industry if you have the budget. Not only can it help you pinpoint the right keywords to use for SEO traffic, but it can also help with backlink analysis and pinpoint ways to optimize searches.
However, you’re still growing your business, or on a limited budget, Longtail Pro is also a good choice. It may not have all the extra features that SEMrush includes in its plan, but it’s a solid SEO tool with minimal monthly costs.
Just remember that limited queries don’t necessarily mean an SEO keyword can’t be lucrative. It’s these untapped waters that have the least competition and may have the most conversion potential, as long as you choose the right long-tails.
