In the ever-evolving digital marketing landscape and SEO, long tail keywords have emerged as a crucial factor for success. This expert guide is your key to unlocking the power of long-tail keywords and giving you actionable insights into their potential.
Whether you’re an SEO beginner or a seasoned pro, get ready to explore!
What Are Long Tail Keywords?
Long tail keywords are keywords that consist of three or more words and have low search volume, low competition, and high specificity. Unlike short, general keywords, long-tail keywords are more like detailed questions or statements.
For example, “shoes” is a short-tailed keyword with high search volume, high competition, and low specificity. It is a broad and generic term that can refer to any shoe type for any purpose or occasion.
Meanwhile, “best running shoes for flat feet” or “comfortable running shoes for women with high arches” are examples of long-tail keywords. They are narrow and specific terms with low search volume, lower competition, and high specificity.
How Long Tail Keywords Affect Your SEO?
Knowing the importance of long tail keywords is like having a secret key that unlocks the full potential of your online presence. These more extended phrases have positive impacts on your on-page SEO strategy, including:
Higher ranking
Long-tail keywords help you rank higher in the search results because they have less competition and more relevance. Since fewer websites target long-tail keywords, you have a better chance of outranking them and getting to the top positions.

Moreover, long-tail keywords match the user’s intent and expectations more closely than short-tail keywords. Therefore, you have a better chance of satisfying users and getting rewarded by the search engines.
More traffic
Long-tail keywords have a higher click-through rate (CTR) and lower bounce rate than short-tail ones. They will draw more traffic to your site if you use them effectively. Also, they are more specific and descriptive, thus attracting more clicks from users.
Besides, long-tail keywords provide more relevant and valuable information than short-tail counterparts. As a result, they can reduce the bounce rate of users who leave your website without taking any action.
More conversions
Finally, these long keywords help you generate more conversions on your website with lower cost per acquisition (CPA). As mentioned above, long-tail keywords target a niche or specific audience or topic. Therefore, they convert more users ready to buy or take action on your website.

Last but not least, long-tail keywords have less competition and lower bid prices. That’s why they will reduce the cost of reaching new customers or leads on your website.
How Does The Long Tail Keyword Work?
The idea of a long tail keyword comes from the “long tail distribution.” It’s a way to describe how some things happen a lot but not very often, while others occur only a little but quite frequently.
This concept helps us understand why some words are used many in searches while others are used less often but still matter. The term “long tail” refers to the shape of the distribution curve with a long and thin end.
The long tail keyword works by targeting the niche and specific keywords that have low search volume and low frequency but high relevance and conversion potential. By targeting these keywords, you can rank higher and reach a smaller but more qualified audience.
4 Best Free Tool To Find Long Tail Keywords
Knowing how to find long tail keywords might be a game-changer for your SEO strategy. There are many tools available online that can simplify this process, including:
Google Autocomplete
Google Autocomplete is a special feature that suggests possible search queries as you type into Google’s search box. You can use Google Autocomplete to find long-tail keywords by entering your main keyword or phrase. Then, wait and see what other words or phrases Google suggests.

For example, if you enter “how to make pizza,” Google may suggest “how to make pizza dough,” “how to make pizza sauce,” “how to make pizza at home,” etc. These are long-tail keywords that you can use in your content.
Google Keyword Planner
Google Keyword Planner is another free method to find keyword ideas and search volume for your SEO and PPC campaigns. As one of the best keyword research tools, you can use it to find long tail keywords by using the Discover New Keywords option.
Start by entering your main keyword or a URL related to your topic. The tool will then give you a list of relevant keywords with their average monthly searches, competition, and bid range. Filter the results by location, language, date range, and search network. Try it out now and boost your online success!
Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer
Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer is a paid tool that helps you effectively in longtail keyword research. It allows you to conduct in-depth research and analysis for your SEO and PPC campaigns.

The best thing is you can use Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer for free with some limitations. Here is how you can use this tool to find long-tail keywords:
- Visit Ahrefs’ Keywords Explore and choose the Keyword Ideas option.
- Enter your primary keyword or a URL related to your topic and get a list of semantic keywords with their search volume, difficulty, CPC, SERP features, and related keywords.
- Filter the results by country, device, date range, and search engine.
Semrush’s Keyword Magic Tool

The final tool we want to introduce is Semrush’s Keyword Magic Tool. It is a real gem for doing in-depth research on long-tail keywords. Here’s how it works:
- Start by typing in a “seed keyword.”
- Once you’ve hit the search button, it quickly serves up many different versions of that keyword.
- Make the list shorter and find those elusive long-tail keywords by clicking the KD” drop-down at the top and selecting “Easy.”
Once you do that, you’ll see a treasure trove of long-tail keyword ideas appear on your screen. Ensure to use them and create high-quality content for a better outcome!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are long-tail keywords?
Long tail keywords are keywords that consist of three or more words and have low search volume, low competition, and high specificity. They are also known as niche keywords because they target a narrow or specific audience or topic.
What is an example of long-tail focus keywords?
An example of long-tail focus keywords is “best-running shoes for flat feet.” This phrase targets a specific type of shoe for a specific foot type. It has low search volume, low competition, and high specificity.
What are examples of short and long-tail keywords?
Examples of short and long-tail keywords are:
- “shoes” and “best-running shoes for flat feet“
- “pizza” and “how to make pizza dough“
- “keyword” and “what is a long tail keyword“
Conclusion
We hope that this article has provided you with some valuable insights on long-tail keywords. As they can help you rank higher, drive more traffic, and create more conversions, remember to use long tail keywords wisely.
If you want to learn more about SEO or find professional and affordable SEO services for your website, check out the best Michigan SEO company – ROI Digitally. We’re here to boost your online presence and help your business thrive.
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Co-Founder & General Manager @ ROI Digitally