Finding Long-Tail Keywords
Unlike short-tail (1-2 words) or mid-tail (3 words) keywords, finding long-tail (3+ words) keywords is a process that involves having a deeper understanding of your industry, niche or products, target audience, and the specific phrases they use when searching online. It is also knowing your online competition and investigating the strategies they are using.
If you want to start at the beginning, you can learn more about Keywords here: What is Keyword Optimisation?
12 Steps to identify long-tail keywords successfully:
Using this list as a beginner’s guide, you can systematically generate and then use long-tail keywords to enhance your Content and SEO Strategy. Some tools mentioned below have paid and then also free plans, for if you are just starting out on your SEO Keyword adventures.
By combining these steps, you can build a comprehensive list of long-tail keywords to keep to hand, to assist in generating content that resonates with your target audience and enhances your visibility in search results.
To start, grab a pen and paper (you are going to have to trust me on this one, it has to do with brain activity in recalling tasks and for this one, you are going to have to connect the dots) – you can transfer your initial findings to an electronic format later). You’ll see the process as you go through the list, and as to why I have said this.
1. Define Your Topic or Niche:
Begin by gaining a deeper understanding of your niche or industry and identify the specific topics, themes, and subcategories relevant to your content, business, or products.
- What is it exactly that you do or sell?
- What is the main intention? (write a few suggestions) Selling more products? Bringing in more business? Expanding your online presence? Driving more traffic to your site?
Refine this by then focusing on the themes or topics you want to emphasise in your content, as this is the beginning of ensuring valuable long-tail keyword generation.
2. Identify Seed Keywords:
Choose a few primary keywords that relate to your defined themes or topic. These will serve as the starting point for further seed words and then long-tail variations.
- List a few primary keywords related to your main topic.
- Brainstorm primary Sub-Topics to further explore Seed Keywords:
- Then list broader topics related to your niche.
- Think about specific aspects or questions within those topics.
3. Understand Your Audience:
Put yourself in the user’s shoes, consider their perspective. Think about the questions they might have, the problems they are trying to solve, or the information they’re seeking. This empathy helps uncover the language users might use in their searches. Consider the specific needs, interests, and challenges of your audience.
- Define your target audience based on demographics, interests, and needs.
- Answer who is your target audience?
- If you were them, what specific information or solutions are they looking for?
- Conduct surveys or analyse customer feedback to understand their specific queries and pain points.
Learn more: 12 Steps to identify your target audience
4. Brainstorm Long-Tail Variations:
- Expand on each seed keyword by creating longer more specific phrases.
- Consider adding specialised details, or unique qualifiers that align with your audience’s interests.
- Consider geographical specifics. If your target audience is location-specific, incorporate geographical terms into your long-tail keywords. This ensures relevance for users searching for services or products in a particular location.
5. Use Natural Language:
Long-tail keywords often mimic natural language. Consider how users might phrase their queries in conversational terms and incorporate these phrases into your keyword strategy. (See Point Number 9)
Long-Tail Keyword Formulas use question-based queries (who, what, where, when, why, how). Combine words like “best”, “tips”, “guide,” or “for beginners”.
6. Evaluate Search Intent:
Understand the intent behind different search queries. Long-tail keywords often reflect specific user intent, whether it’s informational, navigational, or transactional. Align your keywords with the user’s likely intent.
- Understand the intent behind each long-tail keyword.
- Is it informational, navigational, transactional, or related to a specific query?
- Ensure that your content aligns with the user’s intent for the chosen keywords.
Read more about search intent here: Search Intent Categories
7. Use Keyword Tools:
Leverage keyword research tools such as Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, Ahrefs, Ubersuggest, or other similar tools. These provide valuable insights into the search volume, competition, and variations of specific keywords along with combinations of words that align with your content or product offerings. Identify search volume and competition for potential long-tail keywords.
- Enter your seed keywords to discover related long-tail variations.
- Look for other related terms and variations suggested by these tools.
- Assess the search volume and competition level for potential long-tail keywords.
- Prioritise those with a balance between relevance to you and achievable rankings.
8. Check Competitor Keywords:
- Identify your competitors in your niche.
- Check competitor keywords. Investigate the keywords your competitors are targeting. This can provide insights into successful long-tail keyword strategies within your industry.
- Analyse your competitors’ content and discover the long-tail keywords they are targeting.
- Find the specific phrases and questions they address.
- Consider the keywords they rank for and explore opportunities to create better, more targeted content.
9. Check Trending Topics:
- Use Google Suggest. Start typing relevant keywords into Google search. Utilise the suggestions that appear as you type for potential long-tail keyword ideas.
- Stay updated on industry trends using tools like Google Trends or industry publications.
- Find topics that are gaining popularity and incorporate relevant long-tail keywords.
- Explore discussions on social media and platforms like Reddit, Quora, and Q&A websites related to your niche.
- Look for user queries. Analyse the questions and phrases users commonly use.
This qualitative approach can also reveal the language your audience naturally employs. (See Point Number 5)
10. Explore Related Searches:
Go to a search engine such as Google, Yahoo, or Bing and search your seed keyword, then scroll down on the search results page to find “People also ask” section, it can usually be found after the first few results on the page.
Then a little further down “Searches related to” for more keyword suggestions (On Bing it is a popout side menu to the left, they also have a similar popup for explore, for images – related to the search term)
11. Create Content Around Long-Tail Keywords:
- Plan and create content, such as posts, articles, or pages (and even product descriptions) that target the specific long-tail keywords you’ve identified.
- Ensure your content offers valuable and is relevant.
- Plan your on-page SEO, remember Title Tags, Meta descriptions, Header Tags, etc. (See reading list at the end of this article)
12. Test, Monitor and Refine:
- Test different long-tail keywords in your content and monitor performance.
- Regularly review the performance of your chosen long-tail keywords using analytics tools.
- Adjust your strategy based on changes in user behaviour, search trends, or industry developments.
Remember that the goal is to find specific, niche-focused long-tail keywords that align with your business and resonate with your target audience. Incorporate them into your content and optimise for search engines. Regularly revisit and update your long-tail keyword strategy to stay in tune with evolving user trends and search behaviours.
Learn more about the Key Components of On-page SEO in these Articles:
- On-Page SEO: A Guide for Website Content and Blog Articles
- Title Tags and Meta Descriptions
- Content Snippets
- Header Tags (H1, H2, etc.)
- URL Structures
- Keyword Optimisation
- Image Alt Text
- Internal and External Links
- Anchor Links
and to learn more about content creation, you can read about Evergreen Content and Pillar Method for Content Creation.