Long tail keywords are specific search phrases consisting of three or more words that users enter into search engines when looking for detailed information or products. Unlike broad, generic keywords, these highly targeted phrases capture user intent more precisely and represent a powerful opportunity for businesses to attract qualified traffic and improve their search rankings.
What Are Long Tail Keywords?
Long tail keywords are extended, specific search phrases that typically contain three or more words and address niche topics or detailed queries. While a short-tail keyword might be “running shoes,” a long tail version would be “best cushioned running shoes for flat feet”. These keywords get their name from the “long tail” of the search demand curve, where less popular but highly specific searches collectively represent a significant portion of overall search volume.
The specificity of long tail keywords makes them incredibly valuable for matching user intent. When someone searches for “organic cotton baby clothes” instead of just “baby clothes,” they have a clear idea of what they want, making them more likely to convert. This precision allows businesses to create content that directly addresses specific user needs and questions.
Why are Long Tail Keywords Important for SEO?
Long tail keywords play a crucial role in modern SEO strategy by helping websites compete effectively in search results while attracting highly qualified traffic. They offer a practical pathway for new and established websites to gain visibility without competing directly against major brands for generic terms.
These keywords align tightly with search intent, which search engines prioritize when ranking content. By targeting long tail keywords, websites can rank for specific queries that match exactly what users are searching for, leading to better engagement metrics and improved overall SEO performance.
Reason #1: Long tail keywords aren’t that competitive
Long tail keywords typically have lower search volumes and significantly less competition compared to broader, generic keywords. This reduced competition makes it easier to achieve higher rankings in search engine results for these specific terms, even if you’re a smaller website competing against established players.
The specificity of long tail keywords creates natural barriers to competition because fewer websites optimize for these detailed phrases. While thousands of websites might target “digital marketing,” far fewer optimize for “digital marketing strategies for B2B SaaS startups”. This allows you to dominate niche search queries and build topical authority in specific areas without massive SEO budgets.
Reason #2: Long tail keywords can have higher conversion rates
It consistently delivers higher conversion rates because they attract users who are further along in their buying journey and have specific intent. A user searching for “running shoes” might be in the early research phase, but someone searching for “best cushioned running shoes for flat feet” knows exactly what they need and is closer to making a purchase.
Research and case studies demonstrate that long tail keywords significantly boost conversion rates due to their ability to target focused audiences. For example, an online store specializing in eco-friendly products targeted long tail keywords like “organic cotton baby clothes” and “reusable silicone food storage bags” and experienced substantial increases in conversions because users searching these specific terms were more likely to make purchases. Additionally, in pay-per-click campaigns, long tail keywords tend to have lower cost-per-click rates and achieve higher click-through rates than generic keywords.
How to Find Long Tail Keywords
Finding effective long tail keywords requires a combination of free and paid tools, along with strategic thinking about your audience’s search behavior. The following methods will help you discover valuable long tail opportunities that align with your content strategy and business goals.
1. Google “Searches Related to…”
Google’s “Searches Related to” feature appears at the bottom of search results pages and provides excellent long tail keyword suggestions based on actual user searches. Simply search for your main keyword, scroll to the bottom of the results page, and examine the related searches that Google displays.
These suggestions are particularly valuable because they represent real queries that users are actively searching for, giving you direct insight into search patterns and intent. You can click on any related search to see additional related searches, allowing you to dive deeper into specific topics and discover increasingly specific long tail variations.
2. Semrush Keyword Magic Tool
Semrush’s Keyword Magic Tool stands out as one of the most powerful paid options for finding long tail keywords, offering access to a database of 27.2 billion keywords with advanced filtering capabilities. To use it, enter a seed keyword, add your domain, choose your target country, and the tool generates extensive lists of long tail variations.
The tool provides crucial metrics including search volume, keyword difficulty, competition levels, and personal keyword difficulty scores specific to your domain. You can apply filters based on word count, search volume ranges, and other parameters to identify long tail opportunities that match your specific needs and competitive capabilities.
3. Answer The Public
AnswerThePublic generates common questions, prepositions, and comparisons related to your seed keyword by analyzing queries from social media, blogs, and forums. The tool visualizes keyword suggestions in an intuitive format, making it easy to identify question-based long tail keywords that address specific user needs.
The tool is particularly effective for discovering comparison keywords in the “versus” section, where you can find opportunities to rank for searches like “Instagram vs Snapchat”. These question-based and comparison keywords are excellent for creating content that directly answers user queries and captures featured snippet opportunities.
4. Forums and Boards
Forums, Reddit, and industry-specific boards provide authentic insights into how your target audience actually talks about topics in your niche. By analyzing conversations on platforms like Reddit and specialized forums, you can discover valuable keywords that traditional SEO tools might miss because they don’t reveal how people naturally search.
To use forums effectively, search for relevant subreddits or forum sections in your niche and analyze highly upvoted threads to identify frequently asked questions. Examine the language users employ when discussing problems and solutions, as these phrases often represent untapped long tail keyword opportunities with clear search intent.
5. Google Autocomplete
Google Autocomplete leverages the search engine’s suggestion system to provide long tail keyword ideas based on popular queries. As you type a keyword into Google’s search bar, the autocomplete feature displays up to a dozen ways to complete your search phrase, representing primary long tail keywords that real users are searching for.
One powerful technique is to add different characters or spaces after your keyword to generate varied suggestions. For example, typing “skin health ” with a space at the end produces different results than “skin health a” or “skin health b”. You can also add question words like “who,” “what,” “how,” and “why” before or after your keyword to discover question-based long tail variations.
6. Soovle
Soovle aggregates keyword suggestions from over 15 different search engines and platforms including Google, Bing, Yahoo, Amazon, and YouTube. This multi-platform approach provides a comprehensive view of how users search across different channels, helping you discover long tail opportunities beyond just Google.
The tool displays real-time autocomplete suggestions from multiple sources simultaneously, allowing you to export keyword data in CSV format for easy analysis. Soovle’s ability to pull suggestions from various platforms makes it particularly valuable for e-commerce sites and content creators who want to optimize for multiple search ecosystems.
7. People Also Ask Boxes
Google’s “People Also Ask” (PAA) boxes appear in search results and contain related questions that users frequently search for on a given topic. These boxes dynamically expand as you click on questions, revealing deeper layers of related queries that represent excellent long tail keyword opportunities.
PAA boxes are particularly valuable because they show you exactly what questions Google considers relevant to your topic, and answering these questions in your content can help you capture featured snippet positions. Specialized tools can mine these questions and cluster them based on search intent, providing a structured approach to discovering question-based long tail keywords.
8. Google Search Console Performance Report
Google Search Console’s Performance Report reveals the actual search queries that are already driving traffic to your website, making it one of the most valuable sources for long tail keyword discovery. Navigate to the Performance report and filter by “Queries” to view the search terms for which your site currently ranks.
This data is particularly powerful because it shows you long tail keywords you’re already ranking for but may not have intentionally optimized. You can identify queries with high impressions but low click-through rates, representing opportunities to improve existing content and capture more traffic. Additionally, you can use regex filters to find question keywords in your data, helping you discover specific query patterns that drive traffic to your site.
9. Google Trends
Google Trends helps you understand the popularity and seasonality of long tail keywords over time, allowing you to identify emerging trends and optimize your content calendar accordingly. While it doesn’t provide search volume numbers, it shows relative interest and geographic distribution of search terms.
The tool is particularly useful for comparing multiple long tail keyword variations to determine which phrases are gaining or losing popularity. You can also discover related queries and topics that are currently trending, helping you stay ahead of the curve and create timely content around rising long tail keywords.
10. Quora
Quora provides direct access to questions that real people are asking about topics in your niche, making it an excellent source for discovering long tail keyword opportunities. Search for keywords related to your industry and identify the most followed questions with detailed answers, as these indicate high-interest topics.
The language people use in their Quora questions often mirrors how they search on Google, giving you authentic long tail keyword phrases that traditional keyword tools might not surface. By analyzing the questions that generate the most engagement and answers, you can identify content gaps and create comprehensive resources that address these specific user needs.
How to Use Long Tail Keywords
Once you’ve identified valuable long tail keywords, implementing them effectively in your content strategy is crucial for maximizing their SEO and conversion benefits. The key is to use these keywords naturally while creating content that genuinely addresses user intent.
Start by understanding your buyer personas and mapping long tail keywords to different stages of the customer journey. Include your exact long tail keyword phrase verbatim in strategic locations including the title tag, meta description, URL, H1 heading, and naturally throughout the body content. For example, if your keyword is “how to clean a French press,” your H1 could be “How to Clean a French Press: Step-by-Step Instructions”.
Beyond the exact match phrase, incorporate variations and synonyms of your main keyword throughout the content. For the French press example, you might use related phrases like “cleaning a French press coffee maker,” “washing a French press,” or “French press cleaning instructions”. This semantic SEO approach helps you rank for multiple long tail variations while signaling to Google that your content comprehensively covers the topic.
Focus on creating high-quality content that solves user problems rather than simply stuffing keywords into your pages. Target two to three low-volume long tail keywords per piece of content, ensuring they fit naturally into your writing. Build internal links from related pages on your site to your new long tail optimized content, using the long tail keyword in the anchor text to pass authority and help the page rank better. Remember that SEO is a long-term strategy, and consistently producing helpful content that matches user intent will deliver better results over time.
