If you want decent traffic then you need to think about long tails

Long tails are important if you want traffic

Ranking for keywords can be incredibly difficult. This is particularly true of keywords that are highly competitive. Shorter keywords tend to be the most competitive because they are more frequently used in search engines. At least, that used to be the case. However, thanks to new technology including voice recognition software, it’s become more common for users to search for long-tail keywords.

These are still less competitive which means that it’s far easier to rank and gain the attention or increases in traffic that you want.

To use long-tail keywords effectively, you need to complete research and find the options that are going to provide the greatest benefits for your business. There are a few possibilities that you can consider here.

Try Google Suggest

If you are looking for the easiest way to start researching long-tail keywords, then you might want to consider exploring Google suggest. When you access Google and you type in a starting point, Google will automatically provide the most searched for long-tail keywords. If you spot a phrase in these suggestions, then you’ll know that people are using this keyword. You’ll find that these won’t all be winners and it’s possible that the first options are quite competitive. However, by toying around with this option, you should be able to find at least a couple of possibilities as a starting point. Do be aware that they will often be quite out there particularly if you begin with a question.

This is also a smart way to explore content ideas that can be used once you settle on a few keywords to target.

Google Related Searches

If you’re still using Google as a starting point, then you can also consider exploring the related searches. These will appear at the bottom of the SERPs on the first page of the organic results. They are searches that other people have used and that Google believe could be connected to your own search.

When you have an idea of a keyword that you want to target, this is a great way to get some alternative options. You might even discover some key phrases that could be on-trend right now and that are piquing the interest of a potential audience.

Another benefit here is that they are more personalised. For instance, they will typically be based on your location. This means that they can be useful if you’re looking for ways to target a local customer base.

Use Analytics

You should be exploring keywords that are specifically related to your brand or your website. You can do this by check analytics online. Google Analytics is one possibility. This is going to tell you what people are searching for when they discover your site. You will discover the long-tail queries that could be driving traffic for you.

A good point to keep in mind here is that there might be keywords that are related to your business but you don’t yet have content for. So by finding the examples here, you can then adjust your business website to match. You can even create a page with a title that includes a specific long-tail keyword that is currently driving traffic to your site. Analytics provides a range of different options to explore. For instance, you can alter the time period you’re interested in which will help you find the most recent examples of popular queries.

Explore A Variety Of Tools

There are a variety of different long-tail keyword research tools and applications available that you can consider using. A common mistake is to limit yourself to one option that you are quite familiar and comfortable with. The problem here is that different tools provide different answers and options.

For instance, Google Trends is a great tool for finding topics that people are interested in right now. You can search for trends by the year, month or even week. It’s another fantastic way to ensure that you are providing content related to keywords that are on trend.

In contrast, social media tools including Twitter Search are going to reveal some of the long-tail keywords that people are searching for across different social networks. You should be starting to see how the tools you use can impact the results you find. You can also select different tools based on the goal of your promotional campaign.

Explore Question And Answer Sites

Another great resource for long-tail keywords is going to be Q&A sites. These are sites like Quora where people publically ask questions that they are seeking the answer to. The topics are wide and varied. It’s quite common for businesses to respond directly onthe site, particularly if they see a chance for lead generation or even a potential sale. It’s also a smart way to engage with an audience.

However, for the purpose of keyword research, the questions being asked can be fantastic examples of long-tail keywords. You can even create content around these questions and ensure that you are providing a clear answer on your site. As well as helping you rank, it could lead to your site being used as an example of the answer to the question in the Google SERPs.

Explore Competitors

Finally, you can always consider examples from competitors. Click their site for different keyword variations and look at the pages that are getting the highest rankings. You can then use these keywords or similar long-tail keywords on your site to great effect. It doesn’t even need to be a direct competitor. Instead, you can search a keyword you’re interested in through Google. Then check out the first and second websites in the organic results. Look at the page and try to find the variations of the keyword they are using as well as exploring the type of content they have built around them.

We hope this helps you find the best long-tail keywords and phrases for your businesses. It’s a fantastic way to ensure that your brand is beating the competition and gaining more customers for your business online.