When writing articles for your website, you should be extremely mindful when choosing the keywords.

They are one of the primary ranking factors in search engine result pages (SERPs). Particularly, long-tail

SEO keywords can significantly influence targeted traffic diversion to your website. Generally, these

keywords contain three or more words, and they help you reach specific audiences with less

competition. But how do you find the right ones? Let’s explore…

Understanding Long-Tail Keywords

Put simply, long-tail keywords are particular phrases that people enter into the search bar when looking

for information. They are different from broad keywords (“shoes,” “roses,” “hotels,” etc.) – long-tail

keywords are highly precise (“best shoes for flat feet,” “best falafels near me,” etc.).

Remember, these keywords probably bring you as much traffic as general terms. However, they will

attract targeted visitors who are more likely to make a purchase or show interest. That’s why long-tail

keywords are critical in local SEO.

Why are Long-Tail Keywords Important for SEO

Today, SEO is not an unconventional concept. Almost every business today prefers investing in search

engine optimisation to boost business. In this scenario, short, high-traffic keywords have become

fiercely competitive. Giant businesses with large budgets usually dominate these terms.

On the other hand, the long-tail keywords give a much more level playing field. They have lower search

volumes, but the competition is also moderate. Hence, these keywords can be extraordinarily beneficial

for businesses that critically depend on local SEO. Long-tail keywords are more specific; hence, you can

use them to rank for relevant searches.

Moreover, users searching for long-tail phrases are often further down the sales funnel. That means

they are more likely to convert.

How to Find Long-Tail Keywords

Now that you know the basics of long-tail keywords, here’s how you should find one –

Understand Your Audience

Start with understanding your target audience. Who are they? What are their problems? What is their

preferred language? What age group do they belong to? Knowing these answers helps you predict the

types of queries they usually put into the search bars.

Use Autocomplete

Google’s Autocomplete tool can give you a fantastic starting point when it comes to generating long-tail

keyword ideas. When you type a word/phrase into the search bar, Google generally suggests related

searches based on popular queries. Did you know these suggestions are often long-tail keywords that

people have already been looking for?

For example, if you type “SEO company,” Google will probably come up with terms like “SEO company

for small businesses” or “affordable SEO company for eCommerce.” Remember, all these are potential

long-tail keywords – you can target them in your articles.

Analyse Competitor Content

You can find result-driven long-tail keywords by studying your competitors’ content. Check the articles

that rank well for your industry-relevant broad keywords. What long-tail phrases are they using? If you

can’t figure it out, get help from tools like SEMRush or Ahrefs. Those can help you find out the

performing keywords.

You can identify gaps in your competitor's content by studying their articles. That way, finding long-tail keyword opportunities will become easier. For example, if a competitor is ranking for “the best

restaurants near me,” you may notice they have missed optimising phrases like “affordable restaurants

near me.”

Use Keyword Research Tools

Tools like Google Keyword Planner or Uber Suggest are great for discovering long-tail, niche-relevant

keywords. They can offer detailed insights into keyword difficulty, competition, and search volume. If

you are using these tools, look for keywords that have lower search volumes but higher industry

relevance.

Check People Also Ask Boxes

The People Also Ask section of Google search results can be a great resource for finding long-tail

keywords. If you enter a search term, Google generally shows a box that contains related questions that

users frequently ask. These questions can give you excellent long-tail SEO keywords to choose from.

Go for Cannibalisation

This is an out-of-the-box technique. Here, you don’t have to think about the necessary keywords.

Instead, you should focus on the topic you are writing on. Sometimes, the same words and phrases

convey different meanings and intent.

Even if you have used them similarly, the intent can change based on the topic. That said, the same

phrase for the service should exist on different content pages. Those pages should include products or

service pages for conversions.

Additionally, they should be in the guides you have written to help your consumers learn what and

where to purchase or how to prepare. So, here, the basic difference is that the topic should change

depending on your intent.

Now, on the conversion page, the phrase has to reinforce that this is where one should take action. For

example, in a how-to guide, there should be guidance about how to do a specific job, how to prepare for

the professionals to come, etc.

You will be surprised to know search engines are more intelligent than you have thought. They know the

intent of the content, so they show it up as required. That’s why it’s important to keep the intent clear

when creating content.

Leverage Hashtag Sites

Social media websites, these days, power up their search and algorithm with hashtags. Those hashtags

could give you a gold mine of topics. For instance, you can visit LinkedIn and click on any random

hashtag like #business. Now, see how many subscribers you have and how often it's used.

If your chosen hashtag is frequently used, check the posts within it. Try to figure out which one gets the

most comments and activity. Now, pick up those topics as a base for new content on your website.

Go for Variations

When choosing your keyword, pay equal attention to picking up the variations. For instance, if you are

targeting “best restaurants for falafels,” you can also include related terms like “the most affordable

falafels” or “fresh falafels near me.” These variations will help you capture additional search traffic. And

the best part? There won’t be any need to deviate from the core topic.

And that’s all you need to do to filter well-performing long-tail keywords for your business website. If

the entire thing looks too tricky, simply get help from a certified and experienced SEO company. It can

help you design the best strategies to reach the top of SERPs.