What Long-Tail Keywords Are Important for SEO Marketing

 

On the surface, choosing keywords for an SEO campaign can sound simple, but that’s far from true. Those short, simple keywords that are essentially a list of your products and services will rarely yield the results you’re looking for. Instead, you need to rely on long-tail keywords—longer phrases that searchers are likely to use—to target specific searchers and draw in traffic. Keep reading to learn more about why long-tail keywords are essential for an SEO campaign.

 

More Targeted Search Intent

As mentioned above, long-tail keywords are longer, more specific phrases that searchers use when they are closer to deciding on buying a product or service. For example, instead of searching for a broad term like “solar panels,” a searcher with more intent to purchase might search for something like “best solar panels for small homes in Florida.” This shows a clear intent from the searcher and, by using it as a targeted keyword, helps you attract visitors who are already looking for exactly what you offer. This can help your SEO campaign reach an audience that is more likely to convert into paying customers.

 

Less Competition and Easier Ranking

Short, very general keywords are highly competitive and are usually dominated by large brands. Long-tail keywords, however, usually have less competition, simply due to how specific they are. This makes it easier for smaller or newer websites to rank for those search terms, giving you a realistic way to rank higher in search results without needing the same budget as those industry giants. Over time, ranking well for multiple long-tail keywords will add up to a lot more traffic than a low ranking for a general term.

 

Higher Conversion Rates

As mentioned above, long-tail keywords express more intent, so they attract visitors who already know what they want. Someone searching for “affordable ergonomic office chair with lumbar support” is much closer to making a purchase than someone searching just “office chair.” Because these searchers are further along in the buyer’s journey, they’re more likely to take action by making a purchase, booking a service, or requesting more information.

Supporting Voice Search and Natural Queries

With voice-to-text technology and digital assistants now more popular than ever, more people are asking questions and performing searches in natural language, rather than truncated questions typed out on a keyboard. Voice queries tend to mirror long-tail keywords, like “What’s the best printer for a business with high print volume?” When you optimize your site for these kinds of detailed phrases, you’re aligning with the way that modern users perform searches.

Of course, knowing which long-tail keywords to target is another matter entirely. For this, it’s a good idea to find a professional who specializes in digital marketing in Kansas City so they can help you find the right keywords for your SEO campaign.