{"id":108,"date":"2022-03-02T07:01:19","date_gmt":"2022-03-02T07:01:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/glossary\/long-tail-keywords\/"},"modified":"2025-05-05T12:32:06","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T12:32:06","slug":"long-tail-keywords","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vwo.com\/glossary\/long-tail-keywords\/","title":{"rendered":"Long Tail Keywords"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What are long tail keywords?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Long tail keywords are search queries that have low search volumes and less competition. Since these search queries are longer and more specific than their head keywords, they bring traffic to your website by targeting niche audiences having clear search intents. Despite being the least searched, long-tail keywords account for a high percentage of overall searches in the search demand curve. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"The<\/figure>\n
Image source: <\/span>Twitter<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s understand with an example <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We entered the \u2018a\/b testing<\/a>\u2019 head term to find relevant long search terms on SEMrush Keyword Magic Tool. The main keyword is too broad and does not reflect clear user intent. Maybe users searching for these terms have just started their research on the topic. Even though the keyword has a massive search volume, it is extremely difficult to rank for (high keyword difficulty) on search engines.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, if you look at the \u2018a\/b testing marketing\u2019 mid-tail keyword, you\u2019ll notice that it\u2019s slightly more specific. This shows that users searching with this keyword are deepening their understanding of the topic but are still remote from entering specific queries. Here the search volume and keyword difficulty are not as high as in the case of the head term. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Image source: SEMrush<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Finally, when you look at the \u2018how to split traffic for a\/b testing\u2019 long tail keyword, you\u2019ll see that it\u2019s far more specific than all three. These searchers have done in-depth research on the topic and are now narrowing their focus on how to split traffic <\/a>to perform A\/B testing. Although the keyword\u2019s search volume is low, you can still rank for it because its difficulty level is not as high as the other two. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benefits of long tail keywords <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Several websites don\u2019t utilize long tail keywords as much as they should because these search terms don\u2019t enjoy high search volumes. Despite this, there are several benefits of using long keywords and we highlight three of them below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tailor content according to users\u2019 intent<\/strong> – <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As long tail keywords are descriptive, it is easy to figure out what audiences using these search terms look for. Hence, when you create in-depth content around these intent-driven keywords, you can satisfy the needs of your specific target audiences in a better way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Achieve higher conversions<\/strong> – <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you leverage long search terms, your website attracts only relevant traffic and brings high-quality leads who are now in the decision stage of their buying journey into your sales funnels.  Therefore, long search terms have a higher conversion rate <\/a>than head keywords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boost PPC traffic – <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Highly competitive keywords have high cost-per-click (CPC). You can free up your budget when you use long queries in your PPC advertisements because they have lower CPC. Plus, these keywords, being very specific, target users closer to the purchase point, improving the chance of getting more returns on ad spend. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Optimize for voice searches –<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Around 71% of US consumers make search queries using voice instead of typing<\/a>. And since voice queries are longer than keyboard queries, it makes sense to optimize your website with long tail terms for voice and conversational searches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to search for the right long-tail keywords <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first step in an effective long tail keywords strategy is to select the right niche search queries in your industry. Here are some effective ways to find these keywords:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google\u2019s autocompleting feature – <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As you type your search query on Google\u2019s search engine, it displays related search terms just beneath the search bar. From these suggestions, you can figure out what people are searching for and use them in your SEO and even PPC strategies accordingly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Google\u2019s \u2018People also ask\u2019 & \u2018Related searches’ – <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Google suggests questions-based keywords and related search keywords for the query you enter on its search engine. You can use these terms in your content to answer users\u2019 questions the right way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"People<\/figure>\n
\u2018People also ask\u2019 suggestions for the customer experience optimization query<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Keyword research tools – <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you want to save time and perform quick research, you can also use one of the keyword tools available in the market right now. Using these tools, you can filter keywords based on search volume and keyword difficulty to find long search terms within your niche. Below are some of the best keyword research tools:<\/p>\n\n\n\n