How To Find Long-Tail Keywords For SEO

April 24, 2025
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5 min read
Vick Antonyan

Long-tail keywords are specific, multi-word phrases that help your content rank higher in search results and attract more qualified traffic. They’re less competitive, focused on niche audiences, and often lead to higher conversion rates. Here’s how you can find them:

  • Use Google Search Features: Check autocomplete suggestions, "People Also Ask", and "Searches Related To" sections for keyword ideas.
  • Leverage Keyword Tools: Tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, and AnswerThePublic can uncover low-competition, high-intent phrases.
  • Analyze Competitors: Study competitor content using tools like Semrush to identify effective long-tail keywords they target.
  • Ask Your Customers: Review customer questions, support logs, and internal site search data to find natural language trends.

When choosing long-tail keywords, focus on search volume, difficulty, and business relevance to ensure you’re targeting terms that align with your goals. Optimize your content by including these keywords in titles, meta descriptions, URLs, and throughout your content. Track performance regularly to refine your strategy and stay competitive.

How To Uncover Low Competition Long-Tail Keywords For ...

Finding Long-Tail Keywords

Long-tail keywords can be a game-changer for your SEO strategy. Here's how you can discover them using practical and proven methods.

Google Search Features

Google's free search tools are a great starting point for uncovering long-tail keywords. When you type in your main keyword, pay attention to the suggested phrases that pop up - they reflect what people are actively searching for.

Check out the "People Also Ask" boxes and the "Searches Related to" section at the bottom of search results. These areas often reveal additional keyword variations. For instance, searching for "how to make coffee" might show phrases like:

  • how to make coffee without a coffee maker
  • how to make coffee with whole beans at home
  • how to make coffee shop quality drinks

Keyword Research Tools

For deeper insights, professional keyword research tools can help you find long-tail opportunities:

  • Google Keyword Planner: Filter for low-competition keywords that align with user intent.
  • Ahrefs Keywords Explorer: Identify question-based keywords and assess their difficulty.
  • AnswerThePublic: Discover how users phrase questions related to your topic.

Target keywords with 10–200 monthly searches that have low to medium difficulty and align with the purpose of your content.

Competitor Analysis

Analyzing your competitors can quickly reveal long-tail keywords that work in your niche. Here's how:

  1. Identify a few direct competitors in your industry.
  2. Use tools like Semrush to review their top-performing content.
  3. Look for recurring patterns in their topics and headers.
  4. Note specific long-tail phrases they frequently use.

Check their FAQs, product descriptions, and blog posts to find recurring terms that resonate with their audience.

Customer Insights

Your customers are a goldmine for discovering long-tail keywords. Use these methods to tap into their language:

  • Support Logs: Review customer service tickets and chat transcripts for common questions.
  • Sales Calls: Pay attention to the specific words prospects use when explaining their needs.
  • Social Media: Monitor comments and messages for natural language trends.
  • Internal Search Data: Analyze what visitors type into your website’s search bar.

Rating and Selecting Keywords

Key Performance Metrics

When evaluating long-tail keywords, focus on these three key metrics: search volume, keyword difficulty, and business relevance.

  • Search Volume: This reflects how often a keyword is searched monthly. While long-tail keywords typically have lower search volumes, they often indicate specific intent, which can lead to better conversion rates.
  • Keyword Difficulty: This measures how challenging it is to rank for a keyword. For smaller businesses, targeting keywords with lower difficulty can help achieve rankings faster and face less competition.
  • Business Relevance: This shows how closely a keyword aligns with your business offerings. Keywords that directly relate to your products or services or address user needs that are likely to convert can attract more qualified traffic.

Keyword Comparison Method

Use a table to compare keywords based on these metrics and identify which ones to prioritize.

Keyword Search Volume Difficulty Relevance Priority
how to install kitchen backsplash DIY 450 22 5 High
best grout for glass tile backsplash 180 15 4 Medium
kitchen backsplash installation near me 890 35 5 High
ceramic vs glass tile backsplash cost 210 18 3 Medium

For example, "how to install kitchen backsplash DIY" is a strong option. It balances decent search volume, low difficulty, and high relevance, making it a great choice to target.

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Using Long-Tail Keywords

Once you've done your keyword research, the next step is to optimize your content effectively. Here's how you can put those long-tail keywords to work and keep tabs on their performance.

Content Optimization Steps

To make the most of your long-tail keywords, include them in these critical areas:

  • Page Title: Add the keyword to your main heading (H1) for better visibility.
  • Meta Description: Write a short, compelling description that features the keyword naturally.
  • URL Structure: Create clean, easy-to-read URLs that incorporate the keyword.
  • Introduction: Mention the keyword early in your content to set the tone.
  • Subheadings: Use variations of the keyword in H2 and H3 headers where it makes sense.
  • Content Distribution: Spread the keyword throughout your content, but avoid stuffing it in excessively.

Performance Tracking

After optimizing your content, it's time to measure how well those keywords are working. Focus on these key metrics:

  • Search ranking changes
  • Increases in organic traffic
  • Engagement metrics like time on page or bounce rate

Humble Help offers AI-driven tools that provide real-time insights into how your keywords are performing.

Review your data regularly to spot:

  • Keywords climbing in rankings
  • Pages seeing a boost in organic traffic
  • Content that could use additional tweaks for better results
  • Opportunities to target new long-tail keywords

Professional SEO Tools

AI-powered tools simplify the process of finding and optimizing long-tail keywords, making them especially useful for small businesses. Let’s dive into how Humble Help's services and platform features can strengthen your SEO keyword strategy.

Humble Help Services

Humble Help

Humble Help combines AI technology with marketing expertise to make keyword research easier and more efficient. Their platform includes:

  • Real-time keyword tracking to keep an eye on ranking changes
  • AI-driven content optimization to focus on relevant long-tail keywords
  • Tools for SEO-friendly content creation
  • Performance analytics to evaluate keyword success

By automating the process, the platform reduces the time spent on manual research. Its AI algorithms examine search trends to highlight keyword opportunities with potential.

Humble Help Platform Overview

Humble Help offers a comprehensive marketing solution with features tailored for SEO success:

Feature How It Supports Your SEO Strategy
Dynamic Website Creation Adjusts layout to align with target keywords
Content Automation Produces content that’s optimized for search engines
Performance Dashboard Monitors rankings and measures content effectiveness
PR Integration Enhances authority using targeted keyword strategies

For businesses just starting with SEO, the Brand Boost Package is a great option. It includes:

  • A website check-up
  • A refreshed design layout
  • 3 press features
  • 3 blog posts

Humble Help's platform not only simplifies keyword strategy management but also integrates it with other marketing activities, offering AI-powered insights to boost performance.

Conclusion

Key Takeaways

Using long-tail keyword strategies effectively means tapping into modern tools and methods to address specific search intent while avoiding high competition. By combining AI tools, competitor analysis, and customer insights, businesses can strengthen their SEO efforts and improve search visibility.

"We make marketing work for small businesses. Through smart AI tools and human expertise, we deliver measurable results without the agency price tag." - Humble Help [1]

Steps to Take

Here’s how you can put these strategies into action:

  • Start with Research: Use tools like Google’s search features to uncover long-tail keywords that fit your business.
  • Look at Competitors: Study your competitors’ rankings to spot keyword gaps you can fill.
  • Monitor Results: Use real-time tools to track how your keywords are performing.
  • Create Focused Content: Develop content specifically targeting your selected long-tail keywords.
  • Refine Regularly: Keep monitoring performance and adjust your strategy as needed.

This approach allows small businesses to carve out a strong presence in niche markets while staying competitive.

Tools and Features

AI-powered platforms can simplify the process by integrating research, tracking, and optimization. Here’s how specific features can help:

Feature Benefit for Your Business
Real-time Monitoring Get instant updates on how your keywords are performing.
Content Optimization Improve search rankings with targeted, keyword-rich content.
Performance Analytics Make smarter decisions using clear, actionable data.
Automated Research Save time by quickly identifying new keyword opportunities.

Staying consistent with monitoring and making timely adjustments to your strategy is key. By focusing on precise, long-tail keywords, small businesses can thrive in their niche markets and maintain control over their marketing efforts.

FAQs

What are long-tail keywords, and how are they different from short-tail keywords?

Long-tail keywords are specific, multi-word phrases that target niche audiences, such as 'best running shoes for flat feet' or 'affordable coffee shops in New York City.' They typically have lower search volumes but higher conversion rates because they address more precise user needs. In contrast, short-tail keywords are broader and more general, like 'running shoes' or 'coffee shops,' which often have higher search volumes but are much more competitive.

By focusing on long-tail keywords, you can attract highly targeted traffic to your website, improving your chances of ranking well in search results and connecting with users who are closer to making a decision.

How can I track the success of my long-tail keyword strategy over time?

To measure the success of your long-tail keyword strategy, focus on key performance indicators (KPIs) like organic traffic, search rankings, and conversion rates. Use tools such as Google Analytics or SEO platforms to monitor these metrics regularly.

Look for trends like increased traffic from specific keywords, higher rankings on search engine results pages (SERPs), or improved engagement rates (e.g., longer time on site or lower bounce rates). Adjust your strategy as needed based on these insights to maintain and enhance your results.

What types of businesses benefit the most from using long-tail keywords in their SEO strategy?

Long-tail keywords can benefit almost any business, but they are especially valuable for small businesses, niche industries, and companies targeting local customers. These keywords help attract a more specific audience, making it easier to rank higher in search results and connect with users who are ready to take action.

For example, a small bakery specializing in gluten-free desserts might use long-tail keywords like 'best gluten-free cupcakes in Chicago' to stand out against larger competitors. Similarly, businesses offering unique or specialized products and services can use these keywords to reach customers searching for highly specific solutions.

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