What is a long tail keyword?
A few years ago, we typically went to Google with single words to start a search for what we were looking for. For example, “running shoes”. This is called a short tail keyword, which is the opposite of a long tail keyword. Our habits and the technology have changed, and for that reason we now use more words in a search to get a more specific answer. And it is this combination of keywords that we call long tail keywords.
Examples of long tail keywords:
- White running shoes women flat feet
- How to get a consumer loan on the same day?
- HR system for medium-sized businesses
- Weekly vegetarian menu for a family of 5
The long tail principle in SEO:
The organic competition for long tail keywords is often lower than for short tail, because it is a more specific search. The more specific a search is, the fewer people there are who search for it. However, the person who searches is usually closer to making a purchase when they use more specific keywords. Therefore, it can be highly relevant to target long tail searches specifically within your industry online.
