Using Long-Tail Keywords for an Efficient SEO Strategy

If you are new to Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy, then you are probably dreaming of ranking #1 on Google for your primary product keyword, or head term. However, ranking for popular keywords is difficult especially in eCommerce. You’re competing with the nation and sometimes the world. This includes large corporations with experts in keyword analysis and the money to make their ads show up on search engine results pages (SERPs). Head keywords definitely have their places, but for small businesses, a good addition is long-tail keywords for an efficient SEO strategy. 

What are Long-Tail Keywords?

Long-tail keywords are more complex than head keywords. A boutique that sells hand soaps for example, may use “hand soap” as a head keyword. However, a possible long-tail keyword may be “organic paraben-free hand soap.” It is a more detailed account of a particular niche in the industry. 

Benefits of Long-Tail Keywords

There are multiple benefits to using long-tail keywords including cost, conversion, and search engine optimization. They are a good addition to any SEO strategy. 

If you are using the keywords as part of an SERP advertising bid, long-tail keywords are less competitive and therefore less expensive than common head terms. This makes them more affordable to small businesses with less resources. 

Additionally, long-tail keywords attract consumers who are more ready to convert. A person casually searching for hand soap may sway wherever Google takes him or her. A person looking for a specific type of soap is ready to buy. 

Lastly, you’re more likely to rank for long-tail keywords. This is because there aren’t as many businesses competing for these keywords, so it’s a smaller pool. It’s easier to be the big fish in a small pond, right? 

Long-Tail Keyword Strategy

As said previously, long-tail keywords don’t negate the purpose of head keywords. Google’s web crawlers like structure, and they assign higher rankings to keywords that are relevant (despite monetary influences in some cases). Therefore, SEO strategies on websites and blogs should include head keywords in cornerstone content. However, your extraneous content can link back to your cornerstone essential pieces. In this way, your long-tail keywords are connected with your head keywords in a way that allows Google to see your content organization, and it seems to prefer this in its rankings. 

Variety is Vital to Keyword Choices

Whether you are using SEO strategies to bid on keywords for SERP advertising or trying to get your page to rank, using a variety of keywords is an advantage. Don’t be afraid to expand to long-tail keywords to exploit your niche, and use SEO variances to successfully drive traffic to your business.