Finding Long Tail Keywords
The “Long Tail” keywords are phrases that contain up to 5 key words and are highly specific. Since they are so specific, the search volume is very low.
Long tail example:
“Large Sony Plasma 1080p Detroit” – This key phrase is a very specific search phrase. Someone that searches for that knows exactly what they want. They want to buy a large Sony plasma TV in Detroit that has 1080p resolution. If you Google that key phrase you’ll see there are less than 10,000 results, and none of the results are any good.
A regular key phrase would be “Sony Plasma 1080p”. Not only do you have a lot more competition with that key phrase, but you don’t know very much about this visitor. You don’t know if they want a 32″ or a 50″, do they want to spend $500 or $3,000? Do they plan to buy online, or are they doing research and plan to buy locally? Do they really want a Sony, or are they looking for specs. Do they already have a Sony and need a new remote?
When you target the long tail, you will get a much higher conversion ratio because you already know what your visitors are looking for because they’ve been specific with their search. Since you know what they want, you can give it to them above the fold, quickly and easily.
The best way to find long tail keywords and key phrases is through your own data. This is your search engine referrer logs. If you’re site is new, you probably don’t have logs showing what people searched for just yet, but you will. Once this data starts rolling in, start making pages based on what people want.
Until you have that data another good way to find long tail keywords is through a keyword suggestion tool. Google has one, but Keyword Discovery is my favorite. The numbers in the search totals are not very accurate, but it gives you a good idea of what is being searched for.
Using “Sony plasma” as an example we get the following long tail key phrases:
sony multisystem plasma tv
sony plasma dvd connections
comparison chart for sony, toshiba, and panasonic plasma tvs
repair of sony plasma tvs
biggest sony plasma tv
sony plasma dvd digital receiver connection diagram
prices on sony plasma hd tv
sony 37 wega plasma tv specs
sony 950 plasma wall mount
sony bravia hdtv 46 plasma
how to get my sony plasma off standby
As you can see, after a 30 second search, you now can create 11 pages of content that is highly targeted. Some of those searches aren’t going to convert to sales (diagram, specs, off standby), but others could convert very well (wall mount, dvd connections, repair). Even if your page isn’t designed to convert, it could still make you money.
Imagine someone in a forum asks “how to get my sony plasma off standby”. Someone answers by linking to your site. When someone else comes along looking for issues with Sony TV’s, they’ll find your site. Then they might find your comparison chart, or your 1080p vs 720p guide. Since they’re looking for more information, you keep giving them information and your site makes a sale, and gets a link. Win-win for you and the person you helped.
Do you know of other ways to find long tail keywords?
I use the free Google Keyword Search Tool which i find very effective. Sometimes it’s not about long tail keywords, sometime it’s about targeting a wide niche with high quality content, although i appreciate that this can take a long time.
thanks for providing information about keyword search tool, for SEO it is very effective tool helpful in providing keyword ideas based on actual Google search queries.
I have a search box on my website, that helps in knowing what people are actually searching for as same search query that might be searching on search engines also.
Get related keywords from Googles tools is another option.
Great stuff on how to find long tail keywords. I don’t know about the Keyword Discovery tool, what I’m using is the free Google Keyword Search Tool.
Thats a good way of looking at it. I think ALOT of people are going after long tail keywords now a days. I have been searching for long tail domians and loads have been taken! Cheers Jason
Great tips! thank you for sharing. Already looked up and tried keyword discovery tool you are using, it is awesome!
That was really helpful, thanks.
One question…
You said “you now can create 11 pages of content that is highly targeted.”
Where do these pages go?
1. Does it work to have them in a blog on the site?
2. Are they normal pages, under the normal navigation menus of the site? And if so, how it that managed without it becoming a menu nightmare?
3. Or, are they pages that are NOT under the nav, but link through to the rest of the site?
Is there a site that is doing this that you could direct me to to take a look?
Any help would be much appreciated!
Jerry
@Jerry – I’m always a big user of “recent” posts and other ways to deep link without having a full menu of links. These recent posts and “top posts” can be in the sidebar or footer.