He must have been terrified. After all, he was about to fight a soldier that no one on his side of the battle was willing to face, and he had to do it all alone.
That experienced soldier was massive, and he was a young, inexperienced boy who had never been in battle.
How could he win?
In David’s case, he used a sling—not the traditional battle gear — in his battle with Goliath.
The same applies to your approach to internet marketing.
You might not be able to compete for the primary keywords you need.
So what do you do?
One of the most effective yet underutilized tactics is the long-tail keyword strategy.
What Are Long-Tail Keywords?
Long-tail keywords are longer, more specific phrases that target niche audiences. For example:
- Keyword: “desks”
- Long-Tail Keyword: “best ergonomic desk for small home office
Long-tail keywords are more detailed.
Long-tail keywords get fewer searches, so they are often ignored.
But that is your opportunity!
Why? Because they are often ignored. And because someone using a long-tail keyword is closer to being ready to buy.
Why Long-Tail Keywords Matter
- Less Competition—Industry giants dominate short, generic keywords. Long-tail keywords help smaller businesses compete by targeting specific user needs.
- Higher Conversion Rates—Detailed queries are further along in their buying journey. And more likely to take action (see above).
- Improved SEO Performance – Google likes long-tail keywords. Why? Because they rank search intent over volume.
- Better Content Relevance—This keeps your visitors happy.
How to Find the Right Long-Tail Keywords
- Use Keyword Research Tools
- Google’s Autocomplete & Related Searches
- Google Keyword Planner
- AnswerThePublic
- Ubersuggest
- SEMrush or Ahrefs
- Analyze Search Intent
- Informational: “How to lose weight after 40” (blog post, educational content)
- Navigational: “Best protein supplements for weight loss” (product comparisons, reviews)
- Transactional: “Buy organic protein powder online” (purchase-driven intent)
- Leverage Customer Insights
- What usual questions do customers ask?
- Conduct polls on your website to determine what your customers want to know.
- What specific problems does your product/service solve?
- Use forums (Reddit, Quora) to discover real-world search behaviors.
How to Use Long-Tail Keywords in Your Content Strategy
- Optimize Blog Content
- Write in-depth, high-value articles targeting long-tail phrases.
- Example: Instead of “SEO tips,” create “10 SEO Tips for Local Businesses to Rank Higher in 2024”.
- Create Highly Targeted Landing Pages
- Build dedicated pages optimized for specific queries. (e.g., “Affordable wedding photography in Chicago”).
- Enhance Product & Service Pages
- Include detailed descriptions that answer niche queries. Such as “Best ergonomic office chair for lower back pain.”
- Optimize for Voice Search
- Many long-tail keywords mimic natural speech. Structure content with conversational phrasing to align with voice searches. This is huge in preparing for the future.
Measuring the Success of Your Long-Tail Strategy
- Google Analytics: Track organic traffic growth from long-tail queries.
- Google Search Console: Track ranking improvements for targeted phrases.
- Conversion Rates: Are long-tail keyword visitors taking action (subscribing, purchasing, contacting)?
Final Thoughts
Long-tail keywords can bring you the marketing success that has been eluding you. They’re a game-changer. Create content that meets user needs by incorporating those long-tail keywords. Don’t forget about your SEO. By doing so, you will compete better.
Remember: A long-tail keyword is essential for keeping your visitors satisfied. It’s what you visitors are looking for.
Start using long-tail keywords today and watch your website traffic—and conversions—increase!