If you’re like most people, you probably think that all keywords are created equal. However, that’s not the case at all. In fact, there is a big difference between so-called “broad” keywords and “long-tail” keywords—and if you want your website to be successful, you need to make sure you’re using the latter. Not sure what a long-tail keyword is or why it’s so important? Read on to find out.
What Are Long-Tail Keywords?
Long-tail keywords are simply keywords that are more specific (and usually longer) than your average keyword. For example, instead of just using the keyword “shoes,” a long-tail keyword phrase might be “women’s black leather boots.” Long-tail keywords are more specific than broad keywords, so they tend to have less search volume. However, they also tend to have a higher conversion rate because they focus on a more specific product or service.
Why Long-Tail Keywords Are Important for SEO
When it comes to optimization, long-tail keywords can be incredibly powerful tools. Here are just a few of the benefits:
- Longer tail keywords are typically less competitive. This means that you’ll be able to rank for them faster and with less effort than broader terms.
- Long-tail keywords help you target an audience more precisely. By using these types of keyword phrasesmight be something like “women’s size 7 black leather pumps.” See the difference? Long-tail keywords are much more targeted and have a much lower search volume than broad keywords—but that’s actually a good thing.
Why You Should Be Using Long-Tail Keywords
There are several reasons why you should be targeting long-tail keywords over broad keywords, including:
• They’re Easier to Rank For: Because long-tail keywords are so specific, they’re also much easier to rank for in search engines. That means you don’t have to spend months (or even years) trying to get to the top of the search results for a broad keyword—you can start seeing results much sooner by targeting a long-tail keyword instead.
• They Convert Better: Not only will you get more traffic by ranking for a long-tail keyword, but that traffic will also be more likely to convert into paying customers. That’s because people who use long-tail keywords are further along in the buying cycle and thus more likely to be ready to make a purchase than those who use broad keywords.
• They Help You Stand Out from the Competition: If all your competitors are targeting broad keywords, then you can really set yourself apart by targeting long-tail keywords instead. By being one of the only websites that comes up when someone searches for a specific long-tail keyword, you’ll increase your chances of getting traffic—and converting that traffic into customers.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are plenty of good reasons to target long-tail keywords rather than broad keywords. So if you’ve been focusing on the latter up until now, it’s time to switch your strategy and start targeting those lucrative long-tail keywords instead. Trust us—you’ll be glad you did! They offer many advantages you won’t get from broad keywords, so start using them today and see the difference in your SEO results.