In search engine optimization (SEO), the right keywords can make or break your online success. While short, generic keywords might seem like the most obvious choice, they’re often highly competitive and difficult to rank for. That’s where long-tail keywords come in.
These more specific, lower-volume keywords can drive targeted traffic to your site and increase your chances of ranking higher on search engine results pages (SERPs).
Long-tail keywords typically consist of three or more words and cater to highly specific search queries. For example, instead of trying to rank for the broad keyword “shoes,” a long-tail keyword might be “best running shoes for women with flat feet.”
These detailed queries often reflect higher user intent, meaning that the searcher is further along in the decision-making or purchasing process.
Finding the right long-tail keywords can take some effort, but luckily, there are many tools available to help you discover those hidden gems.
In this article, we’ll explore the best tools for finding long-tail keywords and how to use them effectively in your SEO strategy.
1. Google Keyword Planner
Google Keyword Planner is a staple in the world of keyword research, particularly for finding long-tail keywords. Though primarily designed for advertisers using Google Ads, it’s still highly effective for organic search keyword discovery.
Here’s how to use it:
- Start with Broad Terms: Enter a broad keyword related to your niche. For example, if you’re in the fitness industry, you might type in “workout gear.”
- View Keyword Suggestions: Google will provide you with a list of related keywords along with data on search volume, competition, and cost-per-click (CPC). Look for long-tail keywords with moderate search volume but lower competition.
- Refine with Filters: You can filter the results by location, language, and keyword competition to find more relevant long-tail keywords. This is especially helpful if you’re targeting a local market or niche audience.
While Keyword Planner doesn’t always provide exact search volumes for very low-traffic keywords, it’s an excellent starting point for finding long-tail keywords that are relevant and actionable.
2. AnswerThePublic
AnswerThePublic is a unique tool that takes keyword research to a more conversational level. It’s great for uncovering long-tail keywords in the form of questions, comparisons, and phrases that people actually type into search engines.
This can help you tap into the exact language your audience is using.
How it works:
- Enter a Broad Keyword: Start by entering a general topic, such as “digital marketing.”
- View Visualized Results: AnswerThePublic will then generate a visualization of questions, prepositions, and comparisons that people commonly search for. For example, it might show you questions like “what is digital marketing strategy” or “how does digital marketing work for small businesses.”
- Identify Long-Tail Opportunities: Focus on the more specific phrases and questions. These tend to be lower in competition but high in intent, perfect for content that aims to address specific queries or solve problems for your audience.
By giving you real-world search queries, AnswerThePublic is an invaluable tool for building content that directly answers user questions, making it easier to rank for long-tail keywords.
3. Ubersuggest
Ubersuggest, developed by SEO expert Neil Patel, is another powerful tool for discovering long-tail keywords. It’s beginner-friendly and provides a wealth of data on keyword suggestions, search volume, and SEO difficulty.
How to use Ubersuggest:
- Keyword Ideas: Start by entering a seed keyword, such as “vegan recipes.” Ubersuggest will provide a list of related keywords, including long-tail phrases.
- Detailed Metrics: You’ll be able to see the search volume, CPC, and SEO difficulty for each keyword. Look for keywords with a high search volume but lower difficulty scores, as these are ideal for targeting.
- Content Ideas: Ubersuggest also offers content suggestions based on your chosen keywords. You can use this feature to find inspiration for blog posts or articles that are optimized for long-tail search terms.
One of Ubersuggest’s strengths is its ease of use and detailed breakdown of each keyword’s competitiveness. It’s a great tool for marketers looking to create content around long-tail keywords that have a good chance of ranking well.
4. SEMrush
SEMrush is a comprehensive SEO tool that offers much more than just keyword research, but its keyword discovery features are some of the best in the industry.
It’s particularly useful for finding long-tail keywords that your competitors might already be ranking for.
How to find long-tail keywords with SEMrush:
- Keyword Magic Tool: Enter a broad keyword, and SEMrush’s Keyword Magic Tool will provide a massive list of related keywords, broken down into categories. This allows you to drill down into highly specific, long-tail keywords related to your niche.
- Analyze Competitor Keywords: You can enter your competitor’s URL to see what keywords they are ranking for. This is an excellent way to uncover long-tail keywords that you may not have considered.
- Filter by Question: SEMrush allows you to filter keywords by question phrases, which is perfect for finding long-tail keywords that reflect search intent.
SEMrush is a paid tool, but its depth and breadth make it well worth the investment for serious marketers and SEO professionals.
It not only helps you find long-tail keywords but also provides insights into how those keywords fit into the broader SEO landscape.
5. Ahrefs Keyword Explorer
Ahrefs is another premium SEO tool, widely regarded for its robust keyword research capabilities. Its Keyword Explorer is a fantastic resource for uncovering long-tail keywords with detailed data and analysis.
Here’s how Ahrefs can help:
- Find Long-Tail Variations: Enter a seed keyword, and Ahrefs will generate thousands of keyword ideas, including long-tail variations. You can sort and filter by volume, keyword difficulty, and traffic potential.
- Search Intent Analysis: Ahrefs provides a SERP overview for each keyword, showing you what types of content are already ranking. This helps you understand search intent and whether a long-tail keyword is worth pursuing.
- Phrase Match and Related Keywords: Ahrefs gives you a wide variety of keyword suggestions based on phrase match and related terms, allowing you to explore long-tail opportunities you may not have thought of.
Ahrefs is particularly helpful for advanced users who need in-depth data on keyword performance and ranking potential. Its comprehensive approach to keyword research makes it a must-have tool for anyone serious about SEO.
6. Long Tail Pro
As the name suggests, Long Tail Pro is specifically designed for discovering long-tail keywords. It’s a paid tool that is user-friendly and offers powerful features for finding high-converting, low-competition keywords.
How Long Tail Pro works:
- Keyword Competitiveness: One of the standout features of Long Tail Pro is its keyword competitiveness score, which helps you gauge how hard it will be to rank for a specific keyword. Focus on long-tail keywords with a lower score to improve your chances of ranking.
- Multiple Seed Keywords: You can input multiple seed keywords at once, which allows Long Tail Pro to generate thousands of keyword suggestions in a matter of minutes.
- Competitive Analysis: The tool also offers insights into the top-ranking pages for any keyword, giving you a clear idea of what it will take to compete for that long-tail keyword.
Long Tail Pro is ideal for those who want a dedicated long-tail keyword tool with advanced features for competitive analysis and keyword tracking.
Conclusion
Finding the right long-tail keywords is an essential part of any successful SEO strategy. These keywords offer less competition and higher conversion rates, as they tend to be more specific and reflect a deeper level of user intent.
By using tools like Google Keyword Planner, AnswerThePublic, Ubersuggest, SEMrush, Ahrefs, and Long Tail Pro, you can uncover the long-tail keywords that will drive targeted traffic to your site and improve your search engine rankings.
As you integrate long-tail keywords into your content strategy, remember to focus on creating high-quality, relevant content that provides real value to your audience.
The more you can align your content with what your users are searching for, the better your chances of ranking higher in search results and driving meaningful organic traffic to your site.
