What Is a Long-Tail Keyword? (And How to Use It to Dominate SEO)
Long-tail keywords are ultra-focused phrases that reflect how real users search. Unlike broad terms like 'shoes', a long-tail keyword such as 'best running shoes for flat feet men' zeroes in on a specific searcher’s intent. Because these keywords face lower competition but have stronger intent, they often lead to higher engagement and conversions—they're the “low-hanging fruit” of SEO. In fact, over 70% of all web searches are long-tail, according to Ahrefs. If you're not optimizing for them, you're leaving traffic (and revenue) on the table.
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Use Cases
Long-tail keywords allow small or new websites to compete with major players by targeting underserved niches with high purchase intent.
Build an entire content hub around related long-tails to dominate a niche and increase topic authority in Google’s eyes.
Since long-tail visitors know what they want, they’re more likely to take action—click, subscribe, or buy right now.
Intent-Based SEO Targeting
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are long-tail keywords important for SEO?
They’re less competitive, easier to rank for, and attract visitors with high intent—meaning more qualified traffic and better ROI.
How many words make a long-tail keyword?
Usually three or more, but what's more important is how specific and targeted the search query is.
Do long-tail keywords get enough traffic?
Individually, they often get lower volume, but collectively they represent over 70% of all search traffic—making them incredibly valuable.
How do I find long-tail keywords?
No. You can use them in product descriptions, FAQs, landing pages, ads—anywhere you want to attract targeted traffic.
Are long-tail keywords only for blogs?
Yes. Since competition is lower, Google is more likely to rank newer pages with well-optimized long-tail content quickly.
Related Terms
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