The Easy Guide to Creating Long Tail Keywords That Rank

If you’ve ever tried to rank for a highly competitive keyword and found yourself buried on page 10 of Google, you’re not alone. The reality is that broad, high-traffic keywords are incredibly tough to dominate, especially if you’re up against established brands with big marketing budgets. That’s where creating long tail keywords come in…

By creating long tail keywords, you can reach the right audience, boost your search rankings, and increase conversion rates, all without fighting for scraps against SEO giants. In this guide, we’ll break down what long tail keywords are, why they matter, and how to create them effectively for your content strategy.

What Are Long Tail Keywords?

Long tail keywords are longer, more specific keyword phrases (usually three or more words) that target niche audiences rather than broad, highly competitive search terms.

Examples of Long Tail Keywords:

Long tail keywords align with user intent, meaning people searching for them are often closer to making a purchase, signing up, or taking action.

Why Are Long Tail Keywords Important for SEO?

Long tail keywords might not have the massive search volume of broad keywords, but they come with big advantages:

• Less Competition – Ranking for “SEO tips” is hard; ranking for “SEO tips for eCommerce stores in 2024” is much easier.
• Higher Conversion Rates – People searching for detailed queries often know what they want and are ready to take action.
• Better Targeting – They help attract the right audience, not just any audience.
• Optimized for Voice Search – With the rise of voice assistants (Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant), search queries are getting longer and more conversational.

Example: Someone searching for “headphones” might just be browsing, but someone searching for “best wireless noise-canceling headphones for studying” is likely ready to buy.

How to Create Long Tail Keywords

Now that you know why long tail keywords matter, let’s get into how to create them for your SEO strategy.

1. Start with a Broad Keyword and Narrow It Down

Think of a general topic, then refine it based on intent, audience, and specific details.

Example:

• Broad keyword: “content marketing”
• Narrowed-down keyword: “content marketing strategies for SaaS companies”

2. Use Google Autocomplete

Go to Google, start typing a keyword, and see what suggestions pop up. These are actual search queries people are using.

Example: Typing “best budget laptops for” might show:

• “best budget laptops for students 2024”
• “best budget laptops for video editing”
• “best budget laptops for graphic designers”

These are golden long tail keyword ideas straight from Google.

3. Check “People Also Ask” & “Related Searches”

Google provides related search terms at the bottom of the results page, as well as questions in the “People Also Ask” section.

Example: Searching for “best running shoes” might show:

• “Are cushioned running shoes better?”
• “What are the best trail running shoes for beginners?”

These can help expand your keyword strategy.

4. Use Keyword Research Tools

If you want more data-driven results, tools like:

• Ahrefs – Find long tail keywords competitors rank for.
• SEMrush – Get search volume and keyword variations.
• Ubersuggest – Discover related keywords and trends.
• AnswerThePublic – Visualize commonly asked search queries.

5. Analyze Competitor Keywords

Look at what long tail keywords your competitors are ranking for and identify gaps you can target.

Example: If a competitor is ranking for “best email marketing tools for small businesses,” you could create content around “best free email marketing tools for startups.”

6. Optimize for Voice Search & Questions

People use long tail keywords naturally when asking voice assistants questions.

•  Instead of “cheap flights,” voice search users might say, “What are the cheapest flights from New York to LA this weekend?”
•  Instead of “content SEO,” they might ask, “How do I optimize my blog for SEO in 2024?”

Our Tip: Create FAQ sections in your content that include these types of long-tail question keywords.

Where to Use Long Tail Keywords for SEO Success

Once you’ve created a list of long tail keywords, you need to strategically place them in your content.

1. Title Tags & Meta Descriptions – Helps boost your click-through rate.
2. Headings (H2, H3) – Improves readability and SEO.
3. Throughout the Content – Use them naturally to avoid keyword stuffing.
4. Image Alt Text – Helps with image search rankings.
5. URLs – Short but keyword-rich (e.g. yoursite.com/best-noise-canceling-headphones).
6. Internal Links – Connect relevant content using long tail keywords.
7. FAQs Section – Answer common search queries.

Final Thoughts: Mastering the Art of Creating Long Tail Keywords

If you’re tired of competing for impossible keywords, it’s time to focus on long tail keywords. Let’s recap… They:

1. Reduce competition and make ranking easier.
2. Attract targeted traffic that’s ready to convert.
3. Improve voice search optimization.
4. Help smaller websites compete with bigger brands.

By following this step-by-step approach, you can start creating long tail keywords that drive real results.

Ready to boost your SEO? Check out our guide to the best Content SEO Tools to learn more strategies that will help you rank higher and reach your ideal audience!

Long Tail Keyword FAQ

What is a long tail keyword example?
A long tail keyword is a specific search phrase with three or more words. For example: “best running shoes for flat feet in 2024” instead of just “running shoes.”

Why are long tail keywords better for SEO?
They’re easier to rank for due to lower competition, bring in more targeted traffic, and tend to have higher conversion rates because users searching for them know exactly what they want.

How do I find long tail keywords?
Use tools like Google Autocomplete, AnswerThePublic, Ahrefs, or SEMrush. You can also check “People Also Ask” and related searches at the bottom of Google results.

Where should I use long tail keywords?
Place them in your title tag, meta description, headers, content body, image alt text, URLs, and FAQs. Use them naturally to improve SEO without keyword stuffing.

Do long tail keywords help with voice search?
Yes! Long tail keywords often match how people speak to voice assistants, making them ideal for voice search optimization.