May, 2016 : Why do Longtail Keywords Matter So Much?

📅 May 3, 2016 - Longtail keywords are not a new concept to some very smart marketers. However, for some, they are very new. When it comes to reaching the masses, gaining exposure on search engines and finding your target market, longtail keywords play a huge role.

It's hard to get ranked for very general keywords, such as “weight loss” or something else general. Instead of going after these highly competitive and impossible keywords, many marketers go after the longtail keywords. The more specific keywords make it easier to gain ranking and get traffic. In addition, they usually convert better.

What is a Longtail Keyword?

A longtail keyword is a longer, more specific keyword phrase, which was first mentioned in a book by Christ Anderson called, The Long Tail. The book talks about how smaller markets make it easier to compete within because of the lower levels of competition.

Every niche has some type of demand and it's just a matter of finding it. When you find it, usually the longtail keywords are what will sustain your business. These keyword phrases are often 3 or more words long and very specific, such as “top reviews of x product” or “how to do x thing”.

Why Target Longtail Keywords?

There are many benefits associated with targeting longtail keywords. For starters, it leads to faster ranking on the search engines because these keywords are not as competitive. This is just one of the many benefits that come from targeting longtail keywords.

Along with ranking faster when you target a keyword, such as “weight loss for women after having a baby” compared to a general keyword, such as “weight loss”, the traffic you gain from it is more likely to convert. If someone is willing to search for the phrase, “weight loss for women after having a baby” they know what they are looking for.

The traffic you get from ranking for a long tail keyword will often be less, but it will be more targeted. Instead of 100 visits, you may only get 10, but if you convert at a higher percentage, you may actually sell more product and profit more from longtail keywords.

Another reason to target longtail keywords is that they make your marketing easier. When you go after a more targeted market, you have a better chance of actually reaching those people through SEO compared to trying to reach those in a more general audience.

An Easy Way to Target Longtail Keywords

You don't have to redesign your entire website to target longtail keywords. Instead, you can start using your blog to capture traffic from these highly targeted phrases. It's not necessary to target longtail keywords on your homepage or landing pages, unless they really fit well with what you offer. However, they make perfect sense in a blog post.

When you want to target a longtail keyword phrase, simply write a blog post around the keyword phrase. This will not only give you the ability to rank for the phrase, but it can also bring up the entire SEO portfolio of your website.

Longtail keywords are a great way to build your traffic and make sure it's very highly targeted. When you want to gain traffic, but you don't want to spend thousands of dollars trying to get listed on the first page of Google for a very general keyword phrase, target longtail keywords instead.