Determining the right short-tail and long-tail keywords for your brand

Long-tail keyword searches have a click-through rate of 3% to 5% higher than generic searches.

Ask anyone working in SEO services as to what is the most crucial element in getting your site ranked and visible, and they’ll say ‘keywords’. The right keyword usage can work wonders for your website’s success. Not only do keywords make it easier for search engines such as Google to find you but they help make you visible to prospective customers looking for your particular product or service.

Now that we know why keywords are important, let’s look at how you can find the right keywords for your website.

There are primarily two types of keywords. Short-tail keywords consist of one or two words and are suitable for a generic search. On the other hand, long-tail keywords comprise 4 to five words and offer a specific result. While short-tail keywords are no less important, it is the long-tail keywords that help distinguish you from your competitors.

To know which keywords are best suited for your brand, you can connect with a company specialising in SEO keyword research services or consider the following.

Google AdWords Keyword Planner

This is one of the greatest tools for discovering keywords. All you need is a Google Adwords account to get started. This platform will offer you keyword suggestions, PPC advert campaign details and relevant local and global search details. Also, it’s free making it a must-have in every keyword research toolkit.

Google autocomplete

Type your core short-tail keyword into the search bar and look at Google’s autocomplete suggestions. This is a great way of identifying what customers are currently searching for and which keywords you need to have. For instance, ‘sports shoes’ may be a short-tail keyword that can turn into a long-tail keyword such as ‘sports shoes for running and hiking’.

50% of search queries contain 4 or more words.

Discussion forums

This is particularly great for brands with a technical or academic bent. There are a variety of discussion forums online for every industry. Look at the kind of terms used by your target audiences here. If possible, you can also participate in these forums as a means of establishing your expertise and boosting brand credibility.

Related search terms

This is one of the best avenues to discover long-tail keywords. Enter a couple of keyword phrases in the search bar and hit enter. At the bottom of the page, you will find a section ‘searches related to’ with multiple options. Use these terms to formulate long-tail keywords. You can also mix and match the phrases you discover and repeat the search for an extensive idea of possible keywords. If you find yourself still unsure of identifying the right long-tail keywords, look for an expert in keyword research services to help you out.

Public Questions

Around 8% of search queries are phrased as questions.

To know exactly what your target audience is looking for, simply look at their questions. You can find public questions on Google as well as sites such as Reddit and Quora. Simply enter a generic keyword phrase and you will find a host of information in the form of questions and answers. You can find the long-tail keywords most in use as well as know the terminology to create relevant long-tail keywords.

Website content

If you have followed SEO protocols correctly, you know that content is essential for success. So, if you’re out of ideas for the right long-tail keywords, revisit your website content. Look at the most visited blogs and pages to understand what audiences are actually looking for. From there, try to look for important or unique phrases that are explainable in three to five words. You just found some of the best long-tail keywords that are sure to rank your website when searched.

Conclusion

Keywords, both short-tail and long-tail, are important for search bots to track your website. While using the correct terms is important to get ranked, using them in the correct manner is also essential. Put in the keywords in your headings, and meta descriptions, and spread them in your content. Overusing keywords can be as bad as underusing them. You don’t want your content to feel forced for the readers or search engines as it is sure to backfire in the long run. To know more about finding and using the right keywords for your website, be sure to connect with a reputed SEO Company in Mumbai.