Long-tail keywords

What are long-tail keywords?

Long-tail keywords are search phrases that typically consist of 3-5+ words and are very specific. The name "long tail" refers to the long tail in a search volume graph: most individual keywords have low volume, but together they make up the majority of all searches in Google.

Short-tail vs. long-tail

• Short-tail: "running shoes" - high volume, high competition, unclear intent, low conversion rate.
• Medium-tail: "ladies running shoes" - moderate volume and competition.
• Long-tail: "women's black running shoes with good cushioning" - low volume, low competition, clear intent, high conversion rate.

Advantages of long-tail keywords

• Lower competition: Fewer webshops optimize for specific long-tail searches, making it easier to reach the top.
• Higher conversion rate: A user searching "red leather crossbody bag with adjustable strap" knows exactly what they want - and is close to a purchase.
• Cheaper advertising: CPC for long-tail keywords is typically lower than for broad keywords.
• Better match: You can create content that matches the search exactly, which Google rewards.
• Aggregate high traffic: Each long-tail search brings a little traffic, but hundreds of long-tail keywords combined can bring more traffic than one broad keyword.

How to find long-tail keywords

• Google autocomplete: Start typing a keyword and see what Google suggests.
• Related searches: Scroll down to the bottom of the Google search results page for related searches.
• "People also ask": Google shows related questions that are often good long-tail keywords.
• Google Search Console: See which keywords are already driving traffic to your site - many are long-tail.
• SEO tools: Ahrefs, SEMrush and Ubersuggest can generate long-tail variations of your core terms.
• Customer inquiries: Questions from customers reveal how real people search.

Long-tail strategy for eCommerce

• Product descriptions: Write detailed, specific descriptions that naturally include long-tail variants.
• Category pages: Create subcategories that match specific searches (e.g. "hiking-sandals-for-wide-feet").
• Blog posts: Write guides and articles that answer specific questions from customers.
• FAQ pages: Answer specific questions that match long-tail searches.

Long-tail in Shoporama

In Shoporama, you can optimize for long-tail keywords by writing unique product descriptions, customizing meta titles and descriptions, creating detailed categories with descriptive URLs, and using the article system to create content that captures informational long-tail searches.