Long-tail Keyword (Long-tail Keyword), generally consisting of three or more words, are keyword phrases with relatively lower Search Volume but that reflect more specific user intent.
Typical characteristics of long-tail keywords:
- Low Search Volume (between 10-1,000 per month)
- Low competition
- High conversion rate
- Clear user intent
- Easier to rank for
Contrary to popular belief, the vast majority of a site’s Organic Traffic comes not from a few popular “head” keywords, but from thousands of long-tail keywords. This phenomenon is called the “long tail effect.”
For example, while “shoes” is a highly competitive keyword, “waterproof women’s running shoes size 38” is a long-tail version that is much easier to rank for and has much higher purchase intent.
Tip: New or low-authority sites are recommended to start with long-tail keywords first. As they gain Organic Traffic from these keywords, they build authority and can later move on to competitive keywords.