Long Tail keywords and Short Tail keywords: How and where to use them!

Everything that you need to know about keywords, short tail keywords and long tail keywords

Keywords are words or phrases that describe the content of a web page. They help search engines understand what the page is about and match it with relevant queries from users. Keywords are also important for SEO (search engine optimization), which is the process of improving the visibility and ranking of a website in organic search results.

There are different types of keywords, depending on their length and specificity. The most common ones are short tail keywords and long tail keywords.

Short tail keywords are one to three words long and have a high search volume and competition. They are usually broad and generic terms that cover a wide range of topics. For example, "shoes", "pizza" or "travel" are short tail keywords. They can attract a lot of traffic to a website, but they also face more competition from other websites that target the same keywords. They may also have a low conversion rate, because they do not reflect the user's intent very well.

Long tail keywords are more than three words long and have a low search volume and competition. They are usually specific and niche terms that address a particular problem or need. For example, "vegan shoes for women", "pizza delivery near me" or "travel tips for solo backpackers" are long tail keywords. They can attract less traffic to a website, but they also face less competition from other websites that target the same keywords. They may also have a high conversion rate, because they reflect the user's intent very well.

The choice of keywords depends on the goals and strategy of a website. Generally, it is advisable to use a mix of short tail and long tail keywords to balance the traffic and conversion potential. To find the best keywords for a website, it is important to do keyword research, which is the process of discovering and analyzing the words and phrases that users type into search engines when looking for information related to a topic. There are many tools and methods for keyword research, such as Google Keyword Planner, Google Trends, competitor analysis, brainstorming, etc.

Keywords are essential for creating effective and relevant content for a website. They help to optimize the title, headings, body text, meta tags, URL, images, etc. of a web page. They also help to create a clear and consistent message for the target audience and search engines. Keywords should be used naturally and strategically throughout the content, without overusing or stuffing them.

Keywords are not static or fixed. They change over time according to user behavior, trends, preferences, etc. Therefore, it is important to monitor and update the keywords regularly to keep up with the changes and maintain the performance of a website in search results.