If you are a website owner, you might be wondering if short-tail keywords are worth your time.
The most likely answer is ‘No,’ but in some cases, ‘Yes’. See because these keywords can help your site get a lot more visibility. But ranking for these keywords isn’t easy, especially if your site is new.
In this article, we’ll break down what short-tail keywords are, how to find them, and how they differ from long-tail keywords.
What are Short Tail Keywords?
In Search Engine Optimization (SEO), short-tail keywords are a small group of search terms that bring in huge traffic. Usually, they are the most popular searches on Google.
Since short-tail keywords are terms that consist of one or two words, users often think of them first when they’re looking for something online.
In fact, most websites make the mistake of targeting these short-tail keywords without analyzing the existing competition on Search Engine Result Pages (SERPs). However, here’s what you need to know about them:
- High Search Volume: These keywords get a lot of searches, and they can send a lot of traffic to your site. But that also means more competition.
- General Intent: Users searching with short tail keywords are typically in the early stages of their journey. Mostly, they are looking for information and want to discover something.
- Less Specific: It can be difficult to understand user intent because they are broad, and you can’t expect to cater niche audience through short-tail keywords.
- SEO Strategy: Short-tail keywords can help your website become more visible in SEO. But you’ll need to work on your organic SEO strategies to compete for the top rankings.
To reach as many people as possible and at the same time grow a business, we use a mix of short-tail and long-tail keywords for our clients. Check out our case studies.
How To Find Short Tail Keywords For Your Website
There are two popular tools to find short-tail keywords for your website: Ahrefs and Google keyword planner.
1) Ahrefs (Paid Tool)
Ahrefs is the most popular paid tool for keyword research. Here is how you can use it to find short tail keywords:
- Keyword Explorer: You can input the terms that you have in mind related to your niche to start. Based on your input, the tool will give you a list of keywords to choose from
- Use Ahrefs filters: There is this filter called “Word Count’ that helps you choose keywords within that word limit and if you choose your limit as two (or) three. You’re going to see a list of short-tail keywords.
- Analyze Search Volume: Depending on your traffic goals, you can select keywords based on monthly search volume.
- Check Keyword Difficulty: Ahrefs gives you a keyword difficulty score to help you determine how difficult it will be to rank for a particular keyword. It’s easier to rank keywords with lower difficulty scores.
- Explore Search Engine Results Page (SERP) Overview: The SERP overview feature shows you the current top-ranking pages for your chosen keyword. This will help you understand what content is working and how strong your competition is.
2) Google Keyword Planner (Free Tool)
Google Keyword Planner is a free tool that gives you valuable data on keyword searches. Here’s how to use this tool:
- Create a Google Ads Account: In order to access Google Keyword Planner, you will need a Google Ads account. This doesn’t mean you have to run ads.
- Discover New Keywords: Type in your seed keyword (or) a ‘Top of the mind’ term. The tool will give a list of search queries with search volumes and difficulty metrics.
- Filter Results: Unlike Ahrefs, you won’t find a ‘Word Count’ filter. However, you can play around with search volume, and usually, keywords with high search volume will be your short-tail keywords.
- Check competition: Look what the competition column says. If it says ‘Low’ or ‘Medium’, then those keywords are great targets for your content strategy.
Ahrefs and Google Keyword Planner are both great tools for finding short-tail keywords. If used properly, they can help you increase your website’s visibility and bring more traffic.
Short Tail vs Long Tail Keywords: Key Differences
Understanding the difference between long-tail and short-tail keywords is important for your SEO strategy.
Each type has a different purpose and different audiences. We can break down the differences using these details.
1) Specificity Level
a) Short tail keywords:
Short tail keywords, as you can tell, are very broad, and usually, they target searchers who are just discovering about any industry, niche, or topic.
They are very broad and don’t give a hint regarding the user. Thus it’s hard to reach your target audience only using short-tail keywords
b) Long tail keywords
Long tail keywords are very specific, and usually, by looking at those keywords, you get an idea of what kind of user is searching for these keywords. In short, you can reach your target audience.
Example: ‘DIY SEO for small business‘, this keyword tells us exactly that the user is a small business owner or someone who is looking to do SEO for their small business
2) Search Intent
a) Short tail keywords
People typing short-tail keywords are looking for basic information, and usually, they are a ‘Top of the funnel‘ audience.
This means they are in the early stages of their research and are more likely to consume content like articles, definitions, or general tips without a clear goal in mind.
Therefore lower conversion rates for your content.
b) Long tail keywords
Long tail keywords have intent behind the search. If someone is searching for ‘Best running shoes for flat feet’, then you can guess that they are more likely to purchase something if shown right to the type of content. Thus higher conversion rates.
Searches who type long tail keywords are more likely to engage with your content rather than just reading and leaving your website.
3) Ranking Difficulty
a) Short Tail Keywords
No matter what niche you’re in. Big and established websites are already ranking for short-tail keywords in your niche, and this makes it highly competitive for a website to rank. Especially new websites can’t compete in search results with big existing players using short tail keywords.
To outrank existing websites for short-tail keywords, you need to have a strong domain presence, and this usually takes time.
b) Long tail keywords
Long-tail keywords are comparatively easier to rank than short-tail keywords. This is because you might not have big industry players going after these SEO keywords.
By targeting long tail keywords, you might open up a new sub-niche to the market that isn’t targeted by big players in your industry, thus giving a lot of websites a chance to rank without the huge investment of time and effort.
4) Usage Strategy
a) Short tail keywords
In your content strategy, you have to include both types of keywords, but depending on your website’s current situation, budget, and goals, you need to use a mix of the right keywords.
For example, if you’re launching a blog for traffic, then focusing more on short-tail keywords and prioritizing most of your content around those keywords can help you reach your goals.
b) Long tail keywords
Long tail keywords are great for businesses looking for leads, conversions, and sales through Google searches. If your priority is not the traffic but instead it’s revenue and leads, then long tail keywords are a must in your content strategy.
At PullingOffStrategies, most of our SaaS case studies are successful because we focus on long-tail keywords for our clients.
5) Search Volume
a) Short tail keywords
We made it very clear at the beginning of this article that short-tail keywords generate more traffic than any other keywords. It is common to see short-tail keywords with a search volume of millions and, hence, a huge traffic potential for brands and bloggers.
Remember that high traffic also comes with high competition. Not every visitor will be looking for what you offer.
b) Long tail keywords
Long tail keywords have lower search volume, and sometimes you come across keywords with search volumes like 50, 20, and 10.
While the search volume is lower, the quality of traffic from long-tail keywords often outweighs that of short-tail keywords. This kind of traffic is great for businesses with products and services to sell.
Are Short Tail Keywords Important?
Short tail keywords are useful to help a website get more visibility because of their high search volume, that being said, they are very challenging. Because of the intense competition from established sites, it’s hard for newer websites to rank well for these broad terms.
For this very reason, a successful SEO strategy should be balanced between short and long tail keywords.
