Learning and Laughter 5 - Long Tail and SEO

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Updated 10 years ago

When it comes to getting good Search Engine Optimization (SEO) it is important to utilize long tail keywords. Now I know many of you here within the Wealthy Affiliate training have heard the term “low hanging fruit” keywords, but do not confuse the two because they are somewhat different.

The low hanging fruit variety is any keyword that has a competition or QSR (Quoted Search Results) of 100 or less. A long tail keyword is any keyword that consists of 3 or more words. Obviously a low hanging fruit long tail keyword is ideal for great SEO.

WHY USE LONG TAIL KEYWORDS FOR SEO

When writing your page and post titles, Meta descriptions, and your content, you should always try to use long tail keywords because these will match more closely to what people are typing into the search engines. They also have far less competition (QSR) and thus can rank you higher.

SEOMoz has said that more than 70% of all search queries in the search engines are for long tail keywords. That gives those who are utilizing the long tail a better chance to rank higher faster. I personally use long tail keywords at least 80% of the time for my content.

EXAMPLE

Using the Wealthy Affiliate Keyword Research Tool, if you do a search for “keyword research” you get 7560 monthly searches, 1286 monthly traffic, and the competition is 406. Now if you search for “what is keyword research” you get 7401 monthly searches, 1259 monthly traffic, and the competition is 325.

Though 325 is better than 406, look what happens when you make the long tail keyword even longer yet still relevant. If you do a search for “what is keyword research for seo” you get 157 monthly searches, 27 monthly traffic, and the competition is 5.

True the monthly searches and traffic are lower, but as long as the monthly searches are over 50, the only number that is the most important is the competition. The lower the competition the easier it will be for your content to eventually rank on Google page one.

So when doing your keyword research, don’t just search for the low hanging fruit keywords but also go after the long tail keywords too for better SEO. Now it is always best to make sure that you spell your words correctly because one missing letter (G) can make all the difference like in the below example.

Even famous people such as “The Most Interesting Man in the World” also known in the Dos Equis Beer commercials as the one that says, “stay thirsty my friends,” knows about long tail keywords.

And this Christmas present even knows the meaning of long tail, what do you think is going through its mind?

When those who practice SEO as their sole job in life, how do you view what they do for a living?

Have you ever wondered what Google would be like if it were just one guy and not the megalopolis that it is? The below video will give you an idea. Click the picture to watch. LOL