Using Long-Tail Keywords for Your SEO Strategy

A strong keyword strategy is key to optimizing your website to rank well in search engines. Long-tail keywords should be a major part of your plan because they tend to indicate user intent, are generally easier to rank for than shorter keyword phrases, and can help guide your content in a way that makes it more beneficial to your customers. 

How to Use Long-Tail Keywords in Your SEO Keyword Strategy

What Are Long-Tail Keywords? 

Keywords can be categorized three ways: 

• Short-tail keywords: Typically one word that encompasses a broad concept (e.g., “chiropractic”). These keywords are highly competitive, difficult to rank for, are don’t offer much insight into user intent.
• Mid-tail keywords: Sometimes called “chunky” keywords. Because they’re typically 2-3 words (e.g., “chiropractor near me”), they’re a bit more specific, a bit less competitive, and a bit easier to rank for. 
• Long-tail keywords: Longer phrases that in many cases function like a question asked by a user (e.g., “how to prepare for first chiropractic visit”). These are much more specific, less competitive, easier to rank for, and provide a better idea of what the person who uses the query is looking for. 

A balanced SEO content strategy will incorporate short-, mid-, and long-tail keywords and will supplement primary keywords with secondary terms. Each page on your website should be made to target unique keywords and address a specific need. By implementing long-tails, you can be confident that your content—be it a service page, a blog post, or your about page—answers the right questions. 

When and How Should You Use Long-Tail Keywords? 

You’ll have several avenues to consider as you hunt down long-tail keywords for your SEO strategy. One of the more obvious and effective options is Google’s Keyword Planner tool, which lets you see how different terms and phrases have trended over time and how they rank in terms of average searches per month and competition.

Another route is to use Google Search for its intended purpose and see what turns up. Start typing in a question that you’d think a customer might ask about your business. Starting a query with “is chiropractic” might autocomplete with things like “covered by insurance” or “good for sciatica,” which gives you a sense of questions you can address on your website. 

You can also use Google Search results pages to your advantage. The AI Overview response at the top of the page should cite sources off to the side, and those may reveal examples of effective long-tail keywords. Further down, you’ll see a “People also ask” section, which shows related queries that can also be leveraged as long-tail keywords (e.g., “is it worth seeing a chiropractor for sciatica?” and “what is the best treatment for sciatica?”). 

What’s more, because long-tail keywords often come in the form of questions, they may help your website rank for AI search tools like Google’s AI Mode. Because people interact with large language models in a more conversational fashion, building content around the kinds of questions a person would ask ChatGPT could help your website show up in results. 

Build an Effective Keyword Strategy & Boost SEO

Identifying and using short-, mid-, and long-tail keywords is a key element of building a successful SEO strategy, but there’s much more you can do to maximize your potential. For 10 years (and counting), Page One Digital has thrived on driving results for chiropractic practices and other businesses. Contact us to learn more about what we can do for you.