How to Find Long Tail Keywords
Long tail keywords are the longer, more specific phrases people search for, like "best running shoes for flat feet" rather than just "running shoes".
Each one gets fewer searches, but they are easier to rank for and the people searching them are usually much closer to buying. This guide explains what they are and shows you how to find thousands of them free.
What is a long tail keyword?
A long tail keyword is a search phrase that is longer and more specific than a broad "head" term. It usually runs to three or more words and describes exactly what someone wants.
Here is the same topic at three levels of detail.
| Search term | Type | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| running shoes | Head term | Huge volume, very hard to rank for, and broad intent (the searcher could want anything). |
| best running shoes for flat feet | Long tail | Lower volume, much easier to rank for, and clear intent (they are choosing a pair). |
| women's trail running shoes size 8 | Long tail | Very low volume, easiest to rank for, and ready-to-buy intent. |
The name comes from the search-demand curve. A handful of head terms get enormous volume, but the millions of rare, specific phrases in the "long tail" of that curve add up to most of all the searches made on Google.
Why target long tail keywords?
They are the fastest route to traffic for most sites, for four reasons.
They are easier to rank for. Broad head terms are fought over by huge, established sites. A specific long tail phrase has far less competition, so a smaller or newer site has a real chance at page one.
The intent is higher. Someone searching "women's waterproof hiking boots size 7" knows exactly what they want. That specificity means they convert far better than someone typing "boots".
They add up. Each long tail keyword is small, but together they make up the majority of all searches, so a set of them can out-earn one head term you will never rank for.
They cost less to advertise on. With fewer advertisers bidding, the cost per click on a long tail keyword is usually lower than on a competitive head term.
How to find long tail keywords with Keywords Everywhere
Keywords Everywhere turns one seed idea into thousands of long tail keywords, each with its real Google search volume so you can see which are worth the effort.
The Keyword Finder, on every Google search
Run any Google search with the extension installed and click the Keyword Finder button at the top right. It pulls thousands of long tail suggestions from Google's autocomplete for that query, the most exhaustive list of any keyword tool.
Related Keywords and People Also Search For
Two more widgets appear beside every search: Related Keywords and People Also Search For. Both come straight from Google and are a goldmine of specific, long tail variations.
No install? Use the free tool
Prefer not to install anything? Our free Google Keyword Tool does the same in your browser: enter a seed keyword and it harvests Google's autocomplete suggestions, with the Google search volume for each.
Either way you can paste or import a whole list of keywords to pull their volume in bulk, then export the results to CSV.
Try the free Google Keyword ToolWhich long tail keywords should you target?
Once you have a long list, use the Google search volume and competition next to each keyword to prioritise. Look for phrases that are specific, relevant to what you offer, and not heavily contested.
One honest point about volume. Many excellent long tail keywords show low volume, and some show none at all, simply because they are searched rarely.
That is normal. Keywords Everywhere shows the real Google Keyword Planner figure rather than an inflated guess, so a low number is the truth, not a tool limitation. The worth of a long tail keyword is its low competition and high intent, not big volume.
A practical rule: if a phrase clearly matches what you sell or write about, and few strong pages already target it, it is worth a page of its own even at a handful of searches a month.
Start finding long tail keywords
The extension and the online tools all run on the same free Keywords Everywhere API key. Grab it once and you are set.
Sign up for your free API key, then install the extension to get the Keyword Finder on every search you make.
Want to plan a full keyword list around these? See the free keyword planner for the bigger picture.