Long Tail vs Short Tail Keywords: A Beginner’s Guide [2025]

What’s the difference between long tail vs short tail keywords? In this guide, we’ll learn about long tail and short tail keywords in detail, and discuss various strategies on how to find each one of them.

Long Tail vs Short Tail Keywords: What’s the Difference?

Short tail keywords are broad, high-volume search terms usually made up of 1–2 words. Long tail keywords are more specific, lower-volume phrases made up of 3+ words with clearer intent.

Here’s a quick glance at long tail vs short tail keywords:

Understanding long tail and short tail keywords

When we compare long tail vs short tail keywords, it’s a popular misconception that they are named so because of their length.

While that’s definitely an attribute, their name actually comes from where they are positioned in the search-demand curve. 

If we plot a graph of all the search queries or keywords people have used against their search volume, we get this curved graph. 

The keywords that make up the “long tail” of the graph are long tail keywords, literally, because they occupy the longer portion of the tail. (yes, that’s how they are named.)

Collectively, these keywords are in billions. But individually, they have very little search volume — around a few hundred.

The keywords that form the “fat head” are short tail keywords, because they make up the shorter part of the tail. They are fewer in number but have very high search volumes.

While this is the etymology, it’s not quite useful for someone who wants to use short-tail or long-tail keywords to boost their SEO strategy. So, let’s define them based on their practical usage.

What are Short Tail Keywords?

Short tail keywords are broad, general search queries that usually consist of one to two words. Think of terms like “shoes,” “laptops,” or “digital marketing.” 

Because they cover a wide topic, these keywords have incredibly high search volumes and attract a broad audience.

But here’s the catch — they’re also highly competitive. 

Everyone from small blogs to giant brands is trying to rank for them. So while they may bring in massive traffic, ranking for short tail keywords often requires a high domain authority, tons of backlinks, and very well-optimized content.

They’re great if your goal is brand visibility or if you’re targeting a large market. But in most cases, especially for newer websites, short tail keywords might not convert as well, simply because the search intent behind them is vague. 

A user searching for “shoes” might be looking to buy, research brands, or just browse — it’s hard to determine the intent and create content for them.

What are Long-Tail Keywords?

Long tail keywords are specific, targeted phrases that typically contain three or more words. For example: “best running shoes for flat feet” or “how to start digital marketing for small businesses.”

These keywords have lower search volume individually, but they carry much clearer intent. 

Someone searching for “best running shoes for flat feet” is probably a lot closer to making a purchase than someone just typing “shoes.”

That’s why when we compare long tail vs short tail keywords, long tail keywords often drive better-quality traffic — visitors who are more likely to convert, subscribe, or take action. Plus, they’re usually low-competition keywords, making it easier for smaller or newer sites to rank.

In short: short tail keywords = broad, competitive, and high volume; long tail keywords = specific, conversion-friendly, but low volume.

However, be wary of supporting long tail keywords. 

These keywords may look long and specific, but they’re actually just less popular variations of broader, short tail terms. 

For instance, “comfortable work from home chairs” may look like a long tail keyword. 

But, it is essentially saying the same thing as “ergonomic chairs.” Despite the added words, the intent overlaps with the more common search term — which often means similar keyword difficulty but much less traffic. 

If you target these as your main keywords, ranking is as difficult as short tail keywords.

Instead, look for topical long tail keywords. 

Topical long tail keywords are search phrases that represent standalone topics with clear, distinct intent. Unlike the above examples, these are actually long tail keywords that you can target — like “best ergonomic chairs for small spaces.” 

They’re not just reworded versions of a broader idea. They deserve their own page because people are actively searching for answers to that specific query. 

These are the kind of long tail keywords that help you build topical authority, capture niche traffic, and rank for a broader set of related queries. In simpler words: target them!

But, does it mean these are the only keywords you should target?

Long tail vs short tail keywords: Which one should you target?

The answer: it depends.

If you’re just starting out with SEO, prioritize long-tail keywords.

They’re easier to rank for, have clearer intent, and bring in traffic that’s more likely to convert. You don’t need a high domain authority or thousands of backlinks to show up in the search results. You just need genuinely helpful, relevant content with proper keyword optimization. 

That’s why long tail keywords are a favorite among new websites, niche blogs, and businesses trying to attract specific traffic.

But that doesn’t mean short tail keywords should be ignored completely.

If you’re in a competitive industry or building a large-scale content site, targeting short-tail keywords can help with building topical authority in the long-term growth. 

Just be prepared for the effort it takes. It’s a slow climb that demands strong content, technical SEO, and authority in your niche. 

You’ll also probably need a long time and, also, a lot of internal links to rank for these keywords. But if you’re successful, the huge amount of traffic will be worth it.

So, which one should you go after?

Here’s a general rule of thumb for long tail vs short tail keywords:

• Use long tail keywords when you’re optimizing for conversions, targeting niche audiences, or creating content around specific questions or problems.
  
• Use short tail keywords when you’re aiming for a broader reach, building brand awareness, or already have the resources to compete in competitive SERPs.

In most cases, the best strategy is a mix of both — focus on long tail keywords to build momentum. Once there’s some traffic and your site grows in authority, gradually start targeting short-tail keywords simultaneously.

But, how to find what keywords to target?

How to find short tail keywords

Comparing long tail vs short tail keywords, finding short-tail keywords is actually quite easy — you don’t need any fancy tools to get started. In fact, simply brainstorming a list of broad topics related to your niche is a great first step.

Think about what your business, product, or content is all about. 

If you run a fitness blog, terms like “workouts,” “nutrition,” “gym,” or “weight loss” are all obvious short-tail keywords. These are the kinds of words people naturally associate with your niche, and they usually pop into your head without much effort.

Plug any of these words into the Keyword Researcher, and you’ll get other variations of the short tail keyword.

You can also:

• Look at your product categories (if you run an e-commerce store)
• Check your competitors’ homepage titles
• Use Google autocomplete by typing in a word and seeing what suggestions pop up
• Explore Wikipedia category pages — they often use short-tail keywords for topic headings
  

The point is: short tail keywords are everywhere. They’re usually the big, broad terms that define your space. 

Even if you don’t want to or can’t rank for them immediately, they’ll help you in the next step — finding long tail keywords. 

How to find long tail keywords that actually help you rank

Finding long tail keywords is more than just picking longer search phrases. To actually help you rank, these keywords need to have clear intent, decent traffic potential, and ideally, low competition. 

Here’s how to find them:

1. Use filler words to create long tail variations

One of the easiest ways to turn short tail keywords into useful long tail ones is by adding filler words. 

These are simple connectors like “for,” “with,” “to,” “in,” “near,” or even modifiers like “best,” “top,” “cheap,” etc. They add context, narrow the intent, and help you create long tail keywords with much clearer direction.

Let’s say your short tail keyword is “running shoes.” You can build long tail variations like:

• best running shoes for beginners
• running shoes with arch support
• cheap running shoes for men
• waterproof running shoes under $100
• running shoes to relieve knee pain
  

These aren’t just longer — they’re more helpful. Each one reflects a real-world query where the user is searching for something specific. That specificity = clearer intent = easier to rank for.

Even better: Google understands these modifiers semantically. So, while the short tail keyword might be highly competitive, the long tail version (created using filler words) can still bring in targeted traffic without needing high domain authority.

If it’s hard to generate keywords like this, simply use a free keyword generator tool.

2. Use a free keyword generator

Start by entering a broad, short tail keyword into this Free Keyword Generator or any other SEO tool you prefer. It will generate hundreds of long tail variations based on real searches.

For example, if your short-tail keyword is “cake recipes.” Plug it into the Free Keyword Generator, click on “Generate Keywords,”…

…and you’ll get a list of longer keyword variations.

They each have clear intent and different use cases. That’s what makes them valuable.

But since it’s a free keyword research tool, the usage is also limited. If you want more long tail keywords, browse through the other strategies mentioned below.

3. Analyze “People Also Ask” and autocomplete

One of my favorite ways to find long-tail keywords is to use Google. It’s free and quite effective — if you know how to use it. There are several SERP features that can help find keywords.

Go to Google, type in a short keyword, and take note of the autocomplete suggestions. These are actual queries people are searching.

Then, run the search and scroll down to the “People Also Ask” section. This is a goldmine for long tail questions. 

These are often topical, intent-rich, and easy to turn into blog posts, FAQ sections, or product content.

You can also check the “People Also Search For” section at the bottom of the SERP for more long tail keyword ideas.

4. Use forums and community threads

Reddit, Quora, and niche forums are massively underrated for keyword research. These platforms are where real users talk about real problems — without any SEO polish. That’s what makes them so useful. 

You’re not guessing at intent. You’re seeing it play out in actual conversations.

Let’s say your niche is skincare. Head to Reddit and search for something like “moisturizer.” You’ll find posts like:

Each of these can be turned into long tail keyword ideas like:

• moisturizers for oily skin
• budget friendly moisturizers
• moisturizer for minimal skincare
  

These are incredibly specific, intent-rich, and easy to rank for — because you’re solving an exact problem. 

Quora works the same way: search a topic, look for common themes in the questions, and note how people phrase their queries. Pay attention to the words they use — it’s often more conversational and natural, which also helps with semantic SEO.

5. Use Answer The People to find question-based long tail keywords

Answer The People is a great tool when you’re looking for long tail keywords that are phrased as questions — the kind of keywords people actually search when they’re looking for help or making decisions.

Just type in a broad keyword “skincare serum.” 

…and it’ll give out dozens (sometimes hundreds) of real questions people ask on Google, like:

You can sort through different types of questions, words with prepositions, and so on that are actually searched on Google. 

6. Use a keyword research tool

Using a keyword research tool is one of the most straightforward — yet underrated — ways to find long tail keywords that actually matter.

Start by plugging your short-tail keyword into the Keyword Researcher tool. 

Once you enter your seed keyword (for example, “freelance writing”), hit Identify Keywords and scroll down to explore the results.

You’ll find lists of “same terms,” “related terms,” “also rank for,” and “competitor terms.” Browse through these to find long-tail keywords.

Their search volume and competition are already given in front of them, so you can choose the keywords accordingly.

You don’t have to chase every keyword you see — just look for the ones that show clear user intent and match the type of content you can realistically create. 

7. Let AI find the long-tail keywords

All the methods we’ve covered so far are effective — but they’re also manual. You need to dig through results, filter out the noise, and piece things together one by one.

If you want a faster route, or if you’re trying to generate keyword ideas in bulk, AI can speed up the process.

A good place to start is ChatGPT. You can give it a simple prompt like:

It’ll generate a decent list of keyword suggestions you can explore further.

But here’s the catch: ChatGPT doesn’t have access to real-time keyword metrics. It can’t show you search volume, keyword difficulty, or how competitive a keyword is. 

On top of that, there’s always a chance it could hallucinate — that is, make up suggestions that sound good but aren’t actually being searched.

So, while it’s useful for inspiration, you’ll still need a keyword research tool to validate the results.

Instead of juggling between two tools, use an AI that’s built specifically for SEO — like the SEO AI Agent. It’s an advanced tool with a built-in keyword researcher, so you can skip the back-and-forth and get everything in one place.

Give it the same prompt:

“Give me 20 long tail keyword ideas around ‘freelance writing’ with clear search intent.”

And here’s what you’ll get:

The SEO AI Agent gives you:

• A complete list of long tail keywords
• Real-time data like search volume, competition, and keyword difficulty
• Actionable insights on how to use those keywords in your content
• Suggestions grouped by intent, so you know which to target for traffic vs conversions

All this in minutes. This comprehensive report would easily take hours if you researched it manually.

The SEO AI Agent takes the guesswork out of keyword research and makes it easier to plan your content around what people are actually searching — not just what sounds right.

How to use long-tail keywords in content

So you’ve found a list of long-tail keywords — now what? Finding them is only half the job. You need to place them strategically throughout your content to make the most out of them.

Here are a few practical strategies to help you with how to use long tail keywords:

1. Use them in your H2s and H3s

Search engines use headings to understand the structure and relevance of your content. When you use long tail keywords in your subheadings (especially H2s and H3s), you’re signaling to Google that your content covers that exact query.

For example, if your keyword is “best ergonomic chairs for small spaces,” your subheading could be:

H2: Best Ergonomic Chairs for Small Spaces (Top Picks for Compact Homes)

This not only helps with SEO but also makes your content easier to scan for readers.

2. Create a dedicated FAQ section

Many long-tail keywords are phrased as questions — and that’s an opportunity.

Include a short FAQ section at the end of your article (or wherever it makes sense). Pick 3–5 question-based long-tail keywords and answer them directly.

For example:

Q: What is the best ergonomic chair for small apartments?
A: If you’re working with limited space, the Hbada Office Task Desk Chair is a great pick…

This helps with user engagement and increases your chances of ranking in Google’s “People Also Ask” boxes.

3. Optimize for featured snippets

Long tail keywords with clear questions or comparison terms (“best,” “vs,” “how to”) are great candidates for featured snippets.

To optimize:

• Answer the question within the first 40–50 words.
• Use bullet points or numbered lists when possible.
• Place the answer directly below the heading containing the long-tail keyword.

Example:

H2: How to choose running shoes for flat feet
If you have flat feet, look for running shoes with these features:…

This structured format makes it easy for Google to pull your content as a snippet.

4. Use them in image alt texts and filenames

If you’re adding images, don’t ignore the alt text. It’s another place to sneak in your long-tail keywords naturally.

For example, if your keyword is “budget skincare routine for oily skin,” name your image:

budget-skincare-routine-oily-skin.jpg

And use the alt text:

A 4-step budget skincare routine for oily skin types

It’s small, but it adds semantic relevance to your page — and helps your images show up in search too.

5. Anchor text for internal linking

When linking between blog posts or product pages, use long-tail keywords as anchor text. This gives Google more context about what the linked page is about.

Instead of writing:

Learn more [here].

Write:

Learn more about [best email marketing tools for small businesses].

It improves SEO and also boosts UX by making the link more descriptive.

Final Thoughts: Long Tail vs Short Tail Keywords: Which One to Choose?

Comparing long tail vs short tail keywords for understanding is fine. But in content, both have their place. Short tail helps with broad visibility, while long tail drives targeted, high-converting traffic.

The smart move? Start with long-tail keywords to build traction, then layer in short tail terms as your authority grows.

And if you want to skip the guesswork, try the SEO AI Agent — it finds high-intent keywords with real-time data so you can rank faster.

Ready to discover long tail keywords you can actually rank for? Sign up for the SEO AI Agent for free!

FAQs for Long Tail vs Short Tail Keywords

How do I use long tail keywords in content effectively?

To use long-tail keywords effectively in your content, focus on creating valuable, informative pieces that naturally incorporate these phrases. Start by:

• Using the keyword in your title and main headings where relevant
• Including variations throughout your content naturally
• Creating dedicated content pieces that thoroughly address the topic
• Optimizing meta descriptions and image alt text

For example, if targeting “how to choose fitness equipment for home gym,” create a comprehensive guide that covers various aspects of home gym setup, equipment selection, and space considerations. This approach helps satisfy user intent while maintaining natural keyword placement.

What is the ideal balance between long tail and short tail keywords?

The ideal balance depends on your website’s authority, competition level, and business goals. For new websites or those in competitive industries, focusing on long-tail keywords (about 70-80% of your strategy) can help establish initial rankings and traffic. More established sites might aim for a 60-40 split between long-tail and short-tail keywords.

Consider your resources and timeline as well. Ranking for short-tail keywords typically requires more time and effort due to higher competition. For instance, while ranking for “digital marketing” might take months or years, you could see results much sooner for “digital marketing consultant for small businesses in Portland.”

How many words should a long tail keyword contain?

Long-tail keywords typically contain three or more words, but the focus should be on specificity rather than word count alone. While most long-tail keywords range from 3-5 words, some can be longer if they accurately reflect user search intent. For example, “what is the difference between long tail and short tail keywords” is a valuable long-tail keyword despite its length because it matches exactly what users are searching for.

Studies show that 56% of buyers use queries containing three or more words, indicating that these longer phrases align well with purchase intent. The key is to choose keywords that precisely match your target audience’s search behavior, regardless of the exact word count.

What tools are best for finding long tail keywords with low SEO difficulty?

Several effective tools can help you discover long-tail keywords with low competition:

1. Writesonic’s Keyword Researcher Tool: Offers comprehensive keyword difficulty scores and search volume data
2. Writesonic’s SEO AI Agent: Uses AI to look for perfect long tail keyword opportunities tailored to your website.
3. Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer: Provides detailed metrics and keyword ideas
4. AnswerThePublic: Generates question-based long-tail keywords
5. Google Search Console: Shows actual search terms bringing traffic to your site

Recent data indicates that using a combination of these tools can help identify keywords where pages move up an average of 11 positions in search rankings. Focus on keywords with difficulty scores under 30 for the best ranking opportunities.

Niyati Mahale

Niyati Mahale is a Content Writer @Writesonic. She specializes in artificial intelligence and B2B, with a flair for combining effective storytelling and SEO best practices to create impactful content.