Glossary · SEO fundamentals
Long-tail keyword
Definition. A long-tail keyword is a longer, more specific query with lower search volume and usually clearer intent. Collectively long-tail queries make up the majority of all searches, and individually they are far easier to rank for.
Long-tail terms are where new sites can compete, because the pages ranking for them are often not optimized for anything in particular.
They also map closely onto how people phrase questions to AI assistants, which are conversational by nature. Optimizing for a natural-language question serves both channels.
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Related terms
Keyword research
Keyword research is the process of finding the queries your audience uses, estimating their volume and…
Search volume
Search volume is the estimated number of monthly searches for a query. Every figure you see is a…
Search intent
Search intent is what the person actually wants when they type a query: to learn something, to find a…
More in SEO fundamentals: Search intent · Keyword research · Keyword difficulty · Search volume · SERP · Featured snippet
Frequently asked questions
What does Long-tail keyword mean?
A long-tail keyword is a longer, more specific query with lower search volume and usually clearer intent. Collectively long-tail queries make up the majority of all searches, and individually they are far easier to rank for.
Why does Long-tail keyword matter for AI SEO?
Long-tail terms are where new sites can compete, because the pages ranking for them are often not optimized for anything in particular.
What is the most common mistake with long-tail keyword?
They also map closely onto how people phrase questions to AI assistants, which are conversational by nature. Optimizing for a natural-language question serves both channels.
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