Long-tail vs. short-tail keywords

Isfak Mustakim
3 min readOct 31, 2023

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Long-tail keyword phrases are more specific, less competitive, and have higher conversion rates than short-tail keyword phrases. However, they also have a lower search volume.

Short-tail keyword phrases have a higher search volume and are easier to find, but they are also less specific, more competitive, and have lower conversion rates.

The best approach is to use a mix of both long-tail and short-tail keyword phrases to reach a wider audience and achieve your desired results. To get better results Hire a professional for SEO keyword research

Advantages of long-tail keyword phrases:

  • More specific: Long-tail keyword phrases are more specific than short-tail keywords, which means that they are more likely to match the user’s exact intent. This can lead to more relevant results and a better user experience.
  • Less competitive: Long-tail keywords are generally less competitive than short-tail keywords, which means that it is easier to rank for them in search engine results pages (SERPs).
  • Higher conversion rates: Studies have shown that long-tail keywords tend to have higher conversion rates than short-tail keywords. This is because users who search for long-tail keywords are more likely to be ready to buy.

Disadvantages of long-tail keyword phrases:

  • Lower search volume: Long-tail keywords typically have a lower search volume than short-tail keywords, which means that they may not generate as much traffic.
  • More difficult to find: Long-tail keywords can be more difficult to find than short-tail keywords. This is because they are more specific and there are more of them.

Advantages of short-tail keyword phrases:

  • Higher search volume: Short-tail keywords typically have a higher search volume than long-tail keywords, which means that they can generate more traffic.
  • Easier to find: Short-tail keywords are easier to find than long-tail keywords. This is because they are more general and there are fewer of them.

Disadvantages of short-tail keyword phrases:

  • Less specific: Short-tail keyword phrases are less specific than long-tail keywords, which means that they may not match the user’s exact intent as well. This can lead to less relevant results and a worse user experience.
  • More competitive: Short-tail keywords are generally more competitive than long-tail keywords, which means that it is more difficult to rank for them in SERPs.
  • Lower conversion rates: Studies have shown that short-tail keywords tend to have lower conversion rates than long-tail keywords. This is because users who search for short-tail keywords may be less ready to buy.

Which is better?

Whether long-tail or short-tail keyword phrases are better depends on your specific goals. If you are looking to generate a lot of traffic, then you may want to target short-tail keywords. However, if you are looking for more qualified traffic and higher conversion rates, then you may want to target long-tail keywords.

It is also important to note that you do not need to choose one type of keyword phrase over the other. You can use both long-tail and short-tail keyword phrases in your content and marketing campaigns. The best approach is to use a mix of both types of keywords to reach a wider audience and achieve your desired results.

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Isfak Mustakim

Isfak Mustakim is an SEO expert and Digital marketer . He has over 5 years of experience about improve online visibility. He is available for hire.