SEO And The Long Tail

Writing by Nick Stamoulis on Wednesday, 26 of March , 2008 at 1:49 am

Perhaps that title should read Search Engine Optimization and the Long Tale. Long tail keywords seem to be the fashion these days and not without good cause. It is often easier to get well ranked using a long tail keyword than it is using a short keyword and it all comes down to competition.

When you start your Search Engine Optimization efforts keyword research can be quite daunting and fairly disheartening. It is fair to say that unless you have invented something completely new and invented a new name for it, then every keyword you can think of will be well in use. You could of course use your brand as a keyword but that is likely to have variations already in use as well.

The future in keywords and keyword research will not be the singe word. The future is going to lie in long tail keywords and how they relate to the everyday internet user. Humans are inquisitive by nature. They are also information hungry. Future web sites will need to place heavy emphasis on these traits if they are to attract traffic and sales.

Searchers are not going to type in single search terms, many are not now. Instead they are going to enter in sentences. Often these sentences take the form of ‘how to’s’. ‘How do I …..?’ To capitalize on this your Search Engine Optimization program needs to incorporate two things.

First - Search Engine Optimization adjusted content - the right content. Web site owners now need to include information for their prospective customers. Gone are the days where you could just publish a catalog and expect sales. Sure, you will get customers buying off a catalog, but not a lot. Catalogs are now best left to marketing mail outs and the like.

What is needed is information. Not just your regular description of your product. FAQ sheet, information sheets, how to pages. Web sites that include comprehensive information on their products and services are now starting to reap the rewards.

Second - long tail Search Engine Optimization program - optimizing the long tail keywords that internet users are likely to use when searching for your products. These long tails may well include ‘how to’s’. If you sell a coffee grinder, then you may well find term such as ‘how do I blend my coffee’ rates quite highly in search terms.

The key to surviving in the future is by planning your Search Engine Optimization strategies now. Including well written information for your customers and then optimizing those long tail keywords to get prime search engine placements. Your customers will thank you by buying. You will be thankful when your profits surge at the expense of those who got left behind in the long tail keyword challenge.

Category: Keyword Research, SEO

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