Long tail keywords can be very difficult to use well. The difficulty of fitting longer keywords in all over your site shouldn’t be underestimated. The difficulty of tracking down and implementing the larger number of long tail keywords is an even greater hurdle to overcome. So why bother with long tail?

Internet users are increasingly making use of long tail keywords in their searches. This has come from the increasing realisation that anything is available on the net. The possibilities of the real world pale in comparison to what you can acquire over the net. The understanding of that vast possibility is only increasing it, as people begin to do more things on the net in reaction. For example, ten years ago a childhood TV show, remembered with fondness, would have been absolutely out of reach for an adult. Today, a simple Google search is likely to produce not only the location of DVDs, but YouTube clips of the show and forums in which you can chat about memories of watching the show. This expanded access comes from the realisation that

The ability to reach thousands of very specific but large audiences has led to many internet successes. The TV series Firefly is another good example. Created by Joss Whedon, who was riding high on the success of his previous series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the TV show was canned after only eleven episodes aired in the US. The viewing results were so disappointing that the Fox television network didn’t want to waste time on airing the fourteen episodes filmed. The show was a textbook failure.

Fans of Joss Whedon, however, are spread all over the world, far beyond the reach of the Fox television network. When the DVD of the series was released, it was an instant hit. Demand for more of the series resulted in a film, Serenity, as well as comic books and games. The enterprise ultimately succeeded because it had a fan base wherever the internet could be found.

These kinds of successes are examples of how the internet can deliver highly specific audiences in large numbers. You may well ask where this knowledge gets your site.

The most apparent thing, when you study long tail statistics, is that there is an audience out there for anything. Every website operates in the hopes of this, but with shorter keywords it can be difficult for you to find your target users and vice versa. Optimising for the right long tail keywords can put you in direct touch. This is why smart businesses are working long tail into their search engine optimisation plan. You can talk to our experts at SEO Consult about how long tail affects your SEO plan.

Long tail takes a certain shift in outlook to understand fully. While in the real world the tyranny of distance reduces the number of options the average person has, the internet expands these options out of sight. Getting to grips with these options is what most businesses struggle with in their SEO.

Get Involved