What Are Short Tail Keywords For SEO

by Venchito Tampon Jr | Last Updated on July 1, 2023

In the world of SEO, keywords are everything.

You use them to optimize your website and content for search engines so that people can find you when searching for terms related to your business.

There are two main types of keywords: short tail keywords and long tail keywords.

Short tail keywords are general, one or two-word phrases that are highly competitive and get a lot of searches. Long tail keywords are more specific, three or four-word phrases that are less competitive and get fewer searches.

Short tail keywords are simply shorter, more specific versions of your main keyword.

For example, if you’re selling shoes, your main keyword might be “shoes.” But a short tail keyword would be “women’s running shoes.”

On the other hand, long tail keywords are longer, more specific versions of your main keyword.

So, using our previous example, a long tail keyword might be “women’s size 10 running shoes.”

Statistically, short-term keywords are seen to be more competitive than long-tail keywords. This is because short tail keywords are more general and have a higher search volume. Long tail keywords, on the other hand, are more specific and have a lower search volume. But that doesn’t mean they’re not important!

In fact, long tail keywords are essential for SEO success. This is because they help you target a specific audience, which can result in higher conversion rates. And they can be much easier to rank than short-tail keywords.

 

Why should you use short-tail keywords?

Short tail keywords are important because they help you target a general audience. They can be difficult to rank for, but you’ll get a lot of traffic if you do manage to rank for them.

In fact, according to one research, 10,000 of the most utilized keywords are almost entirely short tail. They also make up about 20% of all searches out of millions of available keywords.

 

5 Benefits of Using Short-Tail Keywords:

1) They have a high search volume.

For instance, a short tail keyword like “buy shoes” has a much higher search volume than a long tail keyword like “where can I buy size 10 women’s running shoes.”

2) They’re more competitive.

Because they have a high search volume, short tail keywords are also more competitive. The more competitive the keyword is, the more difficult it is to rank for.

3) They’re more general.

Short tail keywords are less specific than long tail keywords, which means they can target a wider range of people.

4) They’re easier to remember.

Because they’re shorter and more general, short tail keywords are easier to remember than long tail keywords. This makes them more likely to be used by people just starting their search.

5) They can be combined to create a long tail keyword.

Short tail keywords can be combined to create a long tail keyword. For instance, you could combine the short tail keywords “buy shoes” and “size 10” to create the long tail keyword “where can I buy size 10 women’s shoes.”

Now that you know the benefits of short-tail keywords, let’s look at some tips for using them in your SEO strategy.

 

Tips for Using Short-tail Keywords

1) Use keyword research tools

Use keyword research tools such as Google AdWords Keyword Planner, Google Trends, and Ahrefs Keyword Explorer to find short tail keywords relevant to your business.

2) Use negative keywords

Use negative keywords to filter out irrelevant searches. For instance, if you’re selling women’s shoes, you might want to use the negative keyword “men” to filter out searches for men’s shoes.

3) Use keyword-rich titles and descriptions

Use keyword-rich titles and descriptions to improve your chances of ranking for your chosen keywords.

4) Combine short tail keywords

Combining short tail keywords is a great way to create long tail keywords. As we mentioned before, you can combine the short tail keywords “buy shoes” and “size 10” to create the long tail keyword “where can I buy size 10 women’s shoes.”

5) Use short tail keywords in your content

Use short tail keywords in your content to improve your chances of ranking for those keywords. But don’t stuff your content with keywords! Use them sparingly and make sure they fit naturally into your text.

Short tail keywords are an essential part of any SEO strategy. By using the tips above, you can use them to improve your chances of ranking on Google and getting more traffic to your website.

 

7 Short Tail Keyword Examples

1) Local Keywords (Restaurant)

Local keywords are short tail keywords that include a geographic location. For instance, if you own a restaurant in Los Angeles, you might use the keyword “restaurants in Los Angeles.”

When you do keyword research, you’ll notice that the keyword “restaurants in Los Angeles” has and higher search volume than “restaurants in Los Angeles alfresco dining”. This is because people who include a geographic location in their search are more likely to look for a restaurant there.

 

2) Product Keywords (iPhone)

Product keywords are short tail keywords that include a product name. For instance, if you’re selling iPhone cases, you might use the keyword “iPhone cases.”

The keyword “iPhone cases” has more search volume than “iPhone 6 cases” because it’s more general. People who use the keyword “iPhone cases” might be looking for any type of case, not just an iPhone 6 case.

 

3) Brand Keywords (Nike)

Brand keywords are short tail keywords that include a brand name. For instance, if you’re selling Nike shoes, you might use the keyword “Nike shoes.”

The keyword “Nike shoes” has a greater search volume than the more narrow “Nike running shoes.” People looking for “Nike shoes” may be seeking any Nike shoe, not just the Nike running shoe.

The general rule is that the longer and more specific the keywords are, the less search volume they have. So, if you want more traffic to your website, aim for short-tail keywords.

 

4) Digital product keywords (WordPress plugins)

If you’ve been creating sites using WordPress, you’ve probably tried searching for WordPress themes and plugins already.

“WordPress themes” is a short tail keyword, while “best free WordPress themes for business websites” is a long tail keyword. The latter has less competition and more traffic potential.

 

5) Service keywords (SEO services)

If you offer SEO services, you might want to use the keyword “SEO services.” But since this keyword is quite general, you’ll be competing with many other SEO service providers.

A better option would be to use a long tail keyword such as “SEO services for small businesses.” This keyword is more specific and has less competition.

 

6) Informational keywords (how to change a tire)

Informational keywords are short tail keywords that people use when looking for information. For instance, someone might use the keyword “how to change a tire” if they need to know how to do it.

The keyword “how to change a tire” has more search volume than “how to change a tire on a car.” This is because the latter is more specific, and people who use it will likely know how to change a tire. They just need to know how to do it in a car.

 

7) Navigational keywords (Facebook login)

Navigational keywords are short tail keywords people use when looking for a specific website. For instance, someone might use the keyword “Facebook login” to go to Facebook’s login page.

The keyword “Facebook login” has more search volume than “login to Facebook.” This is because the latter is more specific, and people who use it are likely to know already how to login to Facebook. They just need the shortcut.

 

Key Takeaways

Short tail keywords present many opportunities for you to get more traffic to your website.

1. They have less competition and are, therefore, easier to rank for.
2. They are more general and have more search volume.
3. They are usually less specific, which makes them easier to target.
4. They can be used in various marketing campaigns, such as content marketing, pay-per-click advertising, and email marketing.
5. They are easier to remember than long tail keywords.

If you want to increase your website’s traffic, start by targeting short tail keywords. Not only will you be able to rank for them more easily, but you’ll also get more traffic from them.

 

Short Tail Keywords Frequently Asked Questions:

What is short tail keyword examples?

Examples of short tail keywords include “egg” and “shoes”. Short tail keywords consist of one or two words and are less specific than longer search phrases. They are commonly used to generate broad search results.

 

What is short tail keywords and long-tail keywords?

Short-tail keywords and long-tail keywords are vital in on-site SEO research. Short-tail keywords are broad search queries of one or two words, while long-tail keywords consist of three to five words or more. Understanding their difference is crucial for effective keyword targeting and driving relevant organic traffic to your website.

 

What is a short tail word?

Short-tail keywords, also called head terms, are broad search queries with high search volumes. They differ from long-tail keywords, which are specific and have low search volumes. Using short-tail keywords can help reach a larger audience but may be more competitive.

 

What is an example of a short tail product?

A short-tail product refers to a broad and popular item with high competition in online searches. For instance, common examples are “shoes,” “pizza,” or “travel.” These short-tail keywords have significant search volume and are usually more competitive to rank for.

 

Why do you SEO your home page for short‐tail keywords and internal pages for long tail keywords?

When it comes to conversion, short-tail keywords are being used on homepages because they are general and give people an overview of the website.

On the other hand, long-tail keywords are used on internal pages because they are more specific and help convert visitors into customers or subscribers. Long-tail keywords are the key to optimizing your semantic search. For example, you can dilute your long-tail keywords with broad (short-tail) terms to avoid being penalized by Google and losing potential traffic.

 

Why do you use short‐tail keywords for your home page? 

If you’re just starting out, it’s best to focus on short-tail keywords for your home page. This is because they are more general and have more search volume. As you get more traffic to your website, you can target long-tail keywords for your internal pages.

However, the rule of thumb in digital marketing is that you should use both keywords (short and long tail) for your website. Short-tail keywords are less competitive and easier to rank for, while long-tail keywords are more specific and have more traffic potential. Doing so can help you boost your bottom line, increase brand awareness and organic traffic.

 

Do you have any suggestions for short tail keywords with low competition?

There is no magic bullet when it comes to finding low competition keywords. However, a good place to start is by using Google’s Keyword Planner Tool. You can also try using long-tail keywords, which are usually less competitive than short-tail keywords. Another approach is to use keyword research tools like Moz’s Keyword Explorer or Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer. These tools can help you find low-competition keywords that you can rank for.

 

Can short tail keywords be more than one word?

Yes, short tail keywords can be more than one word. They can be up to three words. However, anything more than that is considered a long-tail keyword.

 

What are some of the best short tail keywords?

Some of the best short tail keywords include “buy,” “sale,” “free shipping,” and “coupon.” These high-traffic keywords can help you get more traffic to your website.

 

What are mid-tail keywords?

Mid-tail keywords are a combination of short-tail and long-tail keywords. They are somewhere in the middle in terms of both search volume and competition.

 

When should you be using mid-tail keywords?

Mid-tail keywords can be used in a variety of situations, such as when you’re starting a new website or when you’re trying to rank for a new keyword. For example, if you’re starting a website about shoes, you might use the mid-tail keyword “men’s dress shoes.” This is a high-traffic keyword that isn’t too competitive.

 

When should you be using long-term keywords?

If you want to increase your traffic in the long run, then you should be using long-tail keywords. These are more specific and have more traffic potential. They may be less competitive than short-tail keywords, but they will help you get more targeted traffic that is more likely to convert.

 

What are some tips for choosing the right keywords?

There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing keywords. First, you want to ensure that the keywords you choose are relevant to your business and products. Second, you want to choose keywords that have enough search volume to be worth targeting. Lastly, you want to choose keywords that you can realistically rank for. There’s no point in targeting keywords that are too competitive.