Keywords are an inseparable part of a solid on-page SEO strategy. And without long-tail keywords, no keyword strategy is sufficient. Concentrating on long-tail keywords constitutes a highly effective SaaS SEO strategy. These phrases or terms are more precise, often lengthier than the frequently employed keywords. Although long-tail keywords may receive lower search volume, they tend to yield higher conversion rates due to their specificity. They enable you to steadily increase traffic to your website and attract fresh, engaged audiences.
Implementing a long-tail keyword approach can be extremely advantageous, particularly in competitive markets or for highly sought-after primary keywords. Nonetheless, this strategy proves valuable for most companies or blogs, as it allows you to draw in visitors with a highly specific search intent.
In this context, I will highlight the concept of long-tail keywords and demonstrate how aligning them with your mission and product can lay the foundation for an effective keyword strategy that is inclusive of high-intent long-tail keywords.
Long-tail keywords are characterized by their specificity and lower frequency than general terms. They zero in on a particular niche.
The concept of long-tail keywords originated from Chris Anderson’s book, “The Long Tail“. Anderson’s work illustrates that there exists a market for almost any product. Even in cases where this market is exceptionally small, the expansive reach of the internet can still render your niche product or blog post profitable.
Most blogs typically revolve around a central theme, often called the “head term” or main keyword. For instance, mom blogs primarily cover family life, while food blogs focus on topics related to eating, restaurants, or recipes. At FPG, our blog centers on SaaS SEO and other SaaS marketing information. Consequently, all our blog posts delve into topics related to SEO, PPC, and SaaS marketing. This is called building topical authority.
Your blog or website’s primary subject or overarching theme corresponds to the key keyword (or keyphrase) you aim for people to discover you through. In our scenario, that keyword is evidently “SaaS SEO.” Likewise, someone managing a food blog specializing in homemade Italian cuisine would likely aim to be found under the search term “[homemade Italian food],” thereby establishing it as the predominant keyphrase for their blog.
However, optimizing every blog post for the same term, like “[homemade Italian food],” is not feasible, even if all your posts revolve around this theme. Instead, diversify your content strategy by creating numerous blog posts centered around long-tail variations of your primary keyword. For example, in the context of a food blog, you can cover a wide array of delectable topics such as homemade Italian pasta, salads, and pies.
You can further delve into even more specific long-tail topics. For instance, explore recipes like homemade Italian spaghetti bolognese, lasagna, spaghetti carbonara, etc. Thorough keyword research will yield these valuable long-tail keywords. If you generate abundant extended focus keywords, you can utilize our plugin’s keyphrase length check to ensure they fall within the appropriate parameters.
As illustrated in the examples below, a long-tail keyword isn’t constrained by a specific length or the obligatory inclusion of your head keyword. However, it’s worth noting that long-tail keywords typically consist of roughly 3 to 5 words, and quite frequently, they incorporate the head keyword.
| Head Keyword | Tail Keywords |
| Apple | Cripps Pink Apple Honeycrisp Apple Apple tart recipe |
| Project Management Tool | Project management tools for tech teams Free project management tools Kanban project management tool |
| Digital Marketing | Digital marketing for SaaS companies B2B digital marketing services How much digital marketing costs |
Ranking for long-tail keywords is notably more achievable compared to their more common counterparts, as there’s less competition for top positions on Google’s result pages. The greater length and specificity of your search terms make them easier to rank for. Given the sheer vastness of the internet, honing in on your specific niche allows for a more targeted audience.
Moreover, including on long-tail keywords in your SaaS SEO strategy offers the advantage of attracting visitors who are more inclined to make a purchase.
For instance, let’s consider a scenario where I’m on the lookout for a new board game for some family fun with my kids. I commence my search with the broad term [board games]. However, after a bit of exploration, I realize I’m seeking a board game that’s both kid-friendly and educational. This refines my search, leading me to use terms like [educational board games for kids]. Alternatively, if I know I’ll be in Amsterdam, I might even make it a local search: [where to buy educational board games for kids in Amsterdam].
These are both examples of long-tail keywords. By employing these specific terms, I’m likely to encounter results that closely align with my search intent, significantly increasing the likelihood of making a purchase.
Shivam Kumar
