How to Target High-Intent and Long-Tail SEO Keywords

Super-specific keywords are your ticket to more traffic, clicks, and conversions. High-intent keywords attract users who are looking for the exact products or services you offer.

High-intent keywords­­ –– also long-tail keywords –– are highly targeted search terms likely to result in a purchase. Long-tail keywords get their name from their location on the search demand curve. Because these keywords are specific, they fall to the far right of the curve, on the “long tail,” where search volume is low.

When a consumer searches a high-intent keyword, they’re in a position to make a purchase. The more specific the keyword, the higher the likelihood that users know exactly what they want, which means they’re ready to buy.

Why do Long-Tail Keywords Matter for SEO?

Due to their specificity, high-intent keywords may have low search volume, but their conversion rates are the opposite. Their high conversion rates make long-tail keywords crucial for your SEO strategy.

Long-tail keywords are specific to what you offer, targeting users looking for the products you carry. Because high-intent keywords have low competition, they’re easier to rank for than their high-volume, more general counterparts. So when you can rank for high-intent words, you’re likely to get more clicks than if you had focused on ranking for a less specific keyword.

When users search precise keywords, they know exactly what they want. That means they are looking to buy. So, if you can rank for high-intent keywords, you target an audience that knows what they want; they need to find you to provide that product or service.

How to Integrate High-Intent Keywords into Your Content

Now that you know the “what” and “why” of high-intent keywords, let’s discuss the “how.” Knowing how to incorporate long-tail keywords effectively into your posts will help you get noticed by Google and users searching for those terms.

1. Research Your Keywords

To attract your target audience, you must know what they’re looking for, which means conducting keyword research. These days, you’ve got an arsenal of keyword research tools. For example, Google’s autocomplete feature and its “Searches related to…” feature at the bottom of each SERP provide new ideas for long-tail keywords to incorporate.

Regardless of the keyword research method, remember that you’re trying to work from the user’s point of view. Learn what they want, then choose user-specific keywords that will land them on your site.

2. Categorize Keywords into User Intent

After you compile a list of high-intent keywords, it’s time to organize them into relevant groupings. Next, categorize your keywords according to user intent and topic. This provides a clear framework for content creation that allows you to include multiple keywords organically into the exact copy.

Sometimes, you can update the published copy to include your new targeted keywords. But if you need to write fresh content, you have a list of long-tail keywords for creating your document.

3. Write Content that Draws in Users

Now that you’ve compiled a high-intent keyword list, all that’s left is to put those words on a page.

Your long-tail keywords aren’t the only component of compelling copy. First and foremost, you must create content that engages users. You’re writing to serve and draw in real people, not Google’s crawlers.

That said, Google wants to ensure they rank authoritative and valuable content. So include internal and external links and answer your user’s questions. Then, please provide them with the information they’re looking for before they even have to ask.

Doing all this while incorporating those high-intent keywords you researched will increase your site’s traffic and earn you more conversions.

Conclusion

Just because high-intent keywords aren’t high-volume, that doesn’t mean they aren’t high-reward. Targeting long-tail keywords pulls in users at the end of the buying cycle when they’re ready to purchase.