Last Updated on July 10, 2025 by Becky Halls
You know what’s cooler than ranking #6 for “link building”?
Ranking #1 for “ethical podcast link building for sustainable brands” and actually getting clicks that convert.
Let us introduce you to the world of long tail keywords, where being weirdly specific isn’t just okay – it’s how you win in SEO (especially with AI search leading the way in 2025).
We consider ourselves to be a bit of an expert in all things ‘keyword and link building’ related so in this post we will share with you:
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What long tail keywords actually are
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Why they matter more than ever in 2025
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Real-world results from our own projects
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How to find, test, and scale them like a pro
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Tools and examples to help you along the way
Let’s get started!
So… What Is a Long Tail Keyword?
A long tail keyword is a very specific, most often lower-volume keyword phrase that typically contains 3 or more words.
Think:
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“best link building tools for eCommerce startups”
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“how to get backlinks for a local electrical business”
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“long tail keyword strategy for AI-powered SEO” (this one’s quite an important one to us all!)
These aren’t vague, catch-all terms. They’re laser-focused phrases used by people who know what they want and that’s the magic.
They’re called “long tail” because they sit on the long end of the search demand curve. You’ve got a few high-volume “head” terms (like “SEO”)… and a whole lot of juicy, low-competition long tail ones. Those long tails = hidden gold.
Why Long Tail Keywords Are SEO’s Secret Weapon in 2025
The game has changed.
AI-powered search (hello, Google AI Overviews and ChatGPT search integrations) doesn’t just surface generic results anymore. It interprets intent. And guess what? Long tail keywords help clarify intent better than any other tactic.
Here’s why they’re winning:
1. Higher Conversion Rates
People searching for long tail phrases are ready to act. Think about it – They’re not just simply browsing a topic; they’re looking for a thing.
Let’s look at a couple of examples:
Someone searching “red shoes” might just be killing time.
Someone searching “women’s vegan red running shoes size 7 UK” is ready to hand you their money.
2. Lower Competition
While everyone’s still battling over “digital marketing,” you can quietly dominate “digital marketing for eco-friendly wellness brands.”
Spoiler: We’ve done this. Several times to be exact. And the traffic is not only easier to earn, it actually converts much better.
3. They Match AI Search Behavior
AI Overviews pull from highly relevant, topically precise content, and guess what’s built around specificity? You guessed it – Long tail keywords.
Our observation: The content we’ve optimized around long tail keywords like “get backlinks to your blog ethically” tends to show up in AI snapshots more than our broad posts do. Coincidence? We think not.
“The future of search isn’t about keywords – it’s about questions. And long tail keywords are just really well-worded questions.”
How We Use Long Tail Keywords
At 3way.social, we’ve built our content (and pretty much our entire backlink exchange platform) around niching.
Instead of writing articles on “SEO” (yawn), we’ve written pieces like:
They get less traffic than generic pages, but the traffic is targeted, qualified, and more likely to engage, subscribe, or link back.
A real stat for you:
One of our long tail-optimized blog posts drove 4x more link signups than a broader post with 3x the traffic.
Relevance > reach.
How to Find Long Tail Keywords That Actually Work
Here’s the 3-step sanity-saving method we use:
1. Start With Your Core Topic
Example: “backlinks”
Now ask: who wants backlinks? Why? In what context?
Now you’ve got:
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backlinks for podcasts
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backlinks for startups
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backlinks for Shopify stores
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backlinks for niche sites under 6 months old
Already much better right?
2. Use Tools That Specialize in Intent
Our go-to keyword tools:
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AlsoAsked – great for question-based keywords
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AnswerThePublic – excellent for search phrasing
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Ubersuggest – especially handy for long tail keyword clusters
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Google’s ‘People Also Ask’ + Autocomplete – still golden
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Ahrefs/SEMrush – for intent and difficulty metrics
Pair any of these with ChatGPT to get rapid variations.
“The best long tail keywords are often hiding in your FAQ section, your customer emails, or your DMs. If someone’s asked it, someone else is probably Googling it.”
— Ian, Founder @ 3way.social
How to Use Long Tail Keywords in Content (Without Sounding Like a Robot)
Here’s how we sneak them into blog posts, landing pages, and metadata without making your copy feel really awkward:
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Headline + H1: Try including the phrase naturally (“Best Link Building Tools for SaaS in 2025”)
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First 100 words: Drop the keyword in early, but keep it casual
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Subheadings (H2/H3): Break down the query or question-based version
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Image ALT text: Describes the visual but reinforces the keyword
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Meta description: Summarize your post using long tail phrasing (great for CTR)
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Internal links: Use long tail phrases as anchor text to other posts/pages
And if you’re using PageTest.AI (you should be), A/B test different keyword placements and formats to see what actually boosts click-through or time on page.
Advanced Tactic: Build Keyword Clusters Around Long Tail Terms
We’ve realised that just using one long tail keyword per post is sometimes not enough so we create clusters of related variations.
Example cluster for “podcast backlink strategy”:
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how to get backlinks from podcasts
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podcast guesting for SEO
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building links through podcast interviews
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are podcast backlinks good for domain authority?
You can sprinkle these through a single in-depth post or break them into a mini-series that crosslinks. Either way, you’re covering more ground with less competition.
How AI is Changing the Long Tail Game in 2025
With AI tools pulling snippets and summaries instead of SERP results, you need to:
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Answer the actual question – don’t bury the value 800 words in
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Use structured content (FAQs, bullet points, clear subheadings)
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Add original insights – AI loves “hidden gem” content with your own first-hand experience
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Focus on credibility – cited sources, author bios, and expert input all help
AI-driven search favors clarity, not vagueness. Long tail keywords help you own the topic, not just rank for it.
Let’s Recap: Our Go-To Tips for Long Tail Keyword Success
✅ Use tools to find intent-rich, low-competition phrases
✅ Optimize naturally, especially in headings and intros
✅ Build content clusters around related long tail terms
✅ Test your copy with A/B tools like PageTest.AI
✅ Structure for AI snippets – think FAQs, bold answers, clean formatting
✅ Go beyond the blog – use long tail keywords in video, podcast titles, social content, and schema markup
Final Thoughts: The Power of Going Long (Tail)
The world of search is shifting fast. But one thing hasn’t changed: people still want answers, and most often very specific ones.
If you’re chasing big keywords, you’re probably chasing big bounce rates too. But if you go long, and smart, you’ll attract exactly the audience that matters.
As we like to say around here: Don’t go viral. Go valuable.
FAQs
What is a long tail keyword in SEO?
A long tail keyword is a specific, usually lower-competition phrase that typically contains three or more words. It targets precise user intent and often converts better than broad keywords.
Are long tail keywords better for AI search results?
Yes! Long tail keywords provide the context and intent that AI-powered search engines use to generate accurate, relevant answers—making them ideal for featured snippets and AI Overviews.
How do I find the best long tail keywords?
Use tools like AnswerThePublic, Ubersuggest, and Google’s People Also Ask. Better yet, listen to what your audience is already asking you via email, chat, or support tickets.
How many long tail keywords should I use per post?
Start with one primary long tail keyword, then build supporting content or subheadings using 2–4 related phrases. Don’t overstuff—use them naturally.
Can long tail keywords really bring traffic?
Yes—and not just traffic, but the right traffic. It might be lower volume, but it’s higher quality and more likely to convert.
What’s the difference between long tail and short tail keywords?
Short tail keywords are broad and high-volume (like “SEO tools”). Long tail keywords are niche and specific (like “free SEO tools for coaches in 2025”). The latter is less competitive and more conversion-friendly.
