How to Find Long-Tail Keywords That Drive Traffic & Sales

Let’s be honest, most keyword guides are written by SEO nerds for other SEO nerds. They’re full of jargon, complicated formulas, and tools that cost a fortune. This guide is different, and by the end of it, you’ll know exactly how to find long-tail keywords without losing your mind.

What Is a Long-Tail Keyword?

A keyword is just the word or phrase someone types into Google when they want to find something. A long-tail keyword is simply a longer, more specific version of that phrase.

Here’s the difference:

Short keyword: “shoes.”
Long-tail keyword: “best running shoes for flat feet under $100.”

The longer phrase is more specific. It tells you exactly what the person wants. And here’s the thing: the more specific someone is in their search, the more likely they are to buy, sign up, or take action. That’s why long-tail keywords are gold.

Think of it this way: someone searching “shoes” is just browsing. Someone searching “best running shoes for flat feet under $100” is ready to buy.

Why Bother With Long-Tail Keywords?

Here are three very good reasons:

First, they’re easier to rank for. Big, short keywords like “coffee” or “weight loss” are dominated by massive websites, such as Amazon, WebMD, and Wikipedia. You’re not going to beat them. But a phrase like “how to make cold brew coffee in a mason jar” is a different story. Smaller sites can absolutely rank for that.
Second, the traffic is of better quality. People who search with long, specific phrases are further along in their decision-making. They know what they want. When they land on your page, they’re more likely to do something useful — buy, subscribe, or contact you.
Third, there are thousands of them. Short keywords are few and fiercely competitive. Long-tail keywords are practically endless, and most of them have little to no competition. It’s a lot easier to win 50 small races than one massive one.

Method 1: Let Google Do the Work for You

This is the easiest method, and it’s completely free. You don’t need any tools — just a browser.

Google Autocomplete

Go to Google and start typing your topic, but don’t hit Enter. Google will immediately show you a dropdown list of suggested searches. These are real phrases that real people are searching for right now.

For example, type “how to lose weight” and Google might suggest:

How to lose weight fast
How to lose weight without exercise
How to lose weight in 2 weeks
How to lose weight on a budget

Every single one of those is a long-tail keyword. Write them down. They’re free, and they’re legitimate.

“People Also Ask” Box

When you search for something on Google, you’ll often see a box in the middle of the results labeled “People Also Ask.” It contains questions others have searched for on the same topic.

These questions are brilliant long-tail keywords. If you write a blog post that directly answers one of those questions, you have a real shot at showing up in Google’s results — sometimes even at the very top.

Method 2: Use a Free Keyword Tool

If you want more data, like how many people search for a phrase each month, you’ll need a tool. The good news is that there are excellent free options.

Google Keyword Planner

This is Google’s own free keyword research tool. To use it, you need a free Google Ads account (you don’t need to run any ads or spend any money — create the account).

Once you’re in, go to “Discover new keywords” and type in your topic or a seed keyword. Google will give you a list of related keywords along with average monthly search volumes. Look for phrases with a decent number of searches but lower competition. Those are your long-tail sweet spots.

Ubersuggest

Ubersuggest is a user-friendly tool created by marketer Neil Patel. The free version lets you search a few keywords per day, which is usually enough when you’re starting. Type in a broad keyword and it will generate a long list of related long-tail variations, complete with search volume and difficulty scores.

A keyword difficulty score of 30 or below is generally considered a good target for websites that are relatively new. The lower the number, the easier it is to rank.

AnswerThePublic

This tool is a personal favourite for finding long-tail keywords in question form. Type in your topic and it generates a visual map of all the questions people ask around that subject — things like “who,” “what,” “where,” “when,” “why,” and “how.”

Questions make excellent long-tail keywords because they match exactly how people search. When someone wants to know something, they type a question into Google. If your page answers that question, you’re in a great position.

Method 3: Spy on Your Competitors (Legally)

One of the best shortcuts in keyword research is finding out what’s already working for your competitors. If another website in your niche is ranking well, they’ve already done the hard work of figuring out what keywords bring in traffic. You can learn from that.

How to Do It for Free

Go to a competitor’s website and look at their blog or content section. What topics are they writing about? What words appear in their headlines and article titles? Those are likely the keywords they’re targeting. Make a note of them.

You can also type site:competitorwebsite.com into Google to see all the pages Google has indexed for that site. Browse through the titles and URLs — they often contain the exact keywords the site is trying to rank for.

Using Free Tools to Dig Deeper

The free version of Ubersuggest also lets you enter a competitor’s URL and see which keywords are driving traffic to their site. You can then filter for long-tail keywords (usually phrases of three or more words) and target the ones that make sense for your own content.

You’re not copying your competitors; you’re identifying what your niche’s audience is already interested in, then creating something better.

Method 4: Mine Your Own Data

If you already have a website, you’re sitting on valuable keyword data, and you might not even know it.

Google Search Console

Google Search Console is a free tool from Google that shows you which search terms people used to find your site. Go to the “Performance” section and look at the “Queries” tab. You’ll see a list of every search phrase that has brought someone to your website.

Often, you’ll find long-tail phrases in there that you never intentionally targeted. That’s great news — it means people are already finding you for those terms. You can now create more content around those exact phrases and boost your visibility even further.

Your Own Search Bar

If your website has a search bar, look at the search logs. What are your own visitors searching for on your site? If people are searching for something on your site and not finding it, that’s a content gap — and a perfect long-tail keyword opportunity.

How to Judge Whether a Keyword Is Worth Targeting

Not every long-tail keyword is worth your time. Here’s a simple way to decide:

Ask yourself three questions:

Does anyone actually search for this? Even 100 searches a month can be worthwhile if it’s very specific and relevant.
Are big, authoritative sites dominating the first page of results? If so, it may be very hard to rank. Look for results from smaller sites or forums — that’s a sign there’s room for you.
Does this phrase actually relate to what you offer? Traffic only matters if it’s the right kind of people landing on your page.

The sweet spot is a keyword with modest search volume, low competition, and strong relevance to your topic. You won’t always find all three, but aim for at least 2 of the 3.

Final Thoughts

Long-tail keywords are not a cheat code; they’re just a smarter way to play the game. Instead of fighting over the most popular searches, you find the corners of the internet where your ideal audience is already looking, and you show up there.

The methods in this guide are free or nearly free, and they work for any website in any industry. You don’t need an expensive agency or complicated software. You need a bit of time, a notepad, and a willingness to think about what your audience is actually searching for.

Start small. Pick one keyword. Write one piece of content. Then do it again. Over time, those individual pages add up to a website that Google trusts and your audience loves.

How to Find Long-Tail Keywords