Informational Keywords
Informational keywords represent queries people use to learn or understand something. By optimizing content for these keywords, you actively answer questions, give clear instructions, or educate readers on specific topics.
For example, informational keywords include:
Places to visit in Europe
How to clean an acoustic guitar
How does inflation work?
Use Semrush’s Keyword Magic Tool to quickly discover a wide range of informational keywords related to your online business.
Commercial Keywords
Users search for commercial keywords to research products, services, or brands. These keywords indicate that the user is close to making a purchase, making them highly valuable to target.
Examples of commercial keywords include:
- Budget smartphones under $300
- Top-rated blenders for smoothies
- Semrush review
Commercial keywords allow you to attract high-quality prospects who are nearly ready to make a purchase. By targeting the right keywords, you can create content that directly addresses their needs.
For instance, you could write comparison listicles that highlight your product or service’s features against competitors.
You can also include product reviews or testimonials from satisfied customers. These types of content effectively convert interested users into paying customers.
Long Tail Keywords
Long-tail keywords are specific, multi-word phrases, typically three or more words. These terms are more precise, resulting in lower search volumes and less competition compared to seed keywords.
For example, here are some long-tail keywords:
- Thai restaurant with vegetarian options
- At-home exercises for strengthening knees
- How to grow organic vegetables in small balcony gardens
How to Find Long-Tail Keywords
You can easily find long-tail keywords related to your seed keyword by using Google’s autocomplete feature. Simply begin typing your seed keyword or content topic, and Google will display a drop-down list of popular search terms users frequently look for.
Why You Should Use Long-Tail Keywords
Long-tail keywords have a specific intent, allowing you to attract users who are more likely to convert into customers. These users often take actionable steps on your website, such as making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter.
Additionally, long-tail keywords tend to have less competition, making it easier for your content to rank higher in search results.
Short Tail Keywords
short-tail keywords are brief, generic terms, usually 1 to 3 words long. Similar to seed keywords, they often have high search volume and competition. However, they generally result in a lower conversion rate.
Examples of short-tail keywords include:
- Rock music
- Vegan recipes
- Digital Marketing
- On-page SEO
- Arabic SEO Agency
Due to their broad nature, short-tail keywords are typically challenging to rank for.
Why Use Short-Tail Keywords
If short-tail keywords are challenging to target, why should you bother?
First, you can use short-tail keywords as seed keywords in the initial phase of your keyword research, which is essential for building a strong foundation.
Second, you can target them with hub or category pages, which link to more specific content, helping to organize and strengthen your site’s structure.
Conclusion
Grasping the various keyword categories (informational vs commercial, long tail vs short tail) is fundamental to effective SEO. While informational keywords are good for educating users and discussing interests, commercial keywords can help attract keen buyers who are just a step away from buying.
As they are more specific, long-tail keywords are easier to rank for and target users with a clear intent, translating to higher conversion rates. Conversely, generics stats have great search volume but are competitive and difficult to rank for.
Leveraging these keywords and phrases can improve your online ranking and get the right audience for your business.
