Short-tail keywords refer to head terms. These short tail keywords are the broad search queries with high search volume and are more competitive. Unlike long-tail keywords, which are specific and have lower search volume. These short-tail keywords are more generic and widely searched keywords with higher search volume.
The “short-tail” as they are more generic and at the top search demand curve, where fewer keywords receive a high number of searches. Despite the name, keyword length does not signify the term is short-tail—some multi-word queries still fall into the short-tail keyword category if they have a high search volume.
Why Are Short-Tail Keywords Important?
- Foundation words of Keyword Research – Short-tail keywords just like seed keywords, helping generate broader keyword ideas.
- High Search Volume, Ranking for these keywords can drive significant organic traffic.
- Competitive & Costly – They are difficult to rank for due to strong competition and high costs in PPC advertising.
However, ranking for short-tail keywords does guarantee high traffic. Some searches, like “investor,” results in Google providing direct answers, reducing clicks to websites.
How to Find Short-Tail Keywords
- With Google Search Console (GSC) you can identify the ranking of your website for the high-impression keywords.
- With Competitor Analysis: Use SEO tools to analyze which short-tail keywords top competitors rank for.
- Keyword Research Tools: Platforms like Google Keyword Planner help you to identify keywords that are relevant to your website. These keywords can be from high volume to low volume keywords.
FAQs
Should I target short-tail or long-tail keywords?
Short-tail keywords are competitive. New websites should prioritize long-tail keywords before targeting broader terms.
Short-tail keywords are crucial for SEO and PPC strategies. Due to their high competition require strong domain authority and well-optimized content to rank effectively. This becomes a big target to rank the keyword on SERP.
