Use any keyword reporting tool for your website, and chances are you’ll get back a list of short key phrases that include three words or less. This is common for blog marketing reports, and it can lead anyone in digital marketing to think that these short keywords are what they should be focusing on.

But long-tail keywords – key phrases with three to five words or more – are actually responsible for over 70% of all Internet searches according to a study by HitTail. With that in mind, why aren’t more bloggers dedicating their SEO focus to long-tail keywords?

Simply put, they didn’t know they should be.

Why Long-Tail Keywords Should Drive Your Content Marketing Strategy

Not only do long-tail keywords lead more traffic to your blog, but they also have a major impact on conversion rates and ranking. The same study from HitTail showed that click-through rates grow by as much as 15 to 20% compared to short keywords when your local SEO gets more specific. And the conversion rates? Two-and-a-half times higher for keyword phrases over five words, compared to those of just a single word. Need we say more?

Studies like these show that your audience is less concerned about finding content that matches a vague idea, and more concerned with finding content that answers a specific need. That can be a powerful realization in your content marketing strategy.

How to Optimize Your Content Marketing for Long-Tail Keywords

Whether you are aiming to optimize your social media marketing, your blog marketing, or your digital marketing as a whole, the steps for building SEO with long-tail keywords aren’t as difficult as you might think.

First, really consider the purpose of your content in terms of longer phrases. Consider what your ideal reader persona is searching for, and do some research into the long-tail keywords that have brought traffic to your blog or profile already. You can still use your favorite search engine optimization tools like the Google AdWords Keyword Planner – just pay attention to keywords that are over three words long.

Next, start writing your content based on those long-tail keywords. While content creation can get pretty tricky when you’ve got to build usable information around very specific phrases, you’ll notice that there are many ways to plant the seeds of long-tail searches in your writing. Be sure to use smart SEO practices, like putting the keywords in your headers, subject lines, and ads.

Let the Pros Help You Knock Search Engine Optimization Out of the Park

While long-tail SEO isn’t so different from any other type of SEO, it can require a major mental shift from the way you’ve been doing things. Let the professionals at Organically help you attract more traffic, get more conversions, and enhance your social media presence through the use of tailored long-tail keywords that draw in your target audience.