Okay, how's your long tail?I mean if you have, say a money making blog, do you concentrate on the word money as a keyword? If you do you'll have a heck of a lot of competition and might have a job getting a good position on the Google search engine.
Also, if you use a word like money, it can mean different things to different people. In other words someone who puts money into a search might not be thinking about money making. If he or she isn't then they'll probably leave your blog as quickly as they arrived. It might be a referral for the stats but it won't make you any money.
A Long Tail, in a keyword sense, is more than one word. It could be several words, or a phrase, that really defines what your post (or blog) is all about. Therefore, if a searcher uses your Long Tail words, when they arrive via Google it's more likely they will remain longer on your blog - as you should have something they are really looking for. So this time they are a referral that is more likely to make you money.
So how do you decide what Long Tail words to use?
One way is to use a tool (yes, it's free!) such as the Keyword Suggestion Tool.
This tool will give you up to 100 suggestions and these are based on what people have been searching for.
Let's give an example.
So you've written a post all about, let's say, Harry Potter. So what Long Tail keywords should you use? Here's what this particular Keyword Suggestion Tool came up with:
The full list includes 100 suggestions but I thought that would take up a bit too much space! Anyway, the above list shows what people are presently searching for.
Yes, the two words Harry Potter are at the top but are you realistically going to get a top ten search engine position with these? Doubtful. But you might just fare a lot better with some of the other suggestions on the list.
Whatever Long Tail set of words you choose, of course, has to be incorporated within your post and even in the title if possible.
I used Long Tail keywords long before I'd ever heard of the expression. It simply made sense to me and I've proved to my own satisfaction that they work.
You could even get ideas for posts based on a selection of Long Tail keywords. Enter the theme (i.e. dogs, football, soccer, baby, art or whatever) of your blog into the Keyword Suggestion Tool and see what it comes up with.
If we take the theme or niche 'dogs' the tool suggests: dog breeds, westminster dog show, dog names, dog parvo symptoms, dog food coupons, dog rescue shelters and so on. So amongst the top 100 there should be an idea of something on which to base a post.
The idea is to try and match the searcher with what he or she is looking for. Do this and you have a proper targeted referral - that has a better chance of making money.
I know I've often said that Lots of Traffic = Lots of Money but ...
... Lots of Targeted Traffic = Lots More Money!
Give the Keyword Suggestion Tool a try, there are also others about and they could help:
(1) Bring more targeted referrals
(2) Get a better position on the search engines
(3) Give ideas on which to base a post relative to your niche.
(4) Make you more money! Providing you have the right ads, programs etc. to tie in with the keywords.
Good luck,
Mike.
