Short-tail keywords

Definition

Short-tail keywords are shorter, more general keywords that are less specific than long-tail keywords[1]. They tend to have higher search volume, but they are also more competitive, as they are often used by a larger number of websites.

Examples of short-tail keywords

For example, shoes is a short-tail keyword, while men's brown leather dress shoes size 10 is a long-tail keyword. Short-tail keywords are often more general and less specific, and they are typically used at the beginning of the customer journey when users are just starting to research a product or service.

Short-tail keywords in SEO

In SEO, short-tail keywords can be an important part of your keyword strategy, as they often have higher search volume and can drive a significant amount of traffic to your website. However, they can also be more competitive, as they are often used by a larger number of websites. To rank well for short-tail keywords, it is important to have high-quality content on your website that is relevant to the keyword and to use the keyword in strategic locations, such as in the title tag and header tags.

Short-tail keywords in marketing

In digital marketing, short-tail keywords can be used in a variety of ways to reach potential customers. For example, they can be used in paid search campaigns to target users who are searching for more general terms related to your product or service. They can also be used in social media advertising or email marketing to reach a wider audience.

Overall, it is important to include both short-tail and long-tail keywords in an SEO strategy to ensure that you are targeting a diverse range of keywords and reaching a wider audience.

Related links

How To Do Keyword Research — SEO Guide for 2023
Long-Tail Keywords: How to Benefit From Them for SEO