How to Find Long Tail Keywords: A 5-Step Method
To find long tail keywords, start with one plain seed phrase, collect the real suggestions people see while typing it into a search box, then keep only the phrases whose wording shows what the searcher wants to do or buy. You need no paid tool for this: a search box, a spreadsheet and about an hour are enough for a first list.
This guide is for small business owners, founders, freelancers, marketers, bloggers and agencies who plan content without an expensive keyword tool.
What are long tail keywords?
A long tail keyword is a longer, more specific search phrase, usually three or more words, that describes one narrow need. "Shoes" is broad. "Waterproof running shoes for flat feet" is long tail. There is no official word-count rule; the point is specificity, not length.
Long phrases are often a sensible first target for a new or small site because fewer pages are written for exactly that wording. That is a rule of thumb, not a guarantee: whether you can rank depends on your site and on the pages already there.
Why start from real suggestions, not guesses?
Guessing gives you phrases you would like people to type. Autocomplete gives you phrases people did type. Google states that autocomplete predictions "reflect real searches that have been done on Google", shaped by language, location, trending interest and, for a signed-in user, past searches. Google also says predictions can include word patterns found across the web, so treat each one as a lead to check, not as proof of demand.
Two limits to remember:
- Autocomplete shows no search counts. It tells you a phrase exists, not how often it is searched.
- Your own past searches and location can change what you see. Use a private window, or note your country and language next to your list.
The 5-step method
Step 1: Which seed phrase should I start from?
Pick one short phrase that names what you sell or teach, in the words a customer would use. A seed is a starting phrase you expand, not a target.
Example (an illustration, not data): a freelance bookkeeper in Pune might use "bookkeeping for freelancers".
Write one seed at a time. Ten seeds at once produce a pile you cannot judge.
Step 2: How do I pull real suggestions?
Type the seed into a search box and write down every suggestion. Then expand it:
- Add a space and each letter, a to z, after the seed and record what appears.
- Put a question word before the seed: how, what, can, which, why.
- Add modifiers after the seed: for, with, without, near me, vs, template, cost.
- Repeat in the box of a second search engine and keep the phrases that appear in both.
Paste everything into a spreadsheet, one phrase per row. Remove exact duplicates.
IKR does this step for you. IKR is free and invite-only; you need a referral code (see Find referral code). The manual route above gives the same raw material, only slower.
Step 3: How do I match each phrase to intent?
Search intent is what the person wants to accomplish with a search. For each phrase, read its wording and tag it:
| Wording clue | Likely intent | Example phrase (illustration) |
|---|---|---|
| how to, what is, guide | Learn | how to track expenses as a freelancer |
| best, vs, review, alternative | Compare | invoice app vs spreadsheet |
| price, cost, buy, hire, near me | Act | hire a bookkeeper for small business |
| a brand or site name | Find a place | a specific tool's login page |
Keep the intent that matches what you can truly help with. If you sell a service, "hire" and "cost" phrases are close to buying. "How to" phrases build trust and are easier to answer in a blog post.
Discard phrases where the wording points to something you do not offer. A long phrase is worthless if the person behind it wants a different thing.
Step 4: How do I check what already ranks?
Search your top phrases and read the first page of results. Ask three questions:
- Do the results answer the same question I plan to answer?
- Are they all large brands, or are small sites also there?
- Is there a gap, such as outdated advice or no worked example?
This is a manual judgement, not a measured difficulty score. Note what you saw and the date. If you already have a site, open the Performance report in Search Console, which shows the queries your site appeared for, with clicks, impressions and average position. Phrases where you show up but sit low are natural long tail targets, because Google already links your site with that topic.
Step 5: How do I turn the shortlist into a plan?
Keep five to ten phrases. For each, write one line: the phrase, the intent tag, and the page you will create. One page should answer one main phrase, with close variants covered naturally in the text. Do not create a separate thin page for every wording.
A simple shortlist might look like this (all invented for illustration):
| Phrase | Intent | Planned page |
|---|---|---|
| how to track expenses as a freelancer | Learn | Blog post with a worked example |
| invoice app vs spreadsheet | Compare | Comparison post with a table |
| hire a bookkeeper for small business | Act | Service page with clear next step |
Publish the page that matches your strongest intent first, then check Search Console after a few weeks to see which queries appear.
How do I find long tail keywords for AI assistants?
People also ask questions in chatbots such as ChatGPT, Claude or Perplexity. No public tool reports how often such questions are asked, so any list of them is an idea list, not data. A practical habit: take your Learn-intent phrases, rewrite them as full questions, and make sure your page opens with a direct two or three sentence answer. That helps readers and gives AI systems a clean passage to quote, but it promises nothing.
FAQ
How long should a long tail keyword be?
There is no fixed length. Three to six words is common, but a clear, specific need matters more than a word count.
Do I need a paid tool to find long tail keywords?
No. Autocomplete, a second search engine, Search Console and a spreadsheet cover a first list. Paid tools add search volume estimates, which are useful but not required to begin.
How do I know if a long tail keyword has enough searches?
Autocomplete alone cannot say. A phrase that appears in several engines' suggestions is more likely to be real, but only a volume source or your own Search Console data shows actual counts. If you have neither, treat the phrase as a test: publish one good page and watch the results.
Will a long tail keyword guarantee a ranking?
No. Nobody can promise a ranking. A specific phrase gives a small site a fairer chance than a broad one, but content quality, your site and the existing results all matter.
How many long tail keywords should one page target?
One main phrase and its close variants. If two phrases need different answers, they need two pages.
What this guide does not cover
It does not give search volumes or difficulty scores, and the example phrases above are illustrations, not measured data. Check the live results for your own market, country and language before you commit to a plan.