15 Best Long-Tail Keyword Tools (Free and Paid) + Tutorial
by Ankit Singla
If you want to learn how to find long-tail keywords, you’re in the right place.
Not only are long-tail keywords less competitive than broad keywords, but they also let you target readers with specific search intent.
Here are 15 proven ways to find profitable long-tail keywords (that I personally use).
Best Tools to Find Long-Tail Keywords for SEO
1. ChatGPT
While I don’t advocate for purely AI-generated content, I can appreciate the ability of AI tools to assist with repetitive tasks in content marketing.
ChatGPT, for example, is a handy AI chatbot capable of generating anything—be it JavaScript code, full-length blog posts, or a list of long-tail keyword ideas.
To use ChatGPT for long-tail keyword research, create an account and start a new chat.
From there, simply ask ChatGPT to list down long-tail keyword variations based on a seed keyword.
Just use a prompt like: “Give me long-tail keyword ideas for the seed keyword: ‘video editing apps’.”
Within seconds, ChatGPT will oblige to your request.
Here’s a tip: you can ask ChatGPT to obtain a specific long-tail keyword type.
Let’s say you want to attract readers with strong purchase intent. Simply modify your query to something like: “Give me transactional long-tail keyword ideas for the seed keyword: ‘video editing apps’.”
ChatGPT should immediately fulfill your request.
As an added bonus, you can ask ChatGPT to obtain tips on how to incorporate long-tail keywords into your content.
For this, simply use a prompt like: “Provide 10 long-tail keyword ideas for the seed keyword ‘video editing apps,’ and suggest how we can incorporate them into our content strategy.”
And, just like that, ChatGPT will comply.
Pros and cons of ChatGPT for long-tail keyword research
ChatGPT offers a quick, easy, and free way to obtain long-tail keyword variations. However, it’s not exactly an all-in-one tool for keyword research.
ChatGPT pros
- Free to use
- Can take on any request that doesn’t require special software or hardware
- Virtually unlimited long-tail keyword ideas
- Group long-tail keywords by search intent (transactional, commercial, informational, and navigational)
- Obtain tips on how to incorporate keywords into your content strategy
ChatGPT cons
- Unable to extract keyword metrics like CPC, search volume, and keyword difficulty
- Can’t analyze existing pages for keyword ideas
2. Suggest Machine
Suggest Machine is a free tool specifically designed to find long-tail keyword ideas around any topic.
You don’t even need to create an account to get started. Just load up the site, enter up to 10 seed keywords or topics, configure your target markets, and click ‘Get Long-Tail.’
After a few seconds, Suggest Machine will show relevant long-tail keyword suggestions along with question-based keyword ideas.
Take note that you can also use filters to specify included terms to include or exclude. This will keep Suggest Machine’s keyword suggestions relevant and top-quality.
If you want to get more out of Suggest Machine, pair it with a keyword research browser extension like Ubersuggest. This reveals useful keyword metrics directly on Google search results.
Go back to your list and perform a Google search using the first keyword suggestion.
Using the Ubersuggest browser extension, check the keyword’s search volume and look for websites with low Domain Authority (DA) in the top five results. These indicate that you’re looking at a viable, low-hanging fruit keyword you can rank for.
Repeat the steps above for as many Suggest Machine keywords as needed. Just remember to target long-tail keywords with good search volume and low-DA sites that rank for them.
Pros and cons of Suggest Machine for long-tail keyword research
Suggest Machine is a handy tool for quickly scooping up long-tail keyword variations around your topics. It’s free, easy to use, and reliable in providing interesting keyword ideas—but it also has a few downsides.
Suggest Machine pros
- 100% free to use
- You don’t need an account to get started
- Generate long-tail and question-based keywords
- Use filters to refine your keyword search
- Works well with other SEO tools (browser extensions, keyword research tools, etc.)
Suggest Machine cons
- Needs the help of third-party software to be effective
- Doesn’t include keyword metrics
- No other features aside from keyword idea generation
3. Google Search Console
Google Search Console is a free service designed to help website owners monitor certain SEO aspects. With the right techniques, it’s also an effective way to find long-tail keywords—specifically question-based keywords—that require further optimization.
First, load up Google Search Console and go to ‘Performance’ from the main menu.
On the filters tab, click ‘New’ and select ‘Query.’ Then, select ‘Custom (regex)’ in the first drop-down menu, enter “(?i)^(who|what|where|when|why|how)” without quotations, and click ‘Apply.’
This query prompts Google Search Console to reveal question-based keywords that bring impressions to your blog.
Naturally, you need to skip keywords that you already answered with a blog post. Look for question-based keywords that you don’t have content for instead.
Once you find these keywords, consider revising existing content to target them or produce new content altogether. Either way, be sure to inspect each keyword’s top 10 search results for optimization ideas from competitors.
Pros and cons of Google Search Console for long-tail keyword research
Google Search Console may not unveil important keyword metrics, but it’s a reliable way to identify potential keywords that lead to quick wins. Just remember that it’s not intended as a replacement for actual keyword research tools.
Google Search Console pros
- Find low-hanging fruit keywords
- Discover new optimization opportunities for existing content
- Explore fresh content topics your target audience cares about
- Free to use
- Monitors data on other aspects of your blog’s SEO
Google Search Console cons
- Doesn’t track essential keyword metrics
- Needs an existing page URL from your own domain to work
- Can’t be used to find long-tail keyword variations with seed keywords
4. Keyword Magic Tool (Semrush)
Semrush is an all-in-one SEO and visibility management platform with all the tools you need to establish, grow, and strengthen your online presence.
I can’t stress enough how important Semrush is to my blogging strategy. In addition to keyword research, it also helps me manage my content strategy and on-page optimization.
You can learn more about Semrush by creating a free trial account using the exclusive Master Blogging promo code (click here for details) 👈
To use Semrush for long-tail keyword research, go to ‘Keyword Magic Tool‘ under “Keyword Research.”
On the Keyword Magic Tool interface, enter a seed keyword and click ‘Search.’ Remember to set your target country to ensure you get long-tail keywords your target audience uses.
Keyword Magic Tool cuts to the chase and presents an exhaustive list of long-tail variations for your seed keyword. The report also includes crucial information, namely search volume, keyword difficulty, search intent, and CPC.
Click on any column header to instantly sort the list according to your preferred metrics. For example, if you want to find low-competition keywords first, click the ‘KD’ column header twice.
To learn more about a specific keyword, click on it to load the Keyword Overview report. Here, you’ll find useful insights like related keyword ideas and the top 10 organic results.
Pros and cons of Semrush Keyword Magic Tool for long-tail keyword research
Semrush is a straightforward, powerful SEO tool with one of the best keyword research tools in the business. While I tried numerous, similar services after purchasing a Semrush subscription, I always end up coming back for the quality of results.
Semrush Keyword Magic Tool pros
- Easy-to-use but powerful long-tail keyword research tool
- Monitor keyword rankings and backlinks within the same platform
- Analyze competitor domains for long-tail keyword ideas
- Get question, phrase match, broad match, exact match, and related keywords
- Create advanced filters to extract the best keyword ideas for your strategy
- Comprehensive toolset for content marketing, social media marketing, advertising, and local SEO
- Obtain on-page SEO recommendations through site audits
- Offers a limited, free version
Semrush Keyword Magic Tool cons
- Keyword Magic Tool can’t be purchased separately
- Semrush subscriptions can be out of budget for small bloggers
Remember, the best way to explore Semrush’s comprehensive platform is to use it yourself. The problem is, its best keyword research features require a paid subscription.
On the bright side, all Master Blogging readers can get a 14-day free trial on a Semrush Pro or Guru plan. That’s two weeks of unrestricted access to everything Semrush has to offer.
5. LowFruits
Another way to find low-hanging fruit keywords is to use the aptly named LowFruits.
As advertised, LowFruits is built to reveal low-hanging fruit keywords that offer huge traffic opportunities while requiring less work.
To use LowFruits, launch ‘Kwd Finder’ from the main dashboard. Plug in a seed keyword, set your target country, specify a language, and click ‘Find keywords.’
Sit back and let LowFruits do its thing. Once the results are in, click ‘Access’ to open the list of long-tail keyword ideas for your seed keyword.
Don’t forget to select the keywords that catch your attention and click ‘SERP Extr.’ from the bottom toolbar. This will prompt LowFruits to collect important keyword metrics as well as identify low-hanging fruit opportunities.
The analysis includes each selected keyword’s search volume, CPC, search features, and average word count. At the top of the list, you’ll find long-tail keywords with “weaknesses,” which pertain to low-DA websites that secured high rankings.
Pros and cons of LowFruits for long-tail keyword research
Take note that there’s more to LowFruits beneath the surface, including flexible filter tools for sieving out quality keywords from your list. However, its pay-to-use model can be a problem for new or small bloggers on a tight budget.
LowFruits pros
- Use filters to quickly find relevant keywords based on your SEO goals
- Set a minimum or maximum DA rating to only get viable keyword ideas
- Visually identify low-hanging fruit opportunities from a long list of keywords
- Look for keywords with a specific search intent
- Export keyword ideas to another keyword research or SEO platform
- Also features a domain analyzer, sitemap explorer, and other SEO tools
LowFruits cons
- No free option
- Keyword analysis is credit-based and can run out even with a paid subscription
6. Quora and Reddit
Quora and Reddit are two of the top online communities for sourcing trending blog topics.
But, with the help of a powerful tool like Semrush, they’re also perfect for handing you profitable, low-hanging fruit keywords.
Here’s the thing: Quora and Reddit probably rank for thousands of long-tail keywords through forum discussions—but don’t always provide a full learning experience to readers. That’s your chance to step in, give readers a more “complete” piece, and gain high Google rankings.
To do this, go to ‘Organic Research’ under “Competitive Research.” Enter either “reddit.com” or “quora.com” and click ‘Search.’
On the Organic Research report, scroll down to the “Top Keywords” section, switch to the ‘Organic’ tab, and click ‘View all keywords.’
The next step is to use filters to find relevant keywords. Just enter your seed keyword into the “Filter by keyword” field and click the magnifying glass icon.
Upon refresh, your keyword list should now be filled with relevant long-tail keywords that Quora or Reddit ranks for.
Feel free to further narrow down your search by setting additional filters, be it a keyword difficulty range, search volume, or terms to exclude.
Remember, long-tail keywords from Quora and Reddit are usually less competitive because forum posts are easier to outrank than full-length articles. But it’s important to choose long-tail keywords that relate to topics your target audience cares about.
Pros and cons of Quora/Reddit for long-tail keyword research
Websites like Quora and Reddit are great for finding topics, but they’re not equipped with keyword research features. With the help of a platform like Semrush, they’re goldmines of high-demand long-tail keyword ideas for blogging.
Quora/Reddit pros
- Free to use
- Find questions you can turn into blog topics
- Great source of long-tail keywords (with the help of other tools)
Quora/Reddit cons
- Needs another keyword research tool to unveil keyword metrics
- Not designed with keyword research in mind
7. SE Ranking
SE Ranking is one of the few SEO tools that caught my attention over the years. It has a robust toolset that can match the top platforms—but keeps the user interface clean and simple.
To find long-tail keywords with SE Ranking, switch to the ‘Keyword Research’ tab.
Enter a seed keyword related to your topic. Select your target country and click ‘Analyze’ to start searching the web for long-tail keywords.
SE Ranking will lead you straight to the keyword overview report. And, just a little further down, you’ll find the “Keyword Ideas” section with potential long-tail keyword variations.
Go ahead and click ‘View Detailed Report’ to see the full list.
In addition to long-tail keyword ideas, SE Ranking includes keyword data like search volume, keyword difficulty, and search intent. To get even more keywords, use the tabs above labeled “Related,” “Questions,” and “Low Search Volume.”
You can take your research further by adding keywords to your Keyword Manager list, which keeps track of real-time metrics and lets you export keywords into XLS or CSV files.
Pros and cons of SE Ranking for long-tail keyword research
Overall, SE ranking has a straightforward keyword research tool capable of producing hundreds of profitable long-tail keyword ideas. It also helps with other areas of digital marketing, like ad tracking, organic SERP analysis, and backlink monitoring.
SE Ranking pros
- Keyword research capabilities comparable to top-notch platforms like Semrush
- Easy to learn and even easier to use
- Obtain long-tail keyword ideas from competitors
- Perform website audits for on-page SEO suggestions
- Manage your social media with auto-posting and analytics
- Analyze backlink profiles
SE Ranking cons
- Keyword search volume accuracy is still being fine-tuned
- Important add-ons for content marketing and local SEO must be bought separately
8. Serpstat
Serpstat is another one-stop SEO platform on the same level as Semrush. It’s loaded with valuable features for every single facet of your campaign, from domain analysis to keyword idea clustering.
To look for long-tail keywords, go to the ‘Keyword Research’ menu and click ‘Overview.’ Enter your seed keyword, pick your target country, and click ‘Search.’
On the keyword overview report, click ‘All keywords’ in the “Organic keywords” section. This will show you truckloads of long-tail keyword ideas on top of the keywords already listed.
This will generate a long list of long-tail keyword ideas along with essential insights like search volume, CPC, keyword difficulty, and SERP features.
For even more ideas, navigate to “Related keywords,” “Search suggestions,” and “Search questions.” Doing so lets you build a diverse mix of target keywords for your SEO strategy.
Pros and cons of Serpstat for long-tail keyword research
Serpstat offers a complete lineup of SEO tools to help through every stage of your campaign. It’s definitely among the SEO platforms I’d personally recommend to those who are serious about blogging—but it still isn’t perfect.
Serpstat pros
- Loads of marketing management features under the hood
- Analyze trending keywords in your target market
- Build keyword clusters to develop your content strategy within Serpstat
- Steal keyword ideas from competitors
- Use AI tools for asks like keyword extraction, content writing, and keyword optimization
Serpstat cons
- The sheer number of features makes navigation slightly confusing for beginners
- You need a more expensive “Team” subscription for reporting features
9. Google Trends
Google Trends is a free marketing tool designed for one purpose: to find trending search queries around the globe.
All you need is a Google account to get started. As you type your seed keyword, Google Trends will provide topic suggestions that search engine users care about.
Scroll down to the “Related queries” section to view long-tail keyword ideas for your topic. Click the navigation arrows at the bottom to view more keywords.
Remember, these are trending and “breakout” topics that can generate a ton of attention for your blog. If you find a query that aligns with your blog’s value propositions, write about it ASAP while audience interest is still at its peak.
Consider plugging your Google Trends keywords into another tool like Semrush or Serpstat to reveal useful insights. Pay attention to search intent, search volume, and keyword difficulty to ensure you’re targeting the right keywords in your campaign.
Pros and cons of Google Trends for long-tail keyword research
Using Google Trends is a great way to find trending long-tail keyword ideas that can boost short-term traffic. Apart from that, it doesn’t offer anything else that can help with anything else in your SEO efforts.
Google Trends pros
- Instantly find trending keywords that can generate tons of traffic
- Free and easy to use
- Analyze keyword interest over time
- Break down search interest by region
- Also identifies related topics to bolster your content strategy
Google Trends cons
- Doesn’t extract keyword metrics
- Needs another keyword research platform
10. KWFinder by Mangools
KWFinder by Mangools is a keyword research tool calibrated to highlight low-competition and high-demand keyword ideas. You can start your search with a seed keyword or a competitor’s URL.
On KWFinder, switch to the tab you need, enter a seed keyword or URL, select your target audience, and click ‘Find keywords.’
KWFinder will generate a clear list of long-tail keyword suggestions along with their monthly search volume and keyword difficulty. To find specific keyword types, be it question-based or autocomplete suggestions, use buttons under the “Filter” tool.
Clicking on any keyword will reveal additional insights at the bottom of the page. This includes the keyword’s search volume over the months, keyword difficulty analysis, and the top SERP listings.
Note
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Pros and cons of KWFinder for long-tail keyword research
KWFinder is a lightweight tool that lets you find low-competition keywords that generate decent search traffic. But, as always, it has a couple of downsides you should know about:
KWFinder pros
- Offers one of the most intuitive UI experiences I ever used
- Clear and easy-to-understand keyword difficulty rating system
- Analyze trending keywords and track search volume growth over time
- Get autocomplete and question-based keywords from a single location
KWFinder cons
- Entry-level plan is limited to only 25 keyword searches
- In certain keywords, the keyword difficulty rating is calculated months ago
11. KeywordTool.io
Keyword Tool does exactly what it says on the tin. It’s a tool that helps you find viable keyword ideas to fuel your SEO and content marketing strategies.
To use Keyword Tool, enter a seed keyword, select your target country, specify a language, and click ‘Search.’
Keyword Tool scrapes Google autocomplete data to identify keywords with high traffic potential. With the free version, you’ll get a long list of long-tail keywords that focus on a diverse range of subtopics.
If you get the “Pro” version, the report also includes the average monthly search volume, each keyword’s competitiveness rating, and average CPC.
It’s worth noting that Keyword Tool can also generate long-tail keyword ideas for databases other than Google. This includes Bing, eBay, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Pros and cons of Keyword Tool for long-tail keyword research
Keyword Tool is one of the very few tools that collect keyword ideas for different search databases. But it lacks a few essential features that other tools offer, even if you look at the “Pro” version.
Keyword Tool pros
- Gives you hundreds of long-tail keyword ideas for free
- Can scan other databases, including social media and eCommerce websites
- Easy to use
- Accurate search volume data for Google and Bing
- Conduct bulk keyword search volume analysis
Keyword Tool cons
- The paid version doesn’t analyze as many keyword metrics as other tools
- No free keyword research metrics
- Can be too expensive for beginners
12. Keyword Insights
Keyword Insights is what happens if passionate SEO professionals build their own platform. It’s a polished keyword research tool designed to research keyword ideas and help incorporate them into your content strategy.
To look for long-tail keywords, click ‘Keyword Discovery’ from the main menu. Enter a seed keyword, set your targeting settings, and click ‘Search’ to continue.
Within seconds, Keyword Insights will load hundreds of viable long-tail keyword ideas into a simple list. This includes each keyword’s monthly search volume, CPC, and keyword difficulty.
Pros and cons of Keyword Insights for long-tail keyword research
I added Keyword Insights to my personal watchlist in the SEO industry. This is thanks to the unique benefits the tool offers, particularly in terms of Quality of Life (QoL) features.
Keyword Insights pros
- Get thousands of long-tail keyword ideas and metrics
- Build keyword clusters to build an SEO-friendly internal link structure
- Use AI-powered filters to find ideal keywords
- Turn keyword ideas into content briefs
Keyword Insights cons
- The user interface needs some polishing
- Credit-based keyword searches and clustering
- Keyword metrics are clearly approximated or outdated
13. Google Autocomplete
Google itself offers a couple of ways to help bloggers and marketers find long-tail keyword ideas. With autocomplete suggestions, you’re guaranteed to find underserved or low-competition keywords that are easy to rank for—as long as you follow the steps below.
First, enter an appropriate question modifier followed by your seed keyword. Some examples of question modifiers are “if,” “what,” “which,” “where,” and “how.”
Google should automatically fill in suggestions based on what search engine users are asking on the platform.
As question-based, long-tail keywords, autocomplete suggestions are almost always low-competition. But the only way to make sure is to use a trustworthy keyword research tool or browser extension.
The Ubersuggest extension for Chrome, for instance, provides a glimpse of keyword metrics—namely search volume and CPC.
Pros and cons of Google autocomplete suggestions for long-tail keyword research
Naturally, Google autocomplete isn’t meant as a keyword research tool. Despite its usefulness, there are glaring gaps that need to be addressed through workarounds.
Google autocomplete pros
- Free and easy to use
- Discover questions that can be turned into topic ideas
- Find unlimited related queries
- Can be a great supplement to other keyword research tools
Google autocomplete cons
- You might get suggestions that generate zero search traffic
- Requires another tool or browser extension to check keyword metrics
14. People Also Ask
Similar to autocomplete suggestions, “People Also Ask” is also a good source of easy long-tail keywords for SEO from Google.
People Also Ask queries are baked into SERPs. They’re usually found right below the first organic listing.
The best thing about People Also Ask suggestions is that they’ll endlessly provide new queries. Simply click on a question to see the answer—along with new query suggestions at the bottom.
You can also use tools to speed up the process of scanning People Also Ask suggestions for long-tail keywords. Some examples are the People Also Ask Tool from SearchResponse.io and AlsoAsked.
Check out this video from Surfside PPC to learn some of the best practices for using People Also Ask suggestions:
Embed: People Also Ask on Google: How To Optimize For The People Also Ask Questions – SPPC SEO Tutorial #15
Pros and cons of using People Also Ask suggestions for long-tail keyword research
Just like autocomplete, People Also Ask suggestions aren’t primarily for keyword research. That means they don’t come with keyword metrics or any other useful keyword research features.
People Also Ask pros
- Find unlimited question-based keywords
- Explore audience pain points and challenges you can tackle
- Excellent way to find keywords for a FAQ section
People Also Ask cons
- Doesn’t include keyword metrics
- Needs another keyword research tool for keyword analysis
15. AnswerThePublic
AnswerThePublic is a fully fleshed-out keyword research tool that focuses on question-based keywords. It includes keyword search volume and CPC data—and generates nice visualizations to make it easier to find the right keyword opportunities.
To use AnswerThePublic, enter a seed keyword, set your target country, pick a language, and click ‘Search.’
AnswerThePublic’s unique visualization style lets you spot the best keywords out of the bunch at a glance. The inner wheels show all keywords’ search volume and CPC, whereas the outer wheels highlight individual keyword metrics.
You can also switch to the ‘Data’ view to group all keywords into clear sections. Keyword groups are based on prepositions, question modifiers, and comparisons.
Pros and cons of using AnswerThePublic for long-tail keyword research
AnswerThePublic is a great tool for uncovering long-tail keywords around a broad topic in bulk. Its unique approach to keyword analysis also makes it one of the must-try tools every blogger and marketer should check out.
AnswerThePublic pros
- Unique data visualization style for faster keyword research
- Incredibly easy to use
- Scan keywords on Google, Bing, and YouTube
- Quickly save visualizations and keyword lists into your device
- Color-coded keyword metrics for easier scanning
AnswerThePublic cons
- Lacks advanced keyword research features
- No keyword filters
- Highly limited experience for free users
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a “good” long-tail keyword in any niche?
Regardless of niche, a good long-tail keyword targets readers with specific intent and goals. It should also have a decent monthly search volume and relatively reasonable keyword difficulty or competitiveness.
How do I analyze competition for a long-tail keyword?
You can use keyword research tools to reveal a long-tail keyword’s competitiveness level. It’s also important to perform a SERP analysis and observe the top results for your long-tail keyword.
What are the best sources for uncovering long-tail keywords in my industry?
Other than keyword research tools to expand seed keywords, analyze your top competitor’s pages and domain for long-tail keyword ideas. You can also investigate forums, social media groups, Google autocomplete, and “People Also Ask” suggestions for ideas.
Are there seasonal or trending long-tail keywords I should be aware of?
If you sell something online, consider building a strategy around seasonal keywords tied to sales Holidays, such as Black Fridays, Cyber Mondays, Thanksgiving, and Mother’s Day. To discover other trending keywords, use tools like Google Trends, Serpstat, or Semrush to predict keyword search volume over time.
What’s the significance of user intent when finding long-tail keywords?
Search intent pertains to the needs and objectives of users whenever they make online search queries. As a blogger or marketer, it’s your job to provide content that aligns with user intent when targeting long-tail keywords.
Can I find long-tail keywords in languages other than English?
Yes, most modern keyword research tools let you specify a target language and country when searching for keyword ideas. Just be sure you target a long-tail keyword that can generate decent recurring traffic.
Which tool is best for long-tail keywords?
If you have the budget and plan to create keyword-optimized content in the long run, I seriously recommend investing in Semrush. In addition to the Keyword Magic Tool, it has everything you need for every aspect of digital marketing, including social media, content writing, and competitor research.
Final Words
Long-tail keywords present lucrative opportunities to snag high rankings and attract a specific audience to your website. As such, you need to choose your keyword research tools wisely and carefully.
Any of the tools above, especially if you consider the steps I showed you, is effective for finding profitable long-tail keywords. At the end of the day, don’t forget your SEO goals, budget, and expertise to find the perfect tool and strategy for you.
Find The Golden Keywords
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