I've read a lot of articles about Longtail Keywords and there use in targeting an audience and placing high in Google rankings. The fact of the matter is that it's easier to after a very specific keyword rather than something more general. For example if you target Columbia, SC homes for sale in Longcreek Plantation, it's easier to rank high on search engines than if you were to target a more generic keyword like Columbia, SC homes for sale. The fact is that the generic keyword has a lot more competition than the Longtail, specific keyword.
I've read some great debates on both sides of the fence when it come to longtail keywords and their value. The largest debate against longtail keyword use is that they are so specific, that the keyword may only be searched about 5 to 10 times a month and the less specific search terms will be used far more often by many more people. In the end you do want to be in front of as many people as possible.
However, I will say that I have found that the more specific people are, then the more serious they are and the more prepared they are to buy a home. If a potential buyer or client says that they want to buy a house, that's not a lot of information. But, if they say that they want to buy a 3 bedroom, 2 and a half bath, 2,000 square foot, vinyl sided house in a community with amenities and near a lake, then we are getting somewhere and narrowing down the search.
The fact is that things are always more easy when people know exactly what they want. Then we can easily take them where they need to be.
To me, I see the value in chasing both types of keywords in an effort to gain optimum exposure. It takes a lot of work and effort to make your way to the top of the rankings for your town real estate on Google, but if you target a specific area of town or a specific community within the town, there is far less competition and it's not as difficult to achieve great results. It doesn't mean that you should abandon your efforts to rank higher for more used keywords.
But if the people who are very specific are more prepared to buy because they know what they want, then you should certainly not blow it off as a waste of effort. Even if those terms are only search about 5 times a month, then that's 5 very serious and specific people that just saw you. And if you have 5 posts out there for this, then that's 25 people who are very serious and ready that just saw you and on and on.
So in the end, while I understand people who claim that it's a waste of time to use longtail keywords to target potential clients, for me I will continue to use them. Frankly, to me there is no such thing as bad exposure when you are offering good information to the consumers. Whether it's info on your area or communities within the city, it's all a good thing. So don't be too quick to toss them aside as a waste, anything is worth a try when it only takes a little of your time and effort. And if it doesn't work, then oh well, I don't it's the first thing you ever did that wasn't a home run.
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