So do you want to write a ranked article on the first page of Google for a long-tail keyword?

Well, everyone else too.

Ranking on the first page of Google for well-selected long-tail keywords is still one of the fastest ways to show your content to thousands of people.

But how do you do that?

One option is to sign up for one of the obscure SEO agencies that promise “first-page ranking in two weeks!”

I think we can all agree, you don’t want to do that. The days of fly-by-night-snake-oil-salesmen SEO agencies are gone. If someone promises to rank first, run to the other side. There are no guarantees in the SEO world.

Unfortunately, as a result of these scammers, some people think that that first-page ranking is still a myth. I can’t say I blame them.

You may have already wondered: is first-page ranking still possible today?

Given that the search algorithm changes so frequently and millions of new content are released daily, it may seem like a silly task trying to create superior content on Google.

But it’s not impossible.

To be completely transparent, you won’t rank for the term “Apple” or “Google” any time soon. These are the head terms, not long-tail keywords. They are also registered trademarks, commented, and dominated by large established companies.

But we are not talking about head terms. We’re talking about long-tail keywords – the kind of terms you want to rank for more eyes, clicks, and sales.

After all, someone has to rank on the first page of Google. Sites that are ranked on the first page of Google now needed to do something to achieve that ranking.

How To Rank Long Tail Keywords On Google

Today, I will show you the simple and proven method of ranking on the first page of any long-tail keyword.

This is not a dark trick, hack, tweak, black magic, or voodoo programming. In fact, it requires a lot of work, time, and effort. If you’re expecting “a sneaky trick that Google doesn’t want you to know,” you’re headed to the wrong site.

This is the honest and BS-free method to truly outperform the competition, authentically gain ground, and defend your claim on the planet’s most valuable digital real estate industry – the first page of Google.

1. Do Your Research

While many people believe that keyword research no longer matters, it is now as important as it ever has been.

In fact, the only way to get a high rank for a keyword is to do your research.

And this is where we should start with all that effort: researching the correct keyword.

What is the main factor for choosing a keyword?

Keyword Length

The first thing you should always do when trying to rank a long-tail keyword is to make sure it is long enough.

I always suggest a minimum of four words.

See the type and length of searches that make up a long-tail keyword.

Don’t go overboard and write content for a 10-word sentence, but less than four words, and you’ll likely face a lot of competition to rank your article.

Keyword Competition

Whenever you try to find a great keyword to rank for, look for something that is not highly competitive, but still has a respectable number of monthly searches.

Longtails don’t have a lot of research volume. But you shouldn’t worry about it. You are not looking for high volume, you are looking for focused intention.

It’s better to have a few searches and a high rank than to have tons of searches and not even have a ranking.

Run the selected long-tail keywords in the Google Keyword Planner tool to find out how much competition you face:

The good thing about long-tail keywords is that there are many. In fact, today 70% of all search traffic comes from the long tail.

The key to this is to search for more descriptive keywords, ideally keywords that convert well.

User Intent

Something more important than the keyword itself is the intent behind the keyword.

For example, when someone searches for the keyword that they are trying to rank, are they searching because they want to browse, shop, or buy?

The nice thing about long-tail keywords is that it’s pretty obvious to find out what the user is looking for.

Take a look at these queries:

The head terms “camera” and “digital camera” are not very descriptive. You may not be able to understand what the user is looking for.

But long-tail keywords are valuable. Someone looking for a “Sony 7.1MP 3x Optical Zoom Digital Camera” is looking for a specific product.

With a few additional variables, you can create and deliver exactly the type of content the user is looking for:

• Buy sony 7.1MP digital camera with 3x optical zoom
• Compare the Sony 7.1MP digital camera with 3x optical zoom
• Find Sony 7.1MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom
• Sony 7.1MP digital camera with 3x optical zoom capability
• Sony 7.1MP digital camera with 3x optical zoom accessories

If you can figure out the long-tail intent, and it’s not that difficult, you can create content that matches that intent. As a result, your content will fire on the first page.

2. Write Keyword-Rich Headlines

One of the keys to ranking on Google is making sure to write keyword-rich headlines.

Headlines are important. They matter to people, and, therefore, they are important to SEO.

Most people will only pay attention to the first two words of their search phrases to decide whether or not they have the content they are looking for.

So remember to play around with variations of your headlines to include the necessary keywords and get the reader’s attention as quickly as possible.

For example, let’s use the search phrase “make money online”.

Here are some headline variations you can use to rank that keyword:

• How to make money online in 3 simple steps
• The proven method of making money online in any niche
• The guide No B.S. to make money online this weekend
• How to make money online TODAY using the skills you already have
• How to make money online without marketable skills

These headlines include the keyword, have clear objectives, and let readers know what they want from the start.

When you use the selected long-tail keyword in your article title, you highlight it in the SERPs.

Remember, Google is smart. You can find out what people are trying to search for, even if that person is not doing a very good job of searching for it.

3. Pay Attention To The User Intent

I mentioned this in the first section: align your content with user intent.

In other words, focus on the reason behind a user’s search query.

For example, if someone writes “Buy 43” Panasonic TV,” you can safely assume that the user intent is to make a purchase.

However, if the keyword is “43” Panasonic TV Reviews,”, you can assume that the user’s intent is to obtain information.

You can think of these various types of intent as concentric circles that correspond to the stages of a marketing funnel:

You can go one step further in your keyword dominance search by searching for keyword phrases with highly shared and highly ranked articles.

This is what I mean.

Suppose you try to rank the keyword “content marketing strategies for your blog”.

Connect this keyword phrase to Buzzsumo and get the top three results:

“The Worst Content Marketing Strategy Mistakes You Don’t Know You Are Making”

“How to Do an Audit of Your Content Marketing Strategy for Your Blog”

and

“Advanced Content Marketing Strategies to Grow Your Blog 10X”

Here’s the thing.

Most people searching for the phrase “content marketing for your blog” are likely to be new to content marketing, without looking for mistakes, audits, or advanced strategies.

This gives you a fantastic opportunity to write content that best suits the user’s intent for that keyword, and will, therefore, rank higher on Google.

For example, using the long-tail keyword above, you can write articles titled:

“The Best Content Marketing Strategies to Rapidly Grow Your New Blog”

“Simple Content Marketing Strategies for Your Blog to Double Your Traffic”

Or

“Proven Content Marketing Strategies to Double Your Blog Traffic in 90 Days.”

These titles are much more focused on the user intent behind this keyword research and will quickly hit the front page of Google.

Why will they quickly get to the first page of Google?

Because they fulfill the user’s intent.

Google’s algorithm is focused on providing the best possible search result for user queries. If you manage to fulfill that intent, you will be rewarded.

4. Write, Write, Write

I always tell people that if they want to rank on Google, they better get used to writing, and writing a lot.

Let’s be realistic. If you are blogging once a month, you are not generating enough content to get ranked.

Google rank articles generally have over 2,000 words and are full of photos, embedded videos, and internal links.

Every time you write an article you want to rank, you should treat it as a “Definitive Guide” rather than a regular post.

Make the content so good that you can sell it as a standalone product if you want.

Also, be careful when filling your article with keywords. Instead, focus on offering great value to your audience, not attracting Google … because you can’t attract Google.

5. Market Your New Article Like Crazy

Now that you’ve written your article, it’s time to get the most out of it.

Ramit Sethi summarizes this in his unscientific graph:

Putting it on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn is a fact, but there is much more than that.

What really matters is telling the right people about it.

Get in touch with influencers to see if they want to link to your content; create a YouTube audio version of your content with a link to the article in the description; Or even create a podcast with a summary of your article.

Use all possible means to place your item in front of as many eyes as possible.

The more times your article is viewed, shared, and commented on, the better your chances are of getting a Google higher ranking.

Conclusion

Most people think that ranking on the first page of Google for a long-tail keyword is impossible, but most are wrong.

If you work hard, write quality content that offers real value, and market your content efficiently, you can see your article on the first page of Google in no time.

I’ll say it again: You can’t fool Google.

Instead, you should spend long hours. You have to feel the aching fingers and the exhausted brain. This is hard work. There are no short cuts.

Providing real solutions to real people is the key to success. Your content should be better than everyone else’s. It’s all there.

By following this process, you are guaranteed a place on List A of the marketing power that generates scores and increases traffic – the first page of Google.

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