When it comes to optimizing for longtail search terms, many SEOs make the mistake of solely focusing on search query volume. While it is important to consider the search volume of a term, it is equally crucial to pay attention to the intent volume. In this article, we’ll explore the importance of intent volume and how to optimize for it to maximize your organic search traffic.

Why Longtail Queries Have Low Search Volume

One of the main reasons why longtail queries have low search volume is because they tend to be longer queries with more words. As a result, there are many ways to reconstruct the same query intent in another way. For example, let’s say someone is looking for the best earplugs for someone with tinnitus. They could search for:

  • Best earplugs for someone with tinnitus
  • Which earplugs are best for someone with tinnitus
  • Best earplugs for tinnitus
  • What are the best earplugs for tinnitus
  • I have tinnitus, what are the best earplugs
  • Best earplugs for person with tinnitus
  • Which earplugs are best for people with tinnitus

and so on…

Each of these searches has a slightly different wording, but they all have the same intent: finding the best earplugs for someone with tinnitus. Therefore, if you were to only focus on the search query volume of each of these searches, you would miss out on a significant portion of the potential traffic.

The Importance of Intent Volume

The concept of intent volume is simple: it refers to the number of searches with the same intent. For example, if you were to combine all of the searches listed above, you would have a total intent volume of 150 searches per month (assuming each search term only gets 5 searches per month). This means that if you were to optimize your content for the intent behind these searches, you could potentially capture all 150 searches per month, instead of just focusing on one or two of the individual search terms.

Optimizing for Intent Volume

So, how do you optimize your content for intent volume? The first step is to identify the different ways in which people are searching for the same intent. One way to do this is to use tools like Google Keyword Planner, which will give you a list of related search terms. Another way is to use People Also Ask data, which will show you other questions related to the same topic.

Once you have identified the different search terms related to the same intent, the next step is to create content that addresses all of the different variations of the search terms. This means creating content that is comprehensive and covers all of the different ways in which people might search for the same intent.

It’s also important to optimize your content for natural language. Longtail search terms tend to be more conversational, so your content should reflect that. Use language that sounds natural and conversational, rather than formal and technical. This will make your content more engaging and easier to read for your audience.

Finally, make sure your content provides value to your audience. Longtail search terms often represent more specific queries, which means that people are looking for very targeted information. If your content can provide that information in a helpful and actionable way, you will be more likely to attract and retain visitors to your site.

Conclusion

In conclusion, when it comes to optimizing for longtail search terms, it’s important to focus on intent volume, not just search query volume. By identifying the different ways in which people are searching for the same intent, creating comprehensive content that addresses all of the variations, and optimizing your content for natural language, you can maximize your organic search traffic and provide value to your audience.