How to Find Long-Tail Keywords Using Google Keyword Planner

Introduction

If you’re new to SEO, you’ve probably heard that long-tail keywords are easier to rank for than short, generic terms. But knowing this and actually finding the right keywords are two different things.

The good news is that you don’t need expensive tools to get started. In this guide, you’ll learn how to find long-tail keywords using Google Keyword Planner, a free tool available to anyone with a Google Ads account. We’ll walk through everything step by step, from setting up the tool to picking the keywords that are actually worth targeting.

By the end of this post, you’ll have a simple, repeatable process for relevant keywords that you can use for blog posts, product pages, or any content you create.

What Are Long-Tail Keywords?

Long-tail keywords are longer, more specific search phrases that people type into Google. Instead of searching for “shoes,” someone might search for “best running shoes for flat feet under $100.”

These phrases are called “long-tail” because if you plotted all search terms on a graph, a small number of short, popular keywords would form a tall spike, while thousands of longer, less common phrases would trail off into a long tail.

Long-tail keywords usually have:

• Three or more words
• Lower search volume
• Less competition
• Higher search intent (the searcher knows exactly what they want)

This makes them a great starting point for beginners and small websites that don’t yet have the authority to compete for broad, high-volume terms.

Why Are Long-Tail Keywords Important for SEO?

Long-tail keyword research matters because it helps you attract visitors who are closer to taking action — whether that’s reading your article, signing up for a newsletter, or buying a product.

Here’s why they deserve a spot in your SEO keyword research strategy:

• Less competition: Fewer websites target these specific phrases, so ranking is more realistic.
• Higher conversion potential: Specific searches often reflect specific needs.
• Better content focus: They help you write content that directly answers a question.
• Voice search friendly: Many voice searches are naturally long and conversational.

None of this guarantees instant rankings. SEO still takes time, quality content, and patience. But targeting the right long-tail keywords gives you a realistic path forward.

What Is Google Keyword Planner?

Google Keyword Planner is a free keyword research tool built into Google Ads. It was originally designed to help advertisers plan paid campaigns, but it’s also widely used for organic SEO keyword research.

With it, you can:

• Discover new keyword ideas based on a word, phrase, or website
• See estimated keyword search volume
• Check competition levels for paid ads
• Group keywords by theme

While it’s not built specifically for SEO, it remains one of the most reliable free sources of keyword ideas, especially for beginners who don’t want to pay for premium tools right away.

How to Access Google Keyword Planner

Before you can start your long-tail keyword research, you’ll need access to the tool.

1. Go to Google Ads and sign in with a Google account.
2. If you don’t have an account yet, create one (you don’t need to run an actual ad).
3. Once inside, click the Tools and Settings icon (the wrench symbol) in the top menu.
4. Under “Planning,” select Keyword Planner.
5. Choose Discover new keywords to begin your search.

That’s it — you now have access to one of the most useful free keyword research tools available.

Step-by-Step: How to Find Long-Tail Keywords Using Google Keyword Planner

Here’s the core process, broken down into simple steps.

Step 1: Start With a Broad Seed Keyword
Type in a general topic related to your niche. For example, if you run a fitness blog, you might start with “home workouts.”

Step 2: Review the Keyword Ideas List
Google Keyword Planner will generate a list of related keyword ideas. Scroll through this list slowly instead of grabbing the first few results.

Step 3: Filter for Longer, Specific Phrases
Look for keyword ideas that are three or more words long and describe a specific need, such as “home workouts for beginners without equipment.”

Step 4: Apply Keyword Filters
Use the filter options to narrow down the list based on factors like search volume and relevance. You can also exclude irrelevant or overly broad terms to surface more specific keyword opportunities.

Step 5: Combine Related Seed Keywords (When Useful)
If your niche has several closely related topics, you can enter multiple seed keywords at once — for example, “home workouts” and “workout routines” — to generate a wider pool of ideas in a single search. This step is optional and works best when your seed terms genuinely overlap.

Step 6: Export and Organize Your List
Download your keyword ideas as a spreadsheet so you can sort, compare, and prioritize them later.

How to Analyze Keyword Ideas

Once you have a list, don’t just pick keywords randomly. Analyze each one by asking:

• Does this phrase match what my content is actually about?
• Would someone searching this phrase find real value on my page?
• Is the intent informational, commercial, or transactional?

Grouping similar keyword ideas together can also help you plan multiple articles around one topic cluster instead of writing one page per keyword.

How to Check Search Volume and Competition

Google Keyword Planner shows an average monthly search volume range and a competition rating (Low, Medium, High) for each keyword.

Keep in mind that the competition score reflects advertiser competition for paid ads, not organic ranking difficulty. Still, it’s a useful signal.

Metric	What It Tells You	What to Look For (Long-Tail)
Search Volume	How many people search this monthly	Low to moderate (10–500+)
Competition	Level of competition among advertisers	Low to Medium
Keyword Length	Number of words in the phrase	3+ words
Specificity	How narrow the topic is	Very specific

A keyword with modest search volume but clear intent is often more valuable than a high-volume, vague term.

How to Choose the Best Long-Tail Keywords

Use this simple checklist when narrowing down your final list:

• ✅ The keyword is relevant to your content or offer
• ✅ It has three or more words
• ✅ It shows low to medium competition
• ✅ It has some measurable search volume, even if small
• ✅ It matches a clear search intent
• ✅ You can realistically create helpful content around it

If a keyword ticks most of these boxes, it’s likely a good candidate for your content plan.

Examples of Long-Tail Keywords

To make this more concrete, here are examples across different niches:

• “best budget laptop for college students”
• “how to start a vegetable garden in small spaces”
• “affordable digital marketing courses for beginners”
• “easy dinner recipes for busy weeknights”
• “how to find long-tail keywords using Google Keyword Planner”

Notice how each phrase reflects a specific question or need, rather than a broad, one-word topic.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even with the right tool, it’s easy to make mistakes during keyword research. Watch out for these:

• Ignoring search intent: A keyword might have decent volume but not match your content type.
• Chasing only high-volume terms: This often means more competition than a new site can handle.
• Keyword stuffing: Repeating a keyword unnaturally hurts readability and can hurt rankings.
• Skipping keyword grouping: Treating every keyword as a separate page can create thin, repetitive content.
• Expecting instant results: SEO keyword research improves your chances, but rankings still take consistent effort over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Learning how to find long-tail keywords using Google Keyword Planner is one of the most practical skills you can build as a beginner in SEO. By starting with a broad seed term, filtering for longer and more specific phrases, and analyzing search volume and competition, you can build a realistic keyword strategy without needing paid tools.

Prioritize relevance and intent over search volume alone, avoid keyword stuffing, and treat this process as an ongoing part of your SEO Strategy research rather than a one-time task.

There are no shortcuts or guarantees in SEO, but with consistent keyword research and helpful content, you’ll be in a much stronger position to attract the right audience over time.