8 SEO Tools for Finding Long-Tail Keywords

In the fast-paced world of digital marketing, discovering the optimal SEO tools for finding long-tail keywords can be a game changer. Insights from a CEO and an SEO consultant reveal industry-tested recommendations. The article starts off with advice to use Google Search Console and concludes with a suggestion to depend on Google’s Keyword Planner, totaling eight expert insights.

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Use Google Search Console

Google Search Console is a treasure trove for finding long-tail keywords, especially if you have a site with over a year of search data. You can use it to uncover relevant queries your site is generating impressions but not clicks for. Google already deems you relevant for these queries, so it’s up to you to jump on that opportunity and create more relevant content around it.

To find these long-tail keywords, log in to your Google Search Console account and navigate to the “Performance” section on the left-hand side. Choose a timeframe for your data, ideally at least 12 months. Then add a new query filter—select “Custom regex” from the filter options and enter the following regular expression: (?i)^(who|what|where|when|why|how)

This regular expression will filter your data to include only queries that start with question words. Look through to identify the long-tail keywords that you may be able to create better content on.

Ben Foster, CEO, The SEO Works

Try KeywordInsights and LowFruits

An important caveat for working with long-tail keyword tools is that even the tools which boast billions of keywords rarely understand niche businesses, and any results require some amount of thinking in order to figure out what’s worth pursuing and what’s not.

None of us should be optimizing for keywords anymore, but when you take on a new client, these tools are helpful for getting the lay of the land and understanding the client in terms of what they’ve experienced so far—not necessarily how to do SEO the right way today.

That said, I like KeywordInsights.ai and LowFruits.io for long-tail keyword ideas. KeywordInsights offers useful clustering tools (even if a human could do it better, we couldn’t do it faster), and LowFruits has an intuitive interface at an affordable price.

Jessyca Frederick, SEO Consultant, SEO by Jessyca

Utilize Keyword Chef

Keyword Chef is a great tool that was made specifically for niche, low-competition keywords. It does a fantastic job at finding all the long-tail keywords we need at GreenMatch and excels in discovering keywords our other tools (like Ahrefs) don’t find. Its Wildcard function is especially helpful, allowing us to detect keywords that fulfill a specific pattern.

For example, looking for “best * for running” will detect keywords like “best shoes for running,” “best temperature for running,” and “best time for running.” It’s a lifesaver when coming up with new ideas—especially long-tail ones.

Inemesit Ukpanah, Digital PR, GreenMatch

Explore Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer

So, I was working on this tough client project in the home-renovation niche. The main keywords were super competitive—we’re talking difficulty scores through the roof. That’s when I really dove deep into Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer, and wow, did it open my eyes!

The game-changer was actually in a feature I’d been overlooking—their “Questions” tab. I put in “kitchen remodel” as the seed keyword, and holy moly, it uncovered this goldmine of long-tail questions I’d never have thought of. We’re talking super-specific queries like “how to remodel a kitchen without replacing cabinets” that had decent search volume but way lower competition.

But here’s the real kicker—Ahrefs showed me something fascinating. These long-tail keywords were part of what they call “keyword families.” For example, when people searched for cabinet refinishing, they often also looked for specific paint types and techniques. This helped us create this whole interconnected content cluster that just killed it in the rankings.

The best part? When we started targeting these long-tails, our organic traffic didn’t just trickle in—it poured. One article targeting “how to remodel a kitchen under $5000” started bringing in 1,200 monthly visitors, and these weren’t just tire-kickers. They were people ready to take action.

What really sets Ahrefs apart for me is how it shows the whole picture—not just search volume and difficulty, but also the traffic potential, keyword trends over time, and what the top-ranking pages look like. It’s like having a roadmap for content strategy right there.

Quick side note: While I know tools like SEMrush and Moz are also solid choices, I’ve found Ahrefs gives me that extra layer of data that helps me make better decisions. Plus, their traffic estimates tend to be pretty spot-on in my experience.

Roshan Singh, SEO Executive, Urban Monkey

Leverage SEMRush Keyword Magic Tool

There are many great tools for keyword research, but we primarily use SEMRush because of the tool’s depth and versatility. It allows us to quickly build highly detailed SEO content outlines by providing multiple keyword tools in one platform.

To start, we use the Keyword Magic Tool. By entering your main keyword, SEMRush generates “Keyword Ideas” and “Questions,” which are perfect for uncovering long-tail keywords. A helpful feature that’s often overlooked is the SERP analysis below this. It includes all the top-ranking results, so we always click on the top three and view the full list of keywords they rank for. This can be a goldmine for discovering long-tail keywords or generating sub-heading keyword ideas for your outline.

As we review the keywords, we add any relevant keywords to a Keyword List using the checkbox next to each keyword. After reviewing all these areas, you can go to the Keyword Strategy Builder to find your list and apply the keyword difficulty and search volume filters to narrow down the best keywords to target.

While we use other tools, this workflow has proven to be the most effective for finding long-tail keywords for new content.

If you’re optimizing existing content, Google Search Console is a great option. By selecting each page URL, you can see what keywords it’s already ranking for, providing a simple way to identify long-tail keywords to target and further optimize your content.

Matthew Demers, Founder, Diffuse Digital Marketing

Rely on AnswerThePublic

AnswerThePublic has helped me a lot with long-tail keyword research. I recall working on a specialized blog where typical keywords weren’t generating much traffic. I turned to AnswerThePublic and was astounded by the breadth of questions and words it generated, based on genuine user queries.

This application visualizes data in a way that generates content ideas by demonstrating how people organically search for information. By focusing on these long-tail keywords, I was able to generate content that precisely addressed the demands of my target audience, resulting in greater engagement and traffic.

What I admire most is its simplicity. You type in a keyword, and it returns a comprehensive list of relevant queries and phrases. This practical technique allows me to better understand my target audience and customize material accordingly. It’s been a game-changer for identifying less competitive, highly relevant search phrases that resonate with readers.

Evgeni Asenov, SEO & Content Lead, Resume Mentor

Opt for Ubersuggest

One of the best SEO tools for finding long-tail keywords is Ubersuggest. It excels at generating keyword suggestions by leveraging data from Google’s autocomplete, helping users discover long-tail keyword variations that might not be immediately obvious. The reason Ubersuggest stands out is its user-friendly interface, affordability, and the ability to provide comprehensive keyword metrics like search volume, cost-per-click (CPC), and SEO difficulty. This data helps marketers identify long-tail keywords with high potential for driving targeted traffic.

The tool’s keyword-suggestion feature is particularly powerful, as it not only pulls data from competitors but also offers insights into search intent. This allows users to craft content tailored to specific user queries, a key factor in optimizing for long-tail keywords. Ubersuggest also provides content ideas and SEO metrics to help users see which long-tail keywords competitors rank for, making it easier to plan a competitive strategy.

I recommend Ubersuggest because it’s ideal for beginners and intermediate users who want actionable keyword data without the high cost. It also offers a comprehensive set of features beyond just keyword research, such as backlink analysis, site audits, and rank tracking, making it a well-rounded tool for SEO optimization. Its integration of both free and premium options ensures that users of all levels can benefit from its functionality, making it one of the best choices for long-tail keyword research.

Craig Rhode, SEO and Marketing Expert, Adffect

Depend on Google’s Keyword Planner

To find long-tail keywords effectively, I’ve consistently relied on Google’s Keyword Planner. It’s a straightforward tool that helps pinpoint specific search phrases users are employing. This tool provides contextual search volume, competitive data, and suggestions directly from Google, which is invaluable for businesses operating within the Google ecosystem, like multi-location brands we cater to at Quantum Agency.

For example, with one of Quantum Agency’s partners—a multi-location franchise—we identified long-tail keywords emphasizing localized services and saw a notable 40% increase in relevant traffic within a quarter. This outcome underscores the strategic value of tapping into transactional search queries through deep, targeted keyword research.

I recommend Google’s Keyword Planner for its direct alignment with Google’s search algorithms and its focus on user intent, which is crucial for precise targeting in today’s SEO landscape.

Lane Houk, Managing Partner, Quantum Agency

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