What is short tail?

Short tail refers to short, general searches or keywords that consist of one or two words and describe a broad topic. For example, "shoes" or "cars." These searches tend to be highly competitive and attract high search volume in search engines such as Google. Although they have a high search frequency, they can often be less specific in intent, making them less targeted than longer, more specific searches (also known as "long tail" keywords).

Why are short tail keywords important?

1. High search volume: Because short tail keywords are general terms, many people search for them frequently. This can lead to high visibility for websites that rank well for these terms.
2. Competition: Because of the high search volume, there is often also a lot of competition around short tail keywords. Many companies would like to be at the top of the search results for these general terms, which means it takes a lot of effort and resources to rank well.
3. Broad Audience: Since these keywords are general, they attract a wide range of searchers. This can be both an advantage and a disadvantage. While it can attract a large number of people to a Web site, chances are that not everyone is specifically interested in what the Web site offers.

Short tail versus long tail

1. Specificity of intent: While short tail keywords are more general in nature, long tail keywords often describe a specific intent or question. For example, instead of just searching for "shoes," someone might enter "red women's shoes size 38." The latter search is much more specific in intent.
2. Competitive level: Unlike short tail keywords, which are often highly competitive, long tail keywords tend to have less competition. This is because they are more specific and therefore have less search volume.
3. Conversion Rate: Although short tail keywords may have higher search volume, it is often the case that long tail keywords have a higher conversion rate. This is because they are more focused on what the searcher actually wants.

In summary, short tail keywords are general search terms that attract high search volume and competition. They can appeal to a broad audience, but it can be difficult to determine specifically what the searcher's intent is. While they can be valuable for visibility, it is important for businesses and Web sites to strike a balance between targeting short tail and long tail keywords to maximize both visibility and conversions.