How to Find Long-Tail Keywords That Actually Get Traffic
While everyone's battling it out for those shiny high-volume keywords like gladiators in a digital colosseum, there's a quiet revolution happening. And it's changing everything.
AI Overviews were triggered for 6.49% of queries in January… That climbed to 7.64% in February (an 18% increase)... And then up to 13.14% by March (72% growth from the previous month) – and here's the kicker: these AI Overviews currently tend to appear for long-tail, low-difficulty informational queries – not high-volume transactional keywords.
Translation? The search landscape just flipped on its head. And the brands smart enough to master long-tail keywords now will own the future of search.
I'm about to reveal exactly how to find long-tail keywords that don't just look pretty in your analytics – they actually drive traffic that converts like absolute magic.
Why long-tail keywords are your lifeline in the “zero-click apocalypse”
For every 1,000 EU Google Searches, only 374 clicks go to the Open Web. In the US, it's 360. We're living through what industry insiders call the "zero-click apocalypse."
But this isn't the death of SEO. It's the birth of something far more powerful.
Bain's research finds that 80% of consumers rely on these "zero-click" results at least 40% of the time. And whilst most brands are panicking about lost clicks, the savvy ones are asking a different question: "How do we get cited in these AI Overviews?"
The answer? Long-tail keywords.
Long-tail keywords often bypass zero-click features and attract users more likely to click through. When someone searches for "SEO," they might get their answer in an AI Overview. But when they search for "how to find long-tail keywords for local plumbing services in Manchester," they're past the information-gathering stage. They need actionable guidance – and they'll click for it.
What are long-tail keywords anyway? (The 2025 definition)
Forget the old "three to five words" rule. When revisiting the long-tail keywords for the year 2025, we are beyond the thought of the 3-5 word terms. The new formula is Search Intent + Emotional State + Contextual Variables.
Long-tail keywords are those beautifully specific search phrases that capture exactly what someone wants, when they want it, and how they're feeling about it. They're the digital equivalent of walking into a shop and saying "I need size 8 waterproof hiking boots with ankle support for women who overpronate, under £150, available for weekend delivery."
Here's what makes them absolutely brilliant:
Semantic search compatibility – entity-based content delivers up to 1400% better search visibility than traditional keyword-focused approaches
AI-resistant traffic – They're harder for AI to fully answer in a snippet
Voice search friendly – Natural conversational patterns
Higher conversion intent – long-tail keywords have 2.5 times the conversion rate of short-tail keywords
The psychology behind long-tail domination
When someone searches for "marketing," they could be a student researching for an essay. But when they search for "email marketing automation tools for e-commerce stores under £100 per month with Shopify integration," they've got their credit card ready.
Long tail keywords account for approximately 70% of all web searches, and the people using them are much further down the buying funnel. They're not tyre-kickers – they're ready to commit.
Here's the psychological trigger: specificity signals intent. The more specific the search, the clearer the need. And clear need equals higher conversion probability.
Step-by-step: How to find long-tail keywords that actually work in 2025
Start with semantic seed research
Begin with your core entities, not just keywords. If you sell organic dog food, start with "dog nutrition," "organic pet care," and "canine health" – the conceptual framework Google's Knowledge Graph understands.
Exploit Google's AI-powered suggestions
Google's autocomplete on steroids Type your seed keyword into Google and watch the magic happen. But don't stop at the obvious suggestions. Try these ninja tactics:
Start typing your phrase and put your cursor at different positions
Add question words: "how," "what," "why," "when," "where"
Include year modifiers: "2025," "latest," "new"
Mine the "People also ask" goldmine The best way to find question-based long-tail keywords is the long-tail keyword generator on Answer Socrates. This tool specializes in finding question-based long-tail keywords that real people are searching for.
Each PAA question represents a real search query. Click on them to generate even more questions – it's like an endless keyword research rabbit hole.
Leverage cutting-edge AI keyword tools
Semrush's Keyword Magic Tool 2.0 The latest version uses semantic clustering. Enter your seed keyword, then filter for:
Keywords with 3+ words
Low keyword difficulty (under 30% in 2025's competitive landscape)
Semantic clusters that relate to your core entity
LongTailPro's AI enhancement Long Tail Pro is designed to offer insights into less competitive keywords, enabling users to target high-converting traffic effectively with new AI-powered intent detection.
Master competitive intelligence 2.0
AI Overview citation analysis This is where it gets interesting. AI Overviews are now pulling from a significantly broader range of sources - up to 151% more unique websites for complex B2B queries and 108% more for detailed product searches.
Use Semrush's Keyword Gap tool, but with a twist:
Identify competitors ranking in AI Overviews
Analyse their long-tail keyword clusters
Find gaps where you could provide better, more comprehensive answers
Entity-based competitor mapping Google's Knowledge Graph now handles more than 800 billion facts about 8 billion entities. Use tools that show entity relationships, not just keywords.
Tap into conversational search patterns
Reddit and Quora mining People ask questions on forums the same way they ask voice assistants. Look for:
Repeated question patterns
Specific pain points mentioned multiple times
Language people actually use (not corporate speak)
ChatGPT conversations Ask ChatGPT about your topic and pay attention to the follow-up questions it asks or suggests. These mirror real user queries.
Analyse your zero-click opportunities
Check Google Search Console for:
Keywords with high impressions but low clicks (potential AI Overview targets)
Terms bringing traffic but ranking on page 2-3
Questions your content partially answers but could expand on
Organising your long-tail strategy: The TOFU-MOFU-BOFU framework 2.0
Top of funnel (Awareness stage)
"What is automated email marketing for beginners"
"How does email automation work for small businesses"
Target: Educational content that builds authority
Middle of funnel (Consideration stage)
"Mailchimp vs ConvertKit vs ActiveCampaign comparison 2025"
"Best email marketing platforms for Shopify stores under 100 subscribers"
Target: Comparison content and buying guides
Bottom of funnel (Decision stage)
"How to migrate from Mailchimp to ConvertKit without losing subscribers"
"ConvertKit pricing breakdown for e-commerce businesses"
Target: Implementation guides and specific solutions
The bottom line
Here's what most people don't get about the current search chaos: it's not about adapting to one change. It's about understanding the fundamental shift happening right now.
Winning brands will accelerate and refine their SEO efforts, since these remain an important and effective means of reaching consumers. At the same time, brands should move quickly on two dimensions: pragmatic technical optimization strategies to set the foundation for LLM readability, and bold experiments to understand how to influence visibility and positioning for both search engine AI overviews and LLM engines.
Before you know it, you'll be attracting qualified traffic that actually converts whilst your competitors are still fighting over scraps in an increasingly AI-dominated search landscape.
The best part? You're not just chasing keywords – you're building genuine relationships with your audience by answering their specific questions and solving their exact problems at the exact moment they need solutions.
And that's how you win at SEO in 2025 and beyond.
Ready to transform your brand's voice and create copy that dominates the new search landscape? I specialise in developing distinct verbal identities and crafting website copy that resonates with your audience in the age of AI search.
Book a strategy call today and discover how the right words can transform your business in the zero-click era.
