What are Short-tail Keywords?
Short-tail keywords are short search phrases people use to find things online. They have just 1-3 words and cover very broad topics.
Short-tail keywords are really short and simple search terms. They have no more than three words. Some examples are "search engine optimisation", "cars", and "marketing".
These keywords are very general and broad. They don't get into any specific details about a topic.
Because short-tail keywords are so broad, lots of people use them when searching online. They have a very high search volume compared to longer keyword phrases.
This is the main difference between short-tail and long-tail keywords. Long-tail keywords have 4 or more words and are much more specific, so fewer people search for them.
Why They Matter
Short-tail keywords matter for a few key reasons:
Reach a Big Audience
Since they cover really broad topics, short-tail keywords help websites reach a huge potential audience of people interested in those general subjects.
Show Your Relevance
Using these keywords properly shows that your website is a relevant source of info on those broad topics you're targeting.
Get Traffic from Broad Searches
In addition to more specific long-tail strategies, short-tail keywords allow you to capture traffic from people making very broad searches related to your business or website.
In Summary
Short-tail keywords are those concise 1-3 word search phrases about general topics that a ton of people use when searching online. They help cast a wide marketing net and establish your website's relevance for those subjects.