9 Types of Keywords in SEO You Need to Know to Get Best Result and convert More Customers

When it comes to SEO (Search Engine Optimization), keywords are the starting point of everything. If you get your keywords right, the rest of your SEO efforts will fall into place. When your SEO is on point, that’s when your organic traffic starts rolling in, bringing in more potential customers, which leads to more conversions and, ultimately, more profit.

However, there’s a lot of confusion around keywords in SEO. With so many options out there, how do you know which type of keywords to use for the best results? And how do you pick the right ones when you’re doing keyword research?

To get the best SEO results, you need to understand the different types of keywords. Each type plays a unique role in helping you target different audiences at various stages of their buying journey. The right combination of these keywords can help you reach a broader audience and increase your chances of turning visitors into customers.

But before we dive into that, let’s first take a look at the types of keywords you should know about.

1. Short-Tail Keywords

Short-tail keywords are exactly what the name implies—short and sweet. Typically, these are one to three words long. Examples might include “shoes” or “digital marketing.”

These keywords are highly searched for and have a massive search volume. However, because they are so broad, they are also highly competitive. It’s difficult to know exactly what a user’s intent is when they search using short-tail keywords. For example, if someone searches for “lemon,” they could be looking for information on its health benefits, its nutritional content, or recipes using lemon. There’s no clear intent behind that search, which is why short-tail keywords generally don’t lead to high conversions.

Characteristics of Short-Tail Keywords:

• High search volume
• Very competitive
• Broad search intent
• Low conversion rate

You can use short-tail keywords to set the theme of your website, but don’t expect them to directly drive sales.

2. Long-Tail Keywords

Long-tail keywords are the opposite of short-tail keywords. They are longer phrases, typically made up of four or more words. An example might be “buy 4 x 12 fl oz S.Pellegrino mineral water.”

Long-tail keywords have a lower search volume compared to short-tail keywords, but they are much less competitive. The best part about long-tail keywords is that they have very clear search intent. For example, if someone searches for “buy 4 x 12 fl oz S.Pellegrino mineral water,” they’re likely looking to purchase that specific product.

These types of searches typically happen when people are closer to making a purchase, which means they’re more likely to convert into sales.

Characteristics of Long-Tail Keywords:

• Low search volume
• Less competitive
• Specific search intent
• High conversion rate

Long-tail keywords are perfect for targeting specific pages, such as product pages or blog posts.

3. Short-Term Fresh Keywords

Fresh keywords refer to topics that are currently trending or are in the news. For instance, a term like “Avengers: Infinity War” might be a hot keyword when the movie is released. However, once the hype dies down, the search volume for that keyword quickly drops off.

Fresh keywords can drive a lot of traffic in a short period of time, but the challenge is that they tend to have a short shelf life. If you want to leverage fresh keywords, you need to create content around them quickly before the trend fades away.

Characteristics of Fresh Keywords:

• Explosive search volume
• Medium competition
• Clear search intent
• High conversion rate (temporarily)

Fresh keywords are useful when you want to jump on the bandwagon of a trending topic to attract a spike in traffic.

4. Long-Term Evergreen Keywords

Evergreen keywords are keywords that stay relevant over time. These are not seasonal or trendy—they represent topics that people consistently search for, regardless of time or trend.

For example, “how to start a blog” or “tips for healthy living” is an evergreen keyword. It has a steady search volume year-round and will continue to generate traffic long into the future. While the search volume may fluctuate a little, it won’t experience the sharp peaks and drops that fresh keywords do.

Because evergreen keywords are always relevant, they tend to perform well over the long term. You can refresh evergreen content from time to time to ensure it stays up-to-date and continues to resonate with your audience.

Characteristics of Evergreen Keywords:

• Moderate search volume
• Medium competition
• Specific search intent
• High conversion rate (long-term)

Evergreen keywords are great for creating high-quality, educational content that will continue to bring in traffic for months or even years.

5. Product-Defining Keywords

Product-defining keywords are highly specific terms that give a detailed description of your product or service. These are not broad, generic keywords but precise phrases that explain exactly what you offer. For instance, instead of simply labeling your product as a “Keyword Tool,” you could define it more clearly as an “LSI Keyword Research and Strategy Tool.”

Customers using product-defining keywords are usually in the early stages of their buying journey. They have a clear idea of what they’re looking for, and they are seeking more detailed information to help them make an informed decision.

Characteristics of Product-Defining Keywords:

• Low search volume
• Low competition
• Specific search intent
• High conversion rate

To optimize for product-defining keywords, create detailed product descriptions and ensure that your content clearly answers any questions users may have.

6. Customer-Defining Keywords

These keywords help you define your target audience. For instance, instead of using a generic product name like “Keyword Tool,” you might say “LSI Keyword Research and Planning Tool for Marketers.”

Customer-defining keywords show you understand your audience’s specific needs and pain points. By using these types of keywords, you can make your content feel more personalized, which can help boost conversions.

Characteristics of Customer-Defining Keywords:

• Low search volume
• Low competition
• Specific search intent
• High conversion rate

Incorporate customer-defining keywords into your content to directly address the unique needs and characteristics of your target audience. This personalized approach builds trust and significantly boosts the chances of turning visitors into customers.

7. Geo-Targeting Keywords

Geo-targeting keywords allow you to target users in specific locations. If you run a local business, geo-targeting keywords are essential for attracting nearby customers.

For example, if you have a bakery in Delhi, you could target keywords like “Delhi bakery” or “best cupcakes in DL”

Geo-targeting keywords are highly valuable for local businesses because they help you attract the most relevant customers—those in your area who are more likely to visit your store or make a local purchase.

Characteristics of Geo-Targeting Keywords:

• Low search volume
• Low competition
• Specific search intent
• High conversion rate (local)

If you have a local business, make sure to include geo-targeting keywords in your content to increase visibility in your specific region.

8. LSI Keywords (Latent Semantic Indexing Keywords)

LSI keywords (Latent Semantic Indexing keywords) are closely related terms to your main keyword. For example, if your main keyword is “lemon,” related LSI keywords might include “lemon tea,” “lemon health benefits,” or “organic lemon.”

These keywords give search engines a clearer picture of what your content is about, helping it rank higher for a wider range of related search queries.

Using LSI keywords is a smart way to create content that ranks for multiple keywords, even if those keywords aren’t exact matches for your main topic.

Characteristics of LSI Keywords:

• Low search volume
• Low competition
• Specific search intent
• High conversion rate

LSI keywords are ideal for creating blog posts or articles that target related topics, allowing you to attract a broader audience.

9. Intent Targeting Keywords

Intent targeting keywords focus on the user’s intent behind their search. In general, search intent falls into three main categories:

1. Informational Intent: Users are looking for information, such as “how to start a blog” or “benefits of lemon.”
2. Commercial Intent: Users are considering a purchase and need more information, like “best smartphones 2025” or “best washing machine reviews.”
3. Transactional Intent: Users are ready to buy and might search for “buy iPhone 14” or “cheap flights to Paris.”

By understanding and targeting keywords based on user intent, you can create content that directly aligns with what the user is looking for, leading to higher conversions.

Characteristics of Intent Targeting Keywords:

• Varies based on intent (informational, commercial, transactional)
• High relevance to the user
• High conversion rate if aligned properly

Understanding user intent helps you to craft content that aligns with their needs, at every stage of the buying process.

Conclusion

There are many types of keywords that serve different purposes when it comes to SEO. By understanding and strategically using these 9 types of keywords—short-tail, long-tail, fresh, evergreen, product-defining, customer-defining, geo-targeting, LSI, and intent-targeting—you can increase your chances of reaching the right audience and converting them into loyal customers.

By combining different types of keywords, you can optimize your website and content to attract more relevant visitors, increase sales, and ultimately boost the success of your business.