Short-tail keywords are search terms that contain only one or two words. They are broad, general, and often searched by a large number of people on Google.
For example:
- shoes
- pizza
- travel tips
Why Are They Called “Short-Tail”?
The name comes from the shape of the keyword demand curve. Short-tail keywords sit at the “head” of the curve because they get the most searches, but they are very general.
Characteristics of Short-Tail Keywords
- 1–2 words long
- High search volume (many people search for them)
- High competition (many websites try to rank for them)
- Low specificity (you don’t know exactly what the searcher wants)
Example:
Someone searching for “shoes” could be looking to:
- Buy shoes online
- Find a shoe store nearby
- Learn about shoe styles
That makes it hard to know their intent and create the exact content they need.
Pros and Cons of Using Short-Tail Keywords
Pros:
- Can bring a lot of traffic if you rank high
- Useful for general topics or category pages
Cons:
- Hard to rank for (strong competition)
- May not bring targeted visitors
- Low conversion rates (visitors may not take action)