long tail and short tail keywrds

hello Im wondering if u can Rank for a shorter tail keyword if u target a longer one, for ex if u target "best running shoes for kids in ireland " , can u Rank also for "best running shoes for kids" ,given the fact that the second kwd is a not much more hard keywrd per ahref.

argaz nmars said:

hello Im wondering if u can Rank for a shorter tail keyword if u target a longer one, for ex if u target "best running shoes for kids in ireland " , can u Rank also for "best running shoes for kids" ,given the fact that the second kwd is a not much more hard keywrd per ahref.

Click to expand...

dear, you can often rank for the shorter keyword too. If you target "best running shoes for kids in Ireland," Google may also rank you for "best running shoes for kids" especially if your content is solid and includes both phrases naturally.
It’s not guaranteed, but long-tail targeting is a smart way to rank for broader terms over time. Just make sure your content matches the intent and covers the topic well.

zak25k said:

dear, you can often rank for the shorter keyword too. If you target "best running shoes for kids in Ireland," Google may also rank you for "best running shoes for kids" especially if your content is solid and includes both phrases naturally.
It’s not guaranteed, but long-tail targeting is a smart way to rank for broader terms over time. Just make sure your content matches the intent and covers the topic well.

Click to expand...

thanks it since im at 6 for the long tail and like 90 for the shorter one i hope it ranks

Of course, targeting long keywords is ideal to gain positions in more difficult keywords over time.

if your content is well-optimized, you can definitely rank for both the long-tail and the shorter variation. Google often picks up partial matches, especially when the shorter keyword is embedded naturally in the longer one. Just make sure your on-page SEO (like title, headers, and content) supports both phrases in a natural way. Internal linking and good content structure help too

argaz nmars said:

hello Im wondering if u can Rank for a shorter tail keyword if u target a longer one, for ex if u target "best running shoes for kids in ireland " , can u Rank also for "best running shoes for kids" ,given the fact that the second kwd is a not much more hard keywrd per ahref.

Click to expand...

In your case, it is geo-specific.

So if someone is on Ireland and they type "best running shoes for kids", then you may rank as they are located in Ireland. But if they are in Australia, you will probably not rank.

The first question is then, what is your target location.

argaz nmars said:

hello Im wondering if u can Rank for a shorter tail keyword if u target a longer one, for ex if u target "best running shoes for kids in ireland " , can u Rank also for "best running shoes for kids" ,given the fact that the second kwd is a not much more hard keywrd per ahref.

Click to expand...

Yes, you can rank for both if content is good and you have done good seo.

It depends on how optimized your on page seo and domain authority

argaz nmars said:

hello Im wondering if u can Rank for a shorter tail keyword if u target a longer one, for ex if u target "best running shoes for kids in ireland " , can u Rank also for "best running shoes for kids" ,given the fact that the second kwd is a not much more hard keywrd per ahref.

Click to expand...

The examples you've given have different goals and search engines now understand this perfectly well.
The text of the page for these two queries is completely different. For Ireland, your entire page will be about shoes and Ireland, the use of these shoes in Ireland and so on.
And you will put links with the word Ireland.

You can not take the top of the query without the word Ireland.
For a short query the text of your page will give examples of different children's shoes, properties of shoes, the composition of shoes, but no purpose in what one country is used this shoe.
And you will have links without a country.

And here in this variant of the text you can mention that some children's shoes are popular in Ireland, and you will take the top and on the query with the word Ireland, but not vice versa, as you want.

If you use long keywords, you're also using the short ones. If there's not much competition, you can rank for both.

It's pointless trying to rank for a long tail or short tail. You think there must be a set formula that will work when you do X to achieve X. Ranking websites doesn't work like that. Above all, you have to be original and relevant. You can do the best research on the planet and have 30 years of experience with SEO, but you're still just guessing at what teams of people are doing to an ever-changing algorithm.

I found the sites that when I started, I tried to rank for keywords, which were pathetic. Sites that I had no interest in or real knowledge about, and was just trying to rank for money. (Guess what, none showed up! lol)

I think "ranking for keywords" is a giant smoke screen. You can NEVER guess Google. It's constant. One article that might rank number 1 for two years straight can suddenly rank just as easily on page 5. That's the reality. The opposite is true but much smaller chance.

Forget writing for keywords. They are just a byproduct of relevance. Write for relevant audiences and position yourself as unique in the marketplace. There are lots of small blogs with only a few pages that have one or two successful selling products on them.
Some people know how to be highly relevant and allow themselves to be targeted in the niches they are knowledgeable about.

safeSEOboost said:

In your case, it is geo-specific.

So if someone is on Ireland and they type "best running shoes for kids", then you may rank as they are located in Ireland. But if they are in Australia, you will probably not rank.

The first question is then, what is your target location.

Click to expand...

yeah its same location ofc

argaz nmars said:

hello Im wondering if u can Rank for a shorter tail keyword if u target a longer one, for ex if u target "best running shoes for kids in ireland " , can u Rank also for "best running shoes for kids" ,given the fact that the second kwd is a not much more hard keywrd per ahref.

Click to expand...

the best way to check is to see which pages and sites your competitors are ranking with for your target keywords.

if competitors rank different pages for those keywords, you should do the same. if they all use one page, stick with one.

but if different competitors and serp results look totally mixed, it’s a sign you should dig deeper into the keywords and user intent.