Developing a powerful long tail search strategy

Here are some tips and rules to follow to develop and maximize the power of long tail searches:

• Geographic locations are great qualifiers that turn general keywords into long tail searches. All the towns near your business location that fall within your service area can make great long tail search terms. In Dallas, for example, smaller communities like Plano and Carrollton can become "air conditioning service Plano," and "air conditioning repair Carrollton."

• Manufacturer names can make great long tail searches, for example, "Volvo repair Fairfax VA" and "Honda motorcycle parts Fairfax VA".

• Don't get too specific in your long tail strategy or you'll rank for keywords with no search volume. Monitor your web analytics to see if the search phrases you are chasing are too esoteric.

• Additional qualifiers like "Top-rated" and "Best" can help form effective long tail searches.