Overview

Welcome to Corner The Keyword! If you are brand new to using SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to capture organic traffic, you’re in the right place.

The main objective of the game is simple: instead of fighting massive corporations for highly competitive, broad search terms, you win by finding and dominating specific, highly-targeted phrases. We call this “cornering” the keyword.

Here are the baseline rules of the game!

Understand Long Tail Keywords

Before you can corner a keyword, you need to know what you’re looking for.

Keywords generally fall into two categories:

• Head Terms: Broad, short phrases (e.g., “shoes” or “fitness app”). They get massive search volume but are nearly impossible for a new site to rank for.
• Long Tail Keywords: Longer, highly specific phrases (e.g., “best red running shoes for flat feet” or “habit tracking fitness app for ADHD”). They have much lower search volume, by extension virtually no competition.

The secret: Because long tail keywords are so specific, the people searching for them know exactly what they want. If you provide it, they are highly likely to convert.

How to Find Long Tail Keywords

Finding the right keywords is your scouting phase. You don’t need fancy tools to get started:

1. Google Autocomplete: Start typing a broad topic into Google and see what “autocomplete” suggests. Those suggestions are real things people are searching for.
2. “People Also Ask”: Search a term and look at the “People Also Ask” box. Each of those questions is a potential long tail keyword you can answer.
3. Listen to Your Audience: Go to platforms like Reddit, Quora, or niche forums. What exact phrasing do people use when asking about your industry?
4. Keyword Tools: As you level up, you can use tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, or Ubersuggest to find phrases with low “Keyword Difficulty” (KD).

Setting Up Your Site to Compete

Once you’ve picked a keyword, you need to build your “base” to capture it. Google wants to show users the most helpful page on the internet for their specific search.

Here is how you set up your site to win:

• Create Dedicated Pages: Don’t try to cram 50 keywords onto your home page. Build a specific, dedicated page (or blog post) for each core long tail keyword.
• Match Search Intent: Ask yourself, “What does the person typing this actually want to see?” If they want a tutorial, write a step-by-step guide. If they want a list, give them a list.
• Optimize the Basics: Make sure your exact keyword appears naturally in the page’s Title, URL, and main heading (H1).
• Build the Best Resource: Write high-quality, readable content. Add images, diagrams, or videos that make your page better than whatever is currently ranking at the top.