November 22, 2023
Table of Contents
Long-tail keywords play a crucial role in modern SEO. These are search queries typically three or more words long, often very specific, and usually carry stronger search intent than short, competitive keywords. While short keywords like “insurance,” “Laravel tutorial,” or “startup funding” attract massive competition, long-tail phrases such as “how to optimize Laravel queries for large databases” or “best insurance policies for freelance developers” are easier to rank for and often convert significantly better.
The challenge most website owners face is finding real long-tail keywords that their audience is actually searching for. Keyword tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Ubersuggest are helpful, but the best long-tail opportunities often come from your own existing ranking data — data that third-party tools may not even detect.
This is where Google Search Console (GSC) becomes an incredibly powerful long-tail keyword discovery engine.
GSC provides real search queries that users typed before visiting your website. With a few filters and regex techniques, you can uncover thousands of hidden long-tail keywords your site already ranks for — and then optimize content to gain higher rankings, more traffic, and more conversions.
This guide will walk you through the complete process step-by-step.
What Makes Long-Tail Keywords So Powerful?
Long-tail keywords are valuable because they are:
More Specific
The longer the phrase, the clearer the searcher’s intent.
Less Competitive
Ranking for “best CRM software for small real estate agencies” is easier than ranking for “CRM software.”
Higher Converting
Users with precise intent are closer to taking action.
Easier to Rank Quickly
Especially for new websites that don’t yet have domain authority.
Why Use Google Search Console to Find Long-Tail Keywords?
Google Search Console is the best free keyword research tool because:
It shows real queries typed by actual visitors, not estimates
It reveals queries you are already ranking for (easy wins!)
It updates data daily
It includes impressions, CTR, and position metrics
You can analyze by page, country, device, or query
You can filter with regex for advanced keyword extraction
Zero cost — completely free
Many SEOs spend $$$ on expensive keyword tools but overlook the goldmine inside GSC.
Step-by-Step: How to Find Long-Tail Keywords in Google Search Console
Follow these steps to extract long-tail keywords that your site is already ranking for and could easily dominate with optimization.
Step 1: Open Search Console → Performance → Search Results
Log into Google Search Console
Select your property (website)
Go to:
Search Results → Queries
This shows all the keywords your site appeared for in Google search.
Step 2: Change Date Range to “Past 28 Days”
Why 28 days?
It avoids outdated or irrelevant data
It shows consistent trends
It gives enough volume for analysis without noise
You may also try Last 3 months for broader keyword discovery.
Step 3: Add a Regex Filter for Long-Tail Queries
Click + New → Query → Custom (regex)
Choose Matches regex
To extract long-tail queries, use a regex that matches queries with 25+ characters:
^[\w\W\s\S]{25,}This pulls all queries long enough to indicate strong intent and specificity.
Adjust the number for your needs:
20 characters → more broad
30 characters → more specific
40+ characters → highly targeted
Step 4: Export Your Keywords
Click Export → Google Sheets.
This gives you a spreadsheet containing:
Query
Clicks
Impressions
CTR
Avg Position
This is where the real analysis begins.
Step 5: Filter Keywords by Ranking Opportunity
Inside Google Sheets:
Select Column E (Avg Position)
Go to Data → Create filter
Click the filter icon
Choose Filter by condition
Select Is between
Enter values 10 and 20
Why Position 10–20?
These queries are:
Already ranking on pages 2–3
Easy to move to page 1
Often low-hanging fruit
High potential for traffic improvement
A small amount of optimization can drastically improve rankings.
Step 6: Identify Keywords to Optimize
Now you have a list of long-tail queries that:
You already rank for
Have impressions (real searches happening!)
Are easy to push into the top 10
Likely reflect genuine search intent
These are prime candidates for:
Content updates
New content creation
Internal linking
FAQ sections
Adding clearer answers
Building topical relevance
Additional Regex Filters for Deeper Keyword Insights
Regex is powerful. Here are more advanced patterns:
Filter by Number of Words
Two-word queries:
^[^\s]+(\s+[^\s]+){1}$Three-word queries:
^[^\s]+(\s+[^\s]+){2}$Four-word queries:
^[^\s]+(\s+[^\s]+){3}$Five-word queries:
^[^\s]+(\s+[^\s]+){4}$Useful when you want keyword phrases instead of character count.
Filter Long-Tail Queries Containing Specific Words
Long queries containing “note”
^[\w\W\s\S]{25,}.*note.*Queries starting with “how to”
^[\w\W\s\S]{25,}.*how to.*Queries containing “best”
^[\w\W\s\S]{25,}.*best.*These help find intent-specific keywords.
Optimizing Content Using Long-Tail Keywords
Once you find high-value long-tail keywords, here’s how to use them:
1. Update Existing Pages
Add long-tail variations:
In headings (h3/h4)
In paragraphs
In FAQs
In image alt text
In meta descriptions
2. Create New Targeted Articles
If several queries revolve around a similar intent, create a new blog post specifically answering the question.
3. Improve Internal Linking
Link from strong pages to long-tail targeted pages using anchor text that matches the query.
Example anchor:
“best laravel security practices for beginners”
4. Add FAQ Sections
Google loves FAQs for long-tail searches.
Structured data boosts visibility dramatically.
5. Improve Page Intent Match
If Google ranks you for a query but not well, it signals one of two issues:
Content is not satisfying user intent
Query is mentioned but not deeply answered
Fix both.
Why This Method Works Better Than Traditional Keyword Research
Most keyword tools:
Miss low-volume keywords
Use estimates
Are not real search-user data
Do not show your ranking keywords
Are not always accurate
Cannot show impressions for 0-click terms
Google Search Console:
Shows real queries
Shows actual impressions/clicks
Reveals hidden keyword opportunities
Helps identify ranking gaps
No tool comes close to this level of precision.
Conclusion
Google Search Console is more than a performance tracking tool—it is a goldmine for finding long-tail keywords your website already ranks for. Using regex filters, ranking position filters, and intent-based grouping, you can uncover dozens or even hundreds of keyword opportunities that require minimal effort to capitalize on.
By systematically optimizing existing content or producing new articles based on these insights, you can significantly improve your organic rankings, traffic, and conversions.
For more SEO strategies, tutorials, and performance-driven development insights, follow guides from an experienced web developer in Nepal who specializes in technical SEO and full-stack development.
