Long-tail SEO Targeting
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A strategy focused on targeting niche, specific search terms to drive targeted traffic and revenue. Based on examples from Bleacher Report and Bustle's success.
Core Strategy Components
- Target highly specific, long-tail search queries
- Example: "What happens when I get my period while at the beach"
- Focus on questions people actually search for
- Volume vs Intent Trade-off
- Accept lower search volume (100s of searches/month)
- Target terms with clear purchase or engagement intent
- Aggregate many small wins into significant traffic
Success Examples
Bleacher Report
- Built initial success through sports-focused long tail content
- Targeted specific sports queries
- Eventually sold company successfully
- Founder had to take non-compete after sale
Bustle
- Founded by Bleacher Report founder
- Applied same long-tail strategy to women's content
- Focused on specific lifestyle queries
- Results:
- Ranks #1 for many specific lifestyle queries
- Generates over $100M in revenue
- Proves strategy still works in current market
Key Takeaways
- Strategy remains effective in current digital landscape
- Success requires:
- Consistent content creation
- Focus on specific niches
- Understanding user search intent
- Patience to build up content library
- Can lead to significant revenue through aggregation of small wins
Sam Parr
Host of MFM and fitness influencer
Sam Parr is a serial entrepreneur and business media pioneer.
In 2016, he founded The Hustle, a business news media company that started in his kitchen with just $12 and grew to eight figures in revenue.
Sam led the charge in making newsletters popular when few believed in their potential.
After four successful years, he sold The Hustle to HubSpot, a publicly traded company. Now operating as HubSpot Media, The Hustle reaches 3 million readers daily, employs a team of nearly 100, and has been the launchpad for dozens of its staff to found their own media companies and newsletters.
Sam remains the host of the popular business podcast, My First Million, and continues to start and sell companies. He also co-founded Hampton, a highly vetted community for entrepreneurs, founders, and CEOs, and teaches people to write better through his platform, Copy That.