Which SEO strategy uses short phrases of three to five keywords?

• A. Word cloud
• B. Word salad
• C. Long-tail keyword
• D. Boolean operator keywords

Answer: (C)

Long-tail keywords are SEO phrases that use three to five words to describe a specific, concrete search intent. This level of specificity matches how people often search when they’re looking for something particular, such as a product type, a problem, or a solution, rather than a broad topic. Because they’re more precise, fewer pages compete for these phrases, making it easier to rank and often leading to higher-quality, conversion-friendly traffic. For example, a long-tail phrase like “best budget-friendly running shoes for flat feet” targets a specific need and audience, unlike a single word like “shoes” or a vague term.

The other options don’t fit this description. A word cloud is just a visualization of frequently used words, not an SEO strategy. A term like word salad isn’t an established SEO concept. Boolean operator keywords refer to using logical operators (AND, OR, NOT) to refine searches, not to the length or specificity of keyword phrases.