What is a long-tail keyword?

A long-tail keyword is a specific, longer phrase, typically three or more words, that targets a niche audience and usually has a lower search volume compared to broader, more general terms. While individual long-tail keywords may have low search volume, collectively they can drive significant, highly qualified traffic because they indicate a user's clear intent. For example, "best waterproof hiking boots for women with wide feet" is a long-tail keyword. A single-word keyword is too broad. A keyword's position in content doesn't define it as long-tail. Long-tail keywords generally have low, not high, search volume.