In the ever-evolving landscape of search engine optimisation (SEO), finding the right keywords to target can make or break your digital marketing strategy. While high-volume keywords may seem attractive, they often come with fierce competition, making it challenging for smaller businesses or newer websites to gain traction. This is where low competition keywords come into play, offering a strategic advantage for those looking to improve their search rankings and drive targeted traffic to their sites.
Low competition keywords are search terms that have relatively fewer websites competing for top positions in search engine results pages (SERPs). These keywords typically have lower search volumes but offer a higher chance of ranking well, especially for websites with less domain authority. By focusing on these less competitive terms, businesses can carve out their niche in the digital space and gradually build their online presence.
Understanding low competition keywords in SEO
Low competition keywords are often longer, more specific phrases that target a narrower audience. These keywords, also known as long-tail keywords, usually consist of three or more words and address specific user intents. For example, instead of targeting the broad term “running shoes,” a low competition keyword might be “best trail running shoes for flat feet.”
The benefits of targeting low competition keywords are numerous:
- Easier to rank for, especially for newer or smaller websites
- Often have higher conversion rates due to their specificity
- Allow for more targeted content creation
- Can help establish authority in niche markets
- Typically have lower cost-per-click in paid search campaigns
However, it’s important to note that low competition doesn’t always mean low value. Many of these keywords can drive highly qualified traffic to your site, as users searching for specific terms are often further along in the buying cycle or have a clearer intent.
Tools for identifying low competition keywords
To uncover low competition keywords effectively, SEO professionals rely on a variety of tools. Each tool offers unique features and data points to help you identify keywords that are both relevant to your business and have a lower competitive landscape.
Google keyword planner: uncovering hidden gems
Google Keyword Planner is a free tool that provides valuable insights into keyword search volumes and competition levels. While primarily designed for Google Ads, it’s an excellent starting point for SEO keyword research. To find low competition keywords using this tool:
- Enter a seed keyword related to your business
- Filter results by average monthly searches to focus on lower volume terms
- Look for keywords with low competition indicators
- Consider the relevance of suggested keywords to your content
- Export your findings for further analysis
Remember that Google Keyword Planner’s competition metric is based on paid search data, so it should be used as a general guide rather than an absolute measure for organic search competition.
Semrush’s keyword magic tool: advanced filtering techniques
SEMrush offers a more sophisticated approach to keyword research with its Keyword Magic Tool. This powerful feature allows for advanced filtering and sorting of keywords based on various metrics, including keyword difficulty (KD%). To find low competition keywords:
1. Enter your seed keyword into the Keyword Magic Tool
2. Use the KD% filter to focus on keywords with lower difficulty scores
3. Sort results by volume to identify keywords with a balance of low competition and reasonable search volume
4. Utilise the ‘Questions’ filter to find informational long-tail keywords
5. Analyse the SERP features column to identify opportunities for featured snippets
SEMrush’s tool is particularly useful for identifying keyword clusters and related terms that can help you build out comprehensive content strategies.
Ahrefs keywords explorer: competitor gap analysis
Ahrefs is renowned for its backlink analysis capabilities, but its Keywords Explorer tool is equally powerful for finding low competition keywords. One of its standout features is the ability to perform competitor gap analysis:
1. Enter your domain and those of your competitors into the Content Gap tool
2. Identify keywords that your competitors rank for, but you don’t
3. Filter results by keyword difficulty to find low competition opportunities
4. Use the ‘Traffic Potential’ metric to gauge the potential impact of ranking for a keyword
5. Explore the ‘Parent Topic’ feature to uncover broader themes for content creation
Ahrefs also provides a ‘Keyword Ideas’ report, which can help you discover related keywords and questions that you might not have considered.
Kwfinder: Long-Tail keyword discovery
KWFinder, part of the Mangools SEO suite, specialises in helping users find long-tail keywords with low SEO difficulty. Its user-friendly interface makes it an excellent choice for those new to keyword research:
1. Enter a seed keyword or domain into KWFinder
2. Use the SEO difficulty filter to focus on easier keywords
3. Analyse the trend graph to understand keyword popularity over time
4. Check the ‘Questions’ tab for informational long-tail keywords
5. Utilise the ‘Autocomplete’ feature to discover related search queries
KWFinder’s strength lies in its simplicity and its ability to quickly identify low-hanging fruit in terms of keyword opportunities.
Strategies for finding Niche-Specific low competition keywords
While keyword research tools are invaluable, sometimes the best low competition keywords come from understanding your niche and your audience’s specific needs. Here are some strategies to uncover these hidden gems:
Reddit and quora: mining User-Generated content
Online forums and Q&A sites like Reddit and Quora are goldmines for niche-specific, low competition keywords. Users on these platforms often ask questions or discuss topics using natural language, which can reveal long-tail keywords that traditional tools might miss.
To leverage these platforms:
- Identify subreddits or Quora topics relevant to your niche
- Look for frequently asked questions or common discussion themes
- Pay attention to the specific language and terms used by your target audience
- Use these insights to create content that directly addresses user queries
By addressing these specific questions and topics, you can create highly targeted content that has a better chance of ranking well for low competition keywords.
Amazon’s search suggestions: e-commerce keyword gold
For businesses in the e-commerce sector, Amazon’s search suggestions can be a valuable source of low competition keywords. As the world’s largest online marketplace, Amazon’s autocomplete feature reflects real search behaviour from consumers ready to make purchases.
To use this strategy:
1. Start typing a product-related term into Amazon’s search bar
2. Note the autocomplete suggestions that appear
3. Focus on longer, more specific phrases
4. Use these phrases to inform your product descriptions and content strategy
5. Cross-reference with keyword tools to assess competition levels
This method can help you identify product-specific long-tail keywords that are directly related to consumer intent.
Google trends: identifying emerging search patterns
Google Trends is an often-overlooked tool for finding low competition keywords, especially those related to emerging topics or seasonal trends. By analysing search interest over time, you can identify keywords that are gaining popularity before they become highly competitive.
To leverage Google Trends effectively:
1. Enter a broad topic related to your niche
2. Analyse the ‘Related queries’ section for rising search terms
3. Use the geographic filter to find location-specific trends
4. Compare multiple terms to understand relative search interest
5. Look for cyclical patterns to plan seasonal content
By identifying these trends early, you can create content around low competition keywords before they become saturated.
Analyzing keyword metrics for competition assessment
Once you’ve identified potential low competition keywords, it’s crucial to analyse various metrics to assess their true competitive landscape. While different tools may use slightly different terminologies, there are several key metrics to consider:
Keyword Difficulty (KD) : This metric estimates how hard it would be to rank for a particular keyword. Lower scores indicate less competition.
Search Volume : The average number of monthly searches for a keyword. For low competition keywords, you’re often looking at lower volumes, typically under 1,000 searches per month.
Cost Per Click (CPC) : While primarily a PPC metric, a high CPC can indicate commercial intent and potential competition.
SERP Features : The presence of features like featured snippets, local packs, or video results can impact the competitiveness of a keyword.
Domain Authority of Ranking Pages : If the top-ranking pages for a keyword have low domain authority, it might indicate a low competition opportunity.
| Metric | Low Competition Range | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Keyword Difficulty | 0-30 | Easier to rank for, suitable for newer sites |
| Search Volume | 10-1,000 | Lower volume, but potentially more targeted traffic |
| CPC | $0.01-$1.00 | Lower commercial intent, less competitive |
When analysing these metrics, it’s important to consider them in combination rather than in isolation. A keyword with low difficulty but high search volume might still be competitive, while a very low volume keyword might not be worth targeting despite low competition.
Implementing low competition keywords in content strategy
Discovering low competition keywords is only half the battle; the real challenge lies in effectively implementing them into your content strategy. Here are some approaches to maximize the impact of your low competition keyword targeting:
Content clusters: maximising topical authority
Content clusters involve creating a central ‘pillar’ page that broadly covers a topic, with multiple related pages linking back to it. This structure helps search engines understand the depth and breadth of your content on a particular subject. For low competition keywords:
1. Use a broader, moderately competitive term for your pillar content
2. Create cluster content around related low competition long-tail keywords
3. Interlink these pages to distribute link equity and reinforce topical relevance
4. Regularly update and expand your clusters to maintain freshness and comprehensiveness
This approach not only helps you target multiple low competition keywords but also builds your site’s authority on the broader topic.
Featured snippet optimisation for low competition terms
Featured snippets, also known as ‘position zero’ results, can be a goldmine for low competition keywords. These SERP features often appear for informational queries, which align well with many long-tail, low competition terms.
To optimise for featured snippets:
- Structure your content to directly answer specific questions
- Use clear, concise language in your answers
- Implement proper HTML formatting (e.g.,
- Include relevant images or tables that could be pulled into the snippet
- Focus on ‘how-to’ content, definitions, and step-by-step guides
By targeting featured snippets for low competition keywords, you can potentially leapfrog higher authority sites and gain significant visibility.
Voice search optimisation: targeting conversational keywords
With the rise of voice-activated devices, optimising for voice search has become increasingly important. Voice queries tend to be longer and more conversational, aligning well with low competition long-tail keywords.
To optimise for voice search:
1. Focus on natural language and question-based keywords
2. Create content that directly answers specific questions
3. Use schema markup to help search engines understand your content
4. Optimise for local searches, as many voice queries have local intent
5. Ensure your content is mobile-friendly, as most voice searches occur on mobile devices
By targeting these conversational, low competition keywords, you can position your content to capture voice search traffic effectively.
Case studies: successful low competition keyword campaigns
To illustrate the power of targeting low competition keywords, let’s examine a few case studies of successful implementations:
A small gardening blog saw a 300% increase in organic traffic over six months by focusing on highly specific, low competition keywords like “best fertilizer for hydrangeas in clay soil” instead of broader terms like “garden fertilizer.”
This approach allowed the blog to rank quickly for numerous long-tail keywords, each bringing in a small but steady stream of highly engaged visitors.
Another example comes from the tech industry:
A startup offering project management software targeted low competition keywords related to specific use cases, such as “agile project management for remote teams.” This strategy resulted in a 150% increase in demo sign-ups within three months.
By addressing niche pain points with their content, the startup was able to attract highly qualified leads without competing directly with industry giants.
Lastly, consider this e-commerce success story:
An online boutique specialising in sustainable fashion saw a 200% increase in organic sales by optimising product pages for low competition, long-tail keywords like “eco-friendly bamboo loungewear for hot climates.”
This hyper-specific approach not only improved their search rankings but also resulted in higher conversion rates as the traffic was highly targeted.
These case studies demonstrate that with careful keyword selection and strategic content creation, businesses of all sizes can leverage low competition keywords to achieve significant SEO success. By focusing on specificity and user intent, you can carve out valuable niches in even the most competitive industries.