How to Find Low Competition Keywords (Easy Methods That Work)

Ever wondered how to find keywords that are easy to rank for?

Finding low competition keywords is one of the most effective strategies for growing your organic traffic, especially if you’re just starting out with SEO or working with a site that doesn’t have much authority yet.

In this guide, we’ll cover:

• What are low competition keywords and why you need them?
• How can you find them with both free and paid tools?
• Which proven methods deliver the best results for finding easy-to-rank keywords?

In this post, I’ll show you exactly how to find low-competition keywords—plus reveal one free tool that’s changing the game (and no, it’s not Ahrefs or SEMrush).

Let’s dive in.

What Are Low Competition Keywords?

Low competition keywords are search terms that have relatively few websites targeting them, making them easier to rank for in search engines. They typically have lower keyword difficulty scores while still attracting a reasonable search volume.

Low-competition keywords are search terms that:

• Longer phrases (typically 3+ words)
• High specificity (they target a precise topic or question)
• Lower monthly search volume (often between 10-1,000 searches)
• Have lower keyword difficulty (KD) scores
• Less competitive SERPs (search results may include forums, Q&A sites, or lower authority domains)
• More specific search intent (the user is looking for something very specific)

Think of them as “low-hanging fruit” that the big players overlook but your future audience is desperately searching for.

Why Focus on Low Competition Keywords?

There are several compelling reasons to target low competition keywords:

1. Faster Rankings: You can start ranking within weeks rather than months or years
2. Higher Conversion Rates: They often have clearer search intent, attracting more qualified visitors
3. Authority Building: Every page you rank compounds your topical authority.
4. Building Momentum: Early wins provide motivation and data to inform your broader SEO strategy
5. Less Resource-Intensive: They typically require fewer backlinks and less promotional effort
6. Content Gaps: You can easily outmaneuver competitors who miss niche-specific opportunities.

If you want real results—more traffic, more leads, more sales—this is where you start.

The Best Methods for Finding Low Competition Keywords

1. Long-Tail Keywords

Highly specific phrases like “best hiking boots for flat feet”. They get less search volume individually but add up to serious traffic.

2. Geo-Specific Keywords

Adding a location modifier narrows competition: “best coffee shops in Denver downtown.”

3. Niche-Specific Keywords

Focus on sub-niches inside your main market. Instead of “fitness routines,” target “HIIT workouts for postpartum moms.”

4. Question-Based Keywords

These align perfectly with informational intent: “How do I start a podcast on Spotify?”

1. Answer Socrates: The Best Way to Find Question-Based Keywords

AnswerSocrates.com has quickly become one of the most powerful tools for discovering low competition keywords. What makes it exceptional is its ability to generate over 1,000 keywords from just a single seed keyword.

Unlike many other tools that rely on third-party databases, Answer Socrates pulls data directly from Google’s “People Also Ask” feature, ensuring you get keywords that:

• Users are actually searching for
• Have clear search intent (questions reveal exactly what users want to know)
• Often have lower competition due to their specificity

How to use AnswerSocrates:

1. Enter a broad seed keyword related to your niche (e.g., “cat”)
2. Review the extensive list of questions generated
3. Look for longer, more specific questions that signal low competition
4. Download the full list for further analysis or import directly to your content plan

For example, a seed term like “gardening” might generate questions such as:

• “How to prevent aphids on vegetable plants naturally”
• “When to plant tomatoes in zone 7b”
• “What flowers grow well in sandy soil with full sun”

These highly specific questions typically have much lower competition than broader terms like “gardening tips” or “how to grow tomatoes.”

2. The Keyword Golden Ratio (KGR) Method

The Keyword Golden Ratio (KGR) helps identify low competition keywords with mathematical precision. We’ve covered this in detail in our Keyword Golden Ratio guide, but here’s the essence:

KGR = Number of Google results with the exact phrase in title ÷ Monthly search volume

The formula works best for keywords with less than 250 monthly searches. If your KGR is less than 0.25, you should be able to rank in the top 100 very quickly (often within a few days to weeks).

To apply the KGR method:

1. Find keywords with less than 250 monthly searches
2. Search for them in Google using allintitle:your keyword to see how many pages have that exact phrase in their title
3. Divide that number by the monthly search volume
4. Focus on keywords with a KGR of less than 0.25

3. The Alphabet Soup Method

The Alphabet Soup method is a simple but effective technique we detailed in our Alphabet Soup guide. It involves using Google’s autocomplete feature (what Answer Socrates does) to discover low competition long-tail keywords.

Here’s how it works:

1. Type your main keyword into Google (e.g., “coffee brewing”)
2. Add a letter after your keyword and see what Google suggests (e.g., “coffee brewing a”, “coffee brewing b”)
3. Work through the entire alphabet to build a comprehensive list
4. Look for longer, more specific phrases that suggest low competition

This method is particularly effective because it shows you exactly what people are searching for in Google’s own data. You can also try variations like adding prepositions (“coffee brewing with”, “coffee brewing without”) or question words (“how coffee brewing”, “why coffee brewing”).

4. Competitor Analysis and Content Gaps

Analyzing your competitors can reveal low competition keywords they’re ranking for or, even better, keywords they’ve missed.

Step 1: Identify the right competitors Look for websites that:

• Are in your niche but not dramatically larger than yours
• Rank for some keywords you’re targeting
• Have similar content types and business models

Step 2: Find their “easy win” keywords Using tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz:

• Look at their organic keywords
• Filter for positions #5-20 (good enough to show potential, but not dominant)
• Sort by low keyword difficulty
• Focus on keywords with reasonable search volume

Step 3: Identify content gaps Look for topics or keywords where:

• Your competitors rank but you don’t
• Only a few of your competitors are present
• Forums and Q&A sites rank prominently
• There’s a lack of comprehensive, high-quality content

5. Google Search Console Hidden Gems

If you already have a website with some traffic, Google Search Console contains valuable data about low competition keywords:

1. Go to “Performance” > “Search results”
2. Sort by “Impressions” (not clicks)
3. Look for keywords where:
   • You’re getting impressions but few or no clicks
   • Your average position is on page 2-5 (positions 11-50)
   • The queries are specific and relevant to your content

These keywords represent low-hanging fruit – you’re already ranking for them to some degree, and with targeted optimization, you can move up to page one.

6. Forum Mining for Untapped Keywords

Forums like Reddit, Quora, and niche-specific communities are goldmines for low competition keywords.

Why forums work:

• They contain real questions from real users
• These questions often have low competition because they’re very specific
• Forum threads ranking in Google signal a content gap in the market

How to mine forums for keywords:

1. Find relevant subreddits, Quora topics, or forums in your niche
2. Look for recurring questions and topics
3. Pay attention to threads with high engagement
4. Search Google for these topics to check competition
5. Look for questions where forums dominate the search results

For example, if r/homebrewing has multiple threads about “how to reduce tannins in home brewed coffee” and those threads rank on page one of Google, that’s a strong indicator of a low competition opportunity.

Pro Tips to Maximize Your Success

• Cluster Related Keywords: Target multiple keyword variations in one post to build topical authority.
• Master Search Intent: Go beyond surface-level answers. Deliver deep, satisfying content.
• Use Internal Linking: Boost new posts by linking from established, high-traffic pages.
• Monitor and Adapt: Track your rankings and iterate. SEO is a living, breathing strategy.

Advanced Tips for Finding Low Competition Keywords

Explore “Zero Volume” Keywords

Many keyword research tools will show certain queries as having “zero” monthly searches. Don’t automatically dismiss these – they can be hidden opportunities:

• Tools often round down or don’t have data on very specific queries
• New or trending topics may show as zero volume before tools update
• Even keywords with 10-20 monthly searches can be valuable if they convert well

Cross-check with Google Trends to identify rising interest in supposedly “zero volume” keywords.

Check out our zero search volume keywords guide. 

Use Modifiers to Find Low Competition Variations

Add modifiers to your main keywords to find lower competition variations:

Location modifiers:

• “vegetarian restaurants in [neighborhood name]”
• “dog trainers [city] [district]”

Time-based modifiers:

• “2024 guide to…”
• “summer gardening tips”
• “overnight shipping options”

Demographic modifiers:

• “for beginners”
• “for seniors”
• “for small businesses”

Qualification modifiers:

• “best”
• “cheap”
• “professional”
• “DIY”

Look for SERP Features and Ranking Opportunities

When evaluating keyword competition, look beyond just the domains ranking on page one:

• Featured snippets: If present, these are often winnable with well-structured content
• People Also Ask boxes: Indicate related low competition opportunities
• Video carousels: Signal opportunity for video content in a potentially less competitive format
• Image packs: Suggest visual content opportunities

How to Evaluate Keyword Competition

Once you’ve found potential low competition keywords, evaluate them systematically:

1. Check Keyword Difficulty Metrics

Most SEO tools provide keyword difficulty scores:

• Ahrefs: 0-100 scale (aim for <20 for low competition)
• SEMrush: 0-100% scale (aim for <40% for low competition)
• Moz: 0-100 scale (aim for <30 for low competition)

Remember that these are algorithmic estimates – always verify with manual checks.

2. Analyze the SERPs Manually

Look at the top 10 results for your target keyword and assess:

• Domain Authority: How authoritative are the ranking sites?
• Content Quality: Is the existing content comprehensive and well-optimized?
• SERP Features: Are there featured snippets or other features you could target?
• Content Freshness: How recent is the ranking content?
• Relevance: How precisely do the results match search intent?

3. Assess Backlink Profiles

Examine the backlink profiles of top-ranking pages:

• How many referring domains point to each page?
• What’s the quality of these backlinks?
• Is there a significant gap between your site’s authority and theirs?

A good rule of thumb: if the top results have fewer than 10-15 referring domains, the keyword is likely low competition.

Creating Content for Low Competition Keywords

Finding keywords is only half the battle – you need to create optimized content that can rank:

1. Match Search Intent Precisely

For low competition keywords, search intent is typically very specific. Make sure your content:

• Directly answers the query in the first paragraph or section
• Provides comprehensive coverage of the topic
• Uses the exact keyword and semantic variations naturally throughout

2. Create Depth, Not Just Length

Low competition doesn’t mean low effort. Your content should:

• Go deeper than competing articles
• Include unique insights, examples, or data
• Provide actionable information users can implement

3. Optimize On-Page Elements

Pay careful attention to:

• Title tag (include the exact keyword)
• URL (keep it short and include the keyword)
• Headings (use H2s and H3s with semantic variations)
• Image alt text (describe images with relevant keywords)
• Meta description (encourage clicks with a compelling preview)

4. Build Internal Links

Connect your new content to existing pages on your site:

• Link from high-authority pages to your new content
• Use relevant anchor text that includes your target keyword
• Create topic clusters around related low competition keywords

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Focusing Too Much on Volume

Don’t ignore valuable keywords just because tools show low search volume. A keyword with 50 monthly searches but high conversion intent is often more valuable than a keyword with 500 searches and weak commercial intent.

2. Not Verifying Tool Data

Keyword difficulty scores are estimates, not guarantees. Always manually check the SERPs to confirm competition levels.

3. Targeting Irrelevant Keywords

Only pursue keywords that are truly relevant to your business or content focus, even if they seem easy to rank for.

4. Neglecting Search Intent

Understanding exactly what users want from a specific search query is crucial for ranking and conversion.

5. Creating Shallow Content

Low competition doesn’t justify low-quality content. Your material should still be comprehensive and valuable.

Tracking and Testing

To maximize results from your low competition keyword strategy:

1. Track rankings weekly for your targeted low competition keywords
2. Monitor organic traffic to pages optimized for these keywords
3. Analyze conversion rates to identify which types of keywords perform best
4. Refresh content regularly to maintain and improve rankings
5. Build upon success by finding similar keywords when you rank well

Final Thoughts

Finding low-competition keywords isn’t about luck—it’s about having the right system.

Finding low competition keywords doesn’t require expensive tools or years of SEO experience – just a strategic approach and attention to detail. By leveraging tools like Answer Socrates to flood your content calendar with real keywords people are searching for, you can discover valuable opportunities your competitors are missing.

Remember that the most successful SEO strategies often start with these “easier” keywords, building momentum and authority that eventually allows you to compete for more challenging terms. With consistent application of these techniques, you’ll develop a sustainable flow of targeted organic traffic that grows over time.

Your next SEO win is just one smart keyword away.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good keyword difficulty score for low competition keywords?

This varies by tool, but generally:

• Ahrefs: 0-20
• SEMrush: 0-40%
• Moz: 0-30 For new websites, aim for the lower end of these ranges.

Is it better to target multiple low competition keywords or one high competition keyword?

For most websites, especially newer ones, targeting multiple low competition keywords will yield better results faster. This approach builds momentum and authority while generating traffic and data you can use to refine your strategy.

How quickly can I expect to rank for low competition keywords?

With well-optimized content, you can often see rankings for truly low competition keywords within 2-8 weeks. However, this varies based on your site’s authority, content quality, and the specific keyword.

Should I ignore keywords with zero search volume?

No – “zero volume” keywords can still drive valuable traffic. Keyword tools have limitations in data collection, especially for newer or very specific queries. If a keyword is relevant to your audience, consider targeting it regardless of reported volume.

How many low competition keywords should I target in a single piece of content?

Focus on one primary low competition keyword and 2-5 closely related secondary keywords per piece of content. This ensures your content remains focused while capturing traffic from multiple relevant queries.