How to Find Low-Competition Keywords for SEO Success

If you’ve ever tried to rank on Google, you know it’s like stepping into a crowded party where everyone is shouting to be heard. Most people are competing for the same few popular keywords. But what if there was a way to get traffic without fighting an uphill battle? That’s where low-competition keywords come in. These are the hidden gems — keywords that aren’t overly saturated but still have an audience searching for them.

Here we’ll cover different methods on how to find low competition keywords, analyze their potential, and incorporate them into an effective SEO strategy. Whether you’re a blogger, an eCommerce business, or a startup looking to improve organic traffic, understanding how to target the right keywords can be the key to unlocking long-term SEO success.

Understanding Keyword Competition

Think of keywords like real estate. Some neighborhoods are ultra-expensive, packed with high-profile websites that dominate the top search results. Others? They’re emerging markets — less crowded but full of potential. A keyword’s competition depends on a few key factors:

• Search volume – How many people are searching for it? High-volume keywords are tempting but also fiercely competitive.

• Backlinks – The more high-quality backlinks a competing page has, the harder it is to outrank.

• Domain authority – Big, established sites (think Forbes or Amazon) have a stronghold on many search terms.

• Content quality and relevance – Even if a keyword has low competition, the content must still provide value to rank well.

Finding low-competition keywords means looking for opportunities where demand exists but the barriers to entry are lower. You want to focus on search queries where the top-ranking results have weak content, outdated information, or a lack of depth.

Low-Competition Keywords Bring More Targeted Traffic

One of the biggest advantages of targeting low-competition keywords is their ability to attract highly targeted traffic. Unlike high-volume keywords that may attract a broad audience, low-competition keywords typically represent more specific, niche searches. This specificity results in visitors who are further along in their buyer journey or looking for precise information.

For example, let’s compare two keywords:

• “Pizza” – This is a high-competition keyword with a broad audience. Users searching for this may be looking for general information, recipes, or restaurants, without necessarily having an intent to make an immediate purchase.

• “Pizza delivery in New York” – This is a low-competition, long-tail keyword that targets a highly specific audience. People searching for this are more likely to place an order because they have a clear intent and a defined need.

Since these niche search queries closely match the user’s intent, they tend to have higher engagement rates, longer time on site, and better conversion rates. In essence, by focusing on these more precise keywords, you attract an audience that is much more likely to take action — whether that’s subscribing to your blog, making a purchase, or signing up for a service.

Using Google’s Autocomplete and Related Searches

There is a good way how to find low competition keywords for free. Google gives you hints — if you know where to look. Start typing a phrase in Google’s search bar, and you’ll see suggested completions. Those aren’t random. They come from real searches people make.

Google Autocomplete is particularly useful because it reflects search trends and frequently used phrases. By experimenting with different word combinations, you can uncover variations that are easier to rank for while still having an audience. For instance, typing "best marketing strategies" might be too competitive, but "best marketing strategies for small businesses with low budget" could be a more achievable target.

Here's another trick. Scroll to the bottom of the search results. Google’s "Related Searches" section shows additional keyword ideas based on user behavior. This feature helps you discover alternative phrases and angles you might not have considered. The “People Also Ask” box is another goldmine — it reveals questions users are actually typing into Google. Clicking on one of these questions expands more related queries, allowing you to dive deeper into a topic and discover keywords with lower competition but high relevance.

Using these features strategically can assist you in how to find low competition keywords for SEO that your competitors might have overlooked. By regularly exploring and analyzing these search elements, you can refine your keyword strategy and stay ahead in organic search rankings.

Analyzing Keyword Difficulty with SEO Tools

Finding low-competition keywords is only part of the equation; the real challenge is identifying ones that also bring significant traffic. A key question is how to find low competition keywords with high traffic, the key is to balance search volume with keyword difficulty. Look for keywords that may not have massive search volumes but indicate strong user intent and engagement potential. These keywords often come from niche markets, trending topics, or specific queries that align with your audience's needs.

SEO tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, Moz, and Ubersuggest simplify keyword research. They assign a difficulty score to keywords — usually on a scale from 0 to 100. A high score means tougher competition, while lower scores indicate easier opportunities. If you're wondering how to find low difficulty keywords, these tools can be incredibly useful in identifying search terms that have lower competition but still hold value for your target audience.

However, don’t just rely on the number. Look at the top-ranking pages. If they’re full of high-authority websites with thousands of backlinks, you might want to rethink your strategy. On the other hand, if you see smaller blogs or local businesses ranking, you’ve got a shot. 

Additionally, check for search intent — what kind of content Google prefers for a given keyword. Are the top results blog posts, videos, or product pages? Understanding this helps tailor your content appropriately.

Leveraging Long-Tail Keywords

Most people chase broad, generic keywords like "marketing strategies." But the real SEO magic happens with long-tail keywords — longer, more specific phrases like "best marketing strategies for small businesses in 2024." If you're interested in how to find less competitive keywords, long-tail phrases are a great starting point, as they are typically less saturated and more aligned with niche audiences. These keywords also cater to highly specific search intent, meaning users who search for them are more likely to engage with the content and convert into leads or customers.

Additionally, long-tail keywords often reflect how people naturally phrase queries, especially with the rise of voice search. Instead of searching for "marketing strategies," users are more likely to ask, "What are the best marketing strategies for small businesses?" This shift in search behavior makes long-tail keywords even more valuable in modern SEO strategies.

Why are they powerful?

• Lower competition – Fewer sites are targeting them.

• Higher intent – Users searching for specific phrases often have clearer goals.

• Better conversion rates – They match specific user needs more precisely.

To find long-tail keywords, think about how people phrase questions. Google’s autocomplete, Q&A sites, and SEO tools can all help you identify them. You can also use AnswerThePublic and keyword clustering techniques to expand your search.

Analyzing Customer Questions

One of the ways to discover low-competition keywords is by analyzing real customer questions. Customers often phrase their concerns in natural language, which can lead to valuable long-tail keyword opportunities that competitors might overlook. 

Where to Find Customer Questions:

• Customer Support & FAQ Sections – Review the most frequently asked questions your business receives. These can indicate pain points that potential customers are searching for online.

• Reddit, Quora, and Niche Forums – Platforms like Quora and Reddit are filled with user-generated questions that can be transformed into highly targeted content.

• Google’s “People Also Ask” – This feature in search results displays commonly asked questions related to your topic.

• Social Media and Online Reviews – Comments and discussions on Facebook groups, LinkedIn, Twitter, and product reviews often reveal consumer concerns and interests.

Once you’ve gathered a list of common questions, use SEO tools to check their search volume and difficulty. A question like “How can I start a pizza delivery business with a low budget?” may have less competition than a generic keyword like “pizza business.” This is because specific, question-based searches tend to have lower search volume but also significantly less competition, making them ideal for ranking more easily.

To turn customer questions into actionable low-competition keywords, start by identifying common themes in the inquiries you receive. If multiple customers are asking similar things, chances are that many others are searching for the same information online. Instead of using generic keywords that are highly competitive, shape your content around these specific, question-driven keywords. For example, if customers frequently ask, 'What’s the best way to clean a pizza oven without chemicals?' you can create a detailed guide with this exact phrase as a keyword. Because the search is more specific, it’s less likely that large, high-authority websites have already optimized for it, giving you a better chance to rank higher.

Additionally, these question-based keywords align well with search intent. People searching for answers often want direct, helpful content rather than broad, generalized information. This means that when you optimize for such keywords, your content is more likely to rank in Google's "People Also Ask" section or even in featured snippets. This increased visibility can drive more high-intent traffic to your site, positioning you as an expert while bypassing the need to compete with high-authority domains for broad keywords.

By focusing on real customer inquiries, you can discover unique, low-competition keyword opportunities that attract engaged audiences searching for solutions. This not only increases your chances of ranking well but also enhances user experience by providing exactly what people are looking for. This strategy is particularly useful for smaller businesses and niche websites looking to compete effectively in organic search rankings.

Checking Competitors for Keyword Gaps

Your competitors are a treasure trove of keyword ideas — if you know how to analyze them. SEO tools let you peek behind the curtain, revealing which keywords drive traffic to their sites. But here’s the trick: instead of going after their most competitive terms, look for gaps.

A thorough competitor analysis involves studying not just their highest-ranking keywords but also identifying areas where they have weak or underdeveloped content. Many businesses target broad, high-volume keywords, leaving plenty of niche opportunities untapped. By examining their content strategy, you can find ways to outperform them with more in-depth, well-researched, and updated content.

To find keyword gaps, ask yourself:

• Are there keywords they rank for that don’t have much competition?

• Do they have high-ranking pages that are outdated or poorly optimized?

• Are there topics they haven’t covered in-depth?

• Are there new industry trends or emerging topics they haven’t addressed?

• Are their existing pages receiving engagement but failing to provide complete answers to user queries?

A strategic approach is to use SEO tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to identify "striking distance" keywords — those where competitors rank on page two or three of search results but could be improved with better content. These present prime opportunities to create higher-quality material and outrank them with ease.

Finding these gaps allows you to swoop in and create better, more focused content that ranks higher with less effort. Additionally, optimizing for keyword variations, user intent, and multimedia content (such as videos or infographics) can help you gain an edge over competitors who rely solely on traditional text-based content.

Testing and Validating Keywords

SEO isn’t just about finding keywords — it’s about testing them. You don’t need to invest months of effort into a full content strategy before seeing if a keyword works.

• Write a short blog post targeting the keyword.

• Run a small Google Ads campaign to see if it gets clicks.

• Share a social media post using the keyword and measure engagement.

If you see traction, go all in — optimize the content further, add internal links, and improve page speed. If it flops, tweak the strategy or test a different keyword.