How to Find Low Competition Keywords

## What Makes a Keyword 'Low Competition'?

Low competition keywords are search terms where you have a realistic chance of ranking on page one without an established, high-authority website. They typically share these characteristics:

**Lower difficulty scores:** Most SEO tools rate keywords 0-100 for difficulty. Low competition keywords usually score under 30.

**Smaller sites ranking:** When you see small blogs, forums, or lesser-known brands on page one, that's a sign the keyword is accessible.

**Less optimized content:** If the ranking content is thin, outdated, or poorly matched to search intent, you can outperform it.

**Long-tail specificity:** Longer, more specific phrases typically have less competition than broad head terms.

Low competition doesn't mean low value. Many of these keywords have excellent commercial intent and convert better than high-volume terms.

## Why Target Low Competition Keywords?

**Faster rankings:** New or smaller sites can rank for low competition keywords within weeks or months rather than years.

**Building momentum:** Each ranking builds your site's authority, making it easier to rank for harder keywords later.

**Better conversion rates:** Specific long-tail keywords often indicate clearer intent, leading to higher conversion rates.

**Less resource intensive:** You don't need massive link building campaigns or enormous content investments.

**Consistent traffic:** Many low competition keywords together can generate substantial traffic, diversified across hundreds of terms.

## Method 1: Filter by Keyword Difficulty Score

The simplest approach uses SEO tools with difficulty metrics.

In tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Ubersuggest, enter a seed keyword and filter results by difficulty score. Look for keywords with difficulty under 30 (or whatever threshold works for your site's authority).

**Important caveat:** Difficulty scores are estimates, not guarantees. A keyword with difficulty 20 might still be hard if the top results are exceptionally high-quality or well-linked. Always verify by manually checking the SERP.

## Method 2: Look for Long-Tail Variations

Long-tail keywords are longer, more specific search phrases. They naturally have less competition because fewer sites target them specifically.

**Head term:** running shoes (extremely competitive)

**Long-tail:** best running shoes for flat feet women (much lower competition)

To find long-tail variations: Take any keyword and add modifiers. Who (for women, for seniors), what (for beginners, with X feature), when (2026, seasonal), where (near me, for travel), why (benefits, comparison), how (step-by-step, DIY).

For more strategies, see our guide on [how to find long-tail keywords](/blog/find-long-tail-keywords).

## Method 3: Analyze SERP Weaknesses

Sometimes keyword tools say a term is competitive, but the actual SERP tells a different story. Look for these weaknesses:

**Forums or Q&A sites ranking:** When Reddit, Quora, or niche forums rank, it means no authoritative content exists yet. You can outrank them with dedicated, comprehensive content.

**Outdated content:** If top results are several years old and haven't been updated, fresh content can win.

**Poor intent match:** If ranking content doesn't really answer the query, better-matched content will rank.

**Thin content:** When top results are brief and lack depth, comprehensive content has an advantage.

**Low authority sites:** Check Domain Authority/Rating of ranking pages. If sub-50 sites rank, you have a chance.

## Method 4: Mine 'People Also Ask' Questions

'People Also Ask' (PAA) boxes in Google contain questions related to your search. Many of these questions have minimal competition because they're very specific.

**How to use PAA:** Search your main topic. Note all questions in the PAA box. Click on questions to expand more. Each question is a potential article topic.

The key is that PAA questions represent real queries with real search volume, but they're specific enough that competition is manageable.

## Method 5: Explore Forums and Communities

Real people asking questions on forums often use phrasing that doesn't appear in keyword tools but does get searched.

**Reddit:** Search your topic on Reddit. Look at question posts and the exact language people use. Phrases like 'how do I...' or 'why does...' plus specific terms often have low competition.

**Niche forums:** Industry-specific forums contain expert-level questions that keyword tools miss. These often have highly qualified traffic.

**Facebook Groups:** Questions in relevant groups reveal pain points and search terms your audience actually uses.

The goal is finding keywords from real user language rather than SEO tool suggestions that everyone else targets.

## Method 6: Check Autocomplete and Related Searches

Google Autocomplete shows real searches, and many are low competition because they're highly specific.

**How to use:** Type your seed keyword plus each letter of the alphabet. Note suggestions that are specific and different from the obvious terms.

**Related searches:** At the bottom of Google results, 'Related searches' shows similar queries. Many are lower competition variations worth investigating.

## Method 7: Target Question Keywords

Questions (who, what, when, where, why, how) often have lower competition than declarative keywords because they're more specific.

**Declarative:** email marketing

**Question:** how often should I send marketing emails

Question keywords also align well with featured snippets, giving you additional visibility even without ranking #1.

## Evaluating Low Competition Opportunities

Before targeting a low competition keyword, verify it's worth your effort:

**1. Search volume check:** Even low competition keywords need some search volume. Under 10 monthly searches probably isn't worth a dedicated article.

**2. Business relevance:** Can you naturally connect this keyword to your business or monetization strategy?

**3. Content feasibility:** Can you create genuinely helpful content on this topic? Do you have expertise or can you research it well?

**4. Intent alignment:** What does the searcher want? Make sure you can deliver the right type of content.

## Building a Low Competition Strategy

Don't just find one low competition keyword—build a systematic approach:

**Create a keyword database:** Track all your low competition finds with search volume, difficulty, and priority scores.

**Plan topic clusters:** Group related low competition keywords into content clusters targeting an overall theme.

**Prioritize by potential:** Some low competition keywords have more traffic potential or business value. Target those first.

**Track and iterate:** Monitor which low competition keywords you actually rank for. Double down on what works.

Over time, your rankings for low competition terms build site authority, making it easier to rank for more competitive keywords.