How To Find Low-Competition Keywords for SEO

Even though Google users search billions of times every day, an astounding 15% of queries are keyword phrases the search engine hasn’t seen before. This presents an amazing opportunity for search engine optimization. Instead of fighting tooth and nail to rank in the top spots for a well-known keyword, why not skip the line by discovering new keywords instead? Learning how to find low-competition keywords gives you a huge edge in SEO.

How Can You Find Low-Competition Keywords for Your Campaign?

One of the best ways to discover new keywords is with an SEO research tool, such as Moz, Ahrefs, or Semrush. Another option is to do some creative searching on Google, Reddit, or similar sites.

You may even stumble across low-competition keywords by “accident.” As you brainstorm content ideas for your target audience, write down related search phrases that pop into your mind.

What Do Low-Competition Keywords Look Like?

The type of low-competition keywords you choose depends on whether you’re targeting informational searches for leads or transactional searches for sales. Common phrases that have less competition include:

• Broad informational terms
• Long-tail keywords
• Niche keywords
• Longer transactional keywords

If you have a lot of competition, look for long-tail keywords that meet your customers’ specific needs. Try “grade 316 stainless steel supplier” or “stainless steel square tubing” instead of “stainless steel supplier.”

How To Find Low-Competition Keywords With a Keyword Research Tool

It’s hard to beat the power of reliable statistics. SEO platforms make it incredibly easy to find and check keyword ideas.

Step 1: Choose Your Topic

Keyword research is more effective when you group search terms by topic. For example, if you’re planning an article called “How To Install LED Headlights on a Jeep” your keyword search would probably focus on Jeep headlights, Jeep LEDs, and Jeep replacement parts.

Step 2: Enter Your Seed Keyword Into the Research Tool

Seed keywords are broad terms that help you generate related keyword ideas. Start with your main topic. We checked the high-volume, high-competition topic “dresses,” and found some excellent low-competition keywords available:

• Maxi dresses (136,000 searches, KD 23)
• Cocktail dresses (150,000 searches, KD 34)
• Cute dresses (30,000 searches, KD 32)
• Where to buy dresses (1,400 searches, KD 37)
• Formal dresses (188,000 searches, KD 38)

When you know how to find high-volume low-competition keywords, you can still uncover great opportunities for SEO even if your industry is saturated.

Step 3: Filter for Keyword Difficulty

For SEO, keyword difficulty tells you how hard it is to rank in the top positions for organic searches. Some platforms use keyword competition, but this is technically for paid search ads. Still, this metric often gives you an idea of the popularity of a term for SEO, too.

Targeting low-difficulty search terms means you can compete even if your website is relatively new, you don’t have many backlinks, or your marketing budget is modest.

Step 4: Target Multiple Keywords in the Same Article

Your primary keyword should be a low-competition search term, but you don’t lose anything by targeting a mix of easy and difficult keywords in the same article. An article about “The Best Maxi Dresses for Summer 2024” could include:

• Maxi dresses (low KD)
• Summer dresses (moderate KD)
• Casual dresses (moderate KD)
• Casual maxi dresses (moderate KD)
• Beach casual dresses (low KD)

All of these terms have thousands of monthly searches, providing ample traffic possibilities.

Where Can You Find Low-Competition Keywords for Free?

If you’re managing tons of SEO and content marketing in-house, signing up may be worth it. If not, use one of our favorite free options instead:

• Moz Keyword Explorer: 10 searches per month with a free account
• Semrush Keyword Magic Tool: One search, top 10 results per day with free account
• Ahrefs Free Keyword Generator: Unlimited daily searches, top 10 metrics, top 20 keywords, no account needed
• Google Keyword Planner: Completely free, but information related to pay-per-click advertising

For other amazing keyword search tricks, check out our guide to the best free keyword research tools.

How To Choose Low-Competition Keywords

Not all low-competition keywords are worth your time. To choose the right search terms, look for the following factors:

• Search volume: Learning how to find high-volume low-competition keywords should be at the top of your list. The more searches, the more chances to get traffic.
• Search intent: Search phrases that align with your target customers’ needs, wants, and problems are more likely to attract the right audience.
• Product alignment: Keywords that aren’t related to your products or services aren’t the best use of your marketing dollars.
• Article goals: Transactional keywords (e.g., “where to buy floor scrubber parts online”) and informational keywords (e.g., “how much does new roofing cost”) should match up with the purpose of your content.

Even keywords with low monthly search volumes can be valuable if they achieve your purpose. Niche keywords for industrial businesses may only average a hundred monthly searches, but the majority have significant conversion potential.

How To Find High-Volume Low-Competition Keywords 

There are several ways to increase your chances of discovering trending topics: 

• With keyword research tools, organize results by search volume first, then keyword difficulty
• Type your chosen keywords into Google Search and look at the “People also ask” section for extra keyword ideas
• Use the Google Trends “Explore” feature to search for trending keywords over the past 90 days, organized by your chosen category (e.g., beauty, fitness, automotive)

Don’t expect to find high-volume search terms with low competition all the time, but take advantage of the golden opportunity when they appear.

An Easier Way To Find Low-Competition Keywords

At BKA Content, we know how to find low-competition keywords like pros because we’re … well, the pros. Our SEO and content teams coordinate closely to find the best keywords for your content. We match your audience’s search intent for each topic, providing long-lasting value for your business. Discover how refreshing the keywords for existing blogs can save you money and increase your SEO power at the same time.