How to find low-competition keywords for your business
Practical ways to find low-competition keywords you can realistically rank for: long-tail variations, local modifiers, Search Console data and weak SERPs.
Going after the biggest keyword in your industry is tempting and usually unrealistic. Low-competition keywords are searches where the current results are beatable. They often have lower volume but clearer intent, and together they can bring meaningful, qualified traffic.
What makes a keyword low competition
- Ranking pages are thin, outdated or don't quite answer the question
- Forum threads, Q&A sites or directories rank, which suggests no strong dedicated page exists
- Smaller businesses like yours already appear on page one
- The search is specific: long-tail, local or niche
1. Mine your Search Console
Your Performance report shows searches you already appear for. Filter for queries with impressions but an average position between about 8 and 30. These are pages Google already sees as relevant, and improving them is often quicker than starting from scratch.
2. Go long-tail
Add specifics to broad terms: service type, problem, audience, location or qualifier. "Accountant" is very competitive. "Accountant for freelance photographers" or "tax return help for landlords in Leeds" may be very winnable and more likely to convert.
3. Use Google's own suggestions
- Autocomplete suggestions as you type
- "People also ask" questions
- "People also search for" and related searches at the bottom of results
4. Listen to customers
The questions customers ask on calls, in emails and in reviews are often searches no competitor has properly answered. Write them down and check how well the current results answer them.
5. Check the results themselves
Keyword difficulty scores are estimates. Always look at the real results: who ranks, how good their pages are and whether you could make something clearly more useful. That judgement matters more than any single metric.
Don't ignore low volume
Keyword tools often show zero or tiny volumes for specific searches that do get real traffic. If a search clearly matches what you sell and a buyer would type it, it can be worth targeting even if the tool says nobody searches for it.
Frequently asked questions
What is a long-tail keyword?
A longer, more specific search, usually with lower volume and clearer intent.
Are keyword difficulty scores accurate?
They're useful estimates but vary between tools. Always check the actual results.
Can a new website rank for competitive keywords?
It's hard at first. Starting with lower-competition searches builds visibility over time.
How much traffic can low-competition keywords bring?
Each one may bring a little traffic, but many targeted pages together can add up, often with strong intent.
Should I target zero-volume keywords?
Sometimes, if the search clearly matches a buying need. Tools don't capture every real search.