Surprisingly, while most marketers chase after high-volume keywords with massive competition, research reveals that 70% of all search traffic actually comes from long-tail keywords that often have significantly lower competition. This means that by focusing on these overlooked search phrases, you can tap into the majority of online search behavior while facing far fewer competitors, making it dramatically easier to achieve first-page rankings and drive consistent organic traffic to your website.
Research shows that 70% of all search traffic comes from long-tail keywords, which are often low competition phrases that most websites ignore.
This guide covers everything you need to know to find and use these keywords to grow your website traffic.
Quick Overview: Low Competition Keywords
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| What It Is | Search terms with fewer competing websites trying to rank |
| Who Uses It | Website owners, bloggers, small businesses, new websites |
| Main Benefit | Easier to rank higher in search results faster |
| Difficulty Level | Easy to Medium |
| Time To Learn | 1-2 weeks to understand basics |
| Best For | New websites, niche topics, local businesses |
You will learn how to find these keywords and use them to get more visitors to your website.
What Are Low Competition Keywords?
Low competition keywords are search phrases that not many websites are fighting to rank for.
When fewer sites compete for a keyword, it becomes easier for your content to show up on the first page of search results.
These keywords often have lower search volume but higher chances of ranking success.
They work especially well for new websites that cannot compete with big brands yet.
Why Keywords With Low Competition Matter
These keywords help new websites get discovered faster than trying to compete for popular terms.
Studies show that websites ranking on page one of Google get 95% of all clicks from searchers.
Low competition terms give you a better shot at reaching that first page quickly.
They also tend to bring visitors who are more likely to buy or take action on your site.
Long-tail keywords make up 92% of all keyword phrases searched online, but most websites only target the remaining 8% of popular terms.
How Low Competition Search Terms Work
Search engines look at how many quality websites are trying to rank for each keyword.
When fewer sites compete, the search engine has less choice about what to show users.
This means your content has a better chance of ranking high even if your website is new.
The key is finding terms that people actually search for but that big websites ignore.
Key Parts Of Successful Keyword Research
| Component | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Search Volume | Shows how many people search for the term each month |
| Competition Level | Measures how many sites are trying to rank for it |
| Keyword Difficulty | Rates how hard it will be to rank on the first page |
| Search Intent | Tells you what people want when they search for the term |
| Related Keywords | Shows similar terms you could also target |
These parts work together to help you pick the best keywords for your content.
Focus on terms with decent search volume but low competition scores for the best results.
Benefits Of Using Easy To Rank Keywords
Here are the main advantages of targeting these types of search terms:
- Faster rankings – Your content can reach page one in weeks instead of months
- More targeted traffic – People searching these terms often want exactly what you offer
- Lower cost advertising – If you run ads, these keywords cost less per click
- Better conversion rates – Visitors from these searches are more likely to take action
- Building authority – Ranking for many small keywords helps your whole site grow
- Long-term growth – These keywords often stay stable over time
Most successful websites build their traffic using hundreds of these smaller keywords instead of fighting for a few big ones.
Look for keywords that include your location, brand names, or specific product features. These often have less competition but bring very targeted visitors.
Common Ways To Use Low Competition Terms
Blog posts work great for targeting these keywords because you can write detailed content around specific topics.
Product pages can target low competition terms that include model numbers or specific features.
Local businesses often find success with keywords that include their city or neighborhood names.
FAQ pages let you target question-based keywords that usually have lower competition.
How To Get Started With Keyword Research
Follow these steps to find your first low competition keywords:
- Make a list of topics related to your business or website
- Use Google’s search suggestions to find related terms people actually search for
- Check each keyword’s competition level using free tools like Google Keyword Planner
- Look for terms with at least 100 monthly searches but low competition scores
- Pick 5-10 keywords to start with and create content around them
- Track your rankings and adjust your strategy based on what works
Start small and build your skills before trying to target more competitive terms.
It’s better to rank for 10 easy keywords than to fail at ranking for 1 hard keyword.
Best Practices For Keyword Success
| Practice | How To Do It |
|---|---|
| Use Keywords Naturally | Include them in titles and content without forcing them |
| Focus On User Intent | Write content that answers what people really want to know |
| Target One Main Keyword Per Page | Don’t try to rank for too many terms on one page |
| Include Related Terms | Use similar keywords to show search engines your topic |
| Update Content Regularly | Keep your pages fresh with new information |
| Track Your Results | Monitor which keywords bring the most traffic |
Remember that search engines want to show users the most helpful content.
Focus more on being useful than on perfect keyword placement.
Common Mistakes To Avoid With Easy Keywords
Many people pick keywords that are too broad or don’t match what their website offers.
Another mistake is targeting keywords with zero search volume – even low competition doesn’t help if nobody searches for the term.
Don’t stuff too many keywords into one piece of content as this can hurt your rankings.
Also avoid picking keywords just because they’re easy if they don’t relate to your business goals.
Frequently Asked Questions About Low Competition Keywords
How Many Monthly Searches Should A Low Competition Keyword Have?
Look for keywords with at least 50-100 monthly searches to start.
Very new websites can succeed with even lower volumes if the competition is very weak.
How Long Does It Take To Rank For These Keywords?
Most low competition keywords can rank within 2-8 weeks if you create good content.
Brand new websites might take 3-6 months to build enough trust with search engines.
Should I Only Target Low Competition Terms?
Start with easy keywords to build your site’s authority first.
Once you rank for several easy terms, you can try targeting more competitive keywords.
What Tools Help Find Low Competition Keywords?
Google Keyword Planner is free and shows competition levels for any keyword.
Other helpful free tools include Google Trends and Answer The Public for finding question-based keywords.
Success with low competition keywords comes from finding the sweet spot between search volume and competition level, then creating genuinely helpful content around those terms.
Different Types Of Low Competition Search Terms
Long-tail keywords are phrases with 3 or more words that are very specific.
Local keywords include geographic terms like city names or “near me” phrases.
Question keywords start with words like “how,” “what,” “where,” or “why.”
Product-specific keywords include model numbers, colors, or exact features that fewer sites target.
How To Create Content Around Easy Keywords
Start by understanding what people really want to know when they search for your keyword.
Write content that fully answers their question or solves their problem.
Use your main keyword in the title and naturally throughout the content.
Include related keywords and synonyms to show search engines your content covers the topic completely.
Measuring Success With Your Keyword Strategy
Track your search engine rankings for each keyword you target using free tools like Google Search Console.
Monitor the amount of traffic coming to your website from search engines each month.
Pay attention to which keywords bring visitors who stay on your site longer or take action.
Data shows that pages ranking in the top 3 positions get 75% of all clicks for any given search term.
Building Long-Term Success With Keyword Research
Start with 10-20 low competition keywords and create great content for each one.
Once you rank for these terms, look for slightly more competitive keywords in the same topic areas.
Keep adding new content targeting easy keywords to steadily grow your website’s authority.
The goal is to become known as an expert in your field by ranking for many related search terms.
Advanced Tips For Keyword Competition Analysis
Look at the websites currently ranking on page one for your target keyword.
If you see mostly big brand websites, that keyword is probably too competitive to start with.
Check how much content those top-ranking pages have and aim to create something even more helpful.
Focus on keywords where you see smaller websites or forum posts ranking on the first page.
Local Business Keyword Strategies
Local businesses have a big advantage with location-based keywords that bigger companies often ignore.
Target keywords that include your city, neighborhood, or nearby landmarks.
Service-based businesses can target terms like “plumber in [city name]” or “best pizza near [landmark].”
These keywords often have lower search volume but bring customers who are ready to buy.
Seasonal And Trending Low Competition Keywords
Some keywords become easier to rank for during certain times of the year.
Holiday-related terms often have low competition outside of their main season.
Trending topics create new keywords before big websites notice them.
Use Google Trends to spot keywords that are growing in popularity but still have manageable competition.
Tools And Resources For Keyword Research
If you need help finding and tracking low competition keywords, AutoPageRank offers keyword research features that can identify easier ranking opportunities.
The tool helps you discover keywords your competitors might be missing and track your progress over time.
Getting Started With Your Low Competition Keyword Strategy
Pick one topic you know well and find 5 low competition keywords related to that topic.
Create helpful content for each keyword and publish it on your website.
Track your results and build on what works best for your specific situation.
