How to Find Low Competition Keywords Effectively & Efficiently

How to find low-competition keywords is a pressing question that SEO professionals and content marketers focus on to save time, effort, and budget. Low-competition keywords help you rank  more easily in SERPs, drive targeted traffic, and ultimately lead to quicker conversions. 

In this blog post, you’ll learn about what low-competition keywords are, how to find them, and why they matter for your SEO strategy. And, how to outrank your competitors in multiple niches. 

So, let’s dive right in!

What Are Low Competition Keywords?

Low-competition keywords are search terms that relatively fewer websites or web pages compete to rank for on search engine results pages (SERP). It’s generally easier, and faster, to secure a high ranking. 

By finding low-competition keywords, small and medium-sized websites can stand out in niche areas, drive organic traffic, and even capture untapped audiences, if they optimize correctly.

Here’s an example:

• High competition keyword: “Best credit cards” – Millions of pages are targeting this high-level term.
• Low competition keyword: “Best credit cards for college students with no credit history” – Fewer pages target this long-tail keyword, making it easier to compete and rank for. 

Although fewer people might enter the exact keyword into a search engine, those who do are generally more invested in your particular solution. Consequently, you have a stronger likelihood of drawing in visitors who are more inclined to become your customers. 

How to Find Low Competition Keywords

There are a handful of ways and multiple tools to find low competition keywords. Depending on your ease of use and preference, you can choose your tool or method. However, regardless of what you choose, you must set up an SEO strategy first. 

그만큼 SEO strategy will help you establish a roadmap and contingency plans to improve your SERP presence. 

1. Setting Up Low Competition SEO Strategies

Every successful low-competition keyword campaign starts with a solid strategy. Before utilizing the tools, you need to define your objectives, understand your audience, and outline how you plan to attract them with targeted search terms.

Identify Your Niche Focus

Jot down your primary niche category (e.g., “AI SEO Tool”) and list out the core topics you want to cover (e.g., AI SEO tool features, AI SEO tool benefits, AI SEO drawbacks). This helps you set limits targeting overly broad or irrelevant keywords.

Establish Clear Goals

Decide whether you want to improve brand visibility, drive immediate product sales, or capture leads. These objectives will influence which type of low-competition keywords you prioritize—long-tail (informational) or more transactional queries.

Examples of informational intent long-tail keywords would be “how to use AI SEO Tools”. On the other hand, transactional keyphrases could be “top AI tools to purchase”. 

Set Up Your Content Calendar

Once you know the topics and goals, align them with an editorial calendar. For instance, if you’re focusing on “AI SEO ,” plan blog posts around different relevant topics: free ai tools, ai seo tips, etc.

Make sure to have a number of posts per month and platforms you will share to list in your content calendar with the main keyword(s). 

Begin Keyword Brainstorming

List down questions or phrases that your target audience might search for. Don’t worry about competition or search volume yet; simply capture as many ideas as possible.

At this stage, you have a blueprint for how to integrate low-competition keywords into your site. Next comes the hands-on part: using tools like GetGenie 또는 KWFinder to find and analyze those valuable search terms.

2. Crafting Long-Tail Keyword Ideas

롱테일 키워드 are longer, more specific phrases (e.g., “how to bake vegan chocolate cookies without sugar”). Because they’re highly targeted, they typically have lower competition and attract users who are closer to taking action.

Brainstorm Niche-Specific Phrases

With a tool like GetGenie or KWFinder, you can type in a broad keyword (e.g., “ai seo tool”). The tool will generate a list of related suggestions, often including long-tail variations you might not have thought of.

For the above broad keyword, some results that both GetGenie and KWFinder suggested were:

• ai seo content writing
• best ai seo software
• seo ai generator
• ai seo content generator

Evaluate Keyword Difficulty

키워드 난이도 (abbreviated as KD) offers a key metric to analysts for assessing how difficult a keyword is to rank for. It is usually a color-coded metric ranging from low to high in tools like SEMRush, Ahrefs, KWFinder, etc. 

You should focus on long-tail keywords showing low or moderate difficulty (e.g., KD < 35), indicating they’re easier to rank for.

For instance, for the AI SEO keyword, a relatively low difficult secondary keyword is “best ai seo software” in the US region, as shown by KWFinder. 

Filter by Search Volume

Check the monthly search volume of the suggested keywords. Pick phrases with a decent volume (e.g., 100–1,000 searches/month) but are still relatively low in competition. This sweet spot is your gold mine for easy wins.

When checking with GetGenie, “best ai seo software” shows a search volume of 1.79k which is a relatively good search volume. And with a KD of 28, the keyword could be  a great option for you. 

However, you cannot still call it a low competition keyword, because it is not too specific to a niche audience looking to perform a particular action (e.g., buy or purchase an ai tool for a specific need).

Look at SERP Analysis

Click on any keyword to see a detailed SERP (Search Engine Results Page) analysis: top-ranking pages, their domain authority, backlinks, etc. If you see lower-authority sites ranking, it’s an excellent sign you can compete for that long-tail phrase.

AI-assistants like GetGenie lets you do detailed 경쟁사 분석 which shows you data and content-related details of your competitors. You can check out which particular low competition keyword your competitors are targeting, helping you set a key aspect of your SEO strategy.

3. Doing Competitive Keyword Analysis

Competitive analysis involves identifying what your rivals are ranking for and pinpointing gaps you can fill.

Enter Competitor Domains

In this step, you will search and identify competitor strategies by domain. With a free tool like KWFinder, you can enter a competitor’s website to see which keywords they rank for, along with difficulty scores and search volume. Then, you can take note of any keywords that align with your niche but have lower competition.

Compare SERP Rankings

For each keyword, a SERP analyzer or checker shows you how well a competitor’s page is optimized, including title tags, backlinks, and page authority. Use this intel to measure how much effort it would take to outrank them.

GetGenie’s SERP Visualizer and H2H Analysis helps you with just that as shown below: 

Identify Content Gaps

Another crucial thing you have to do is look for keywords your competitor ranks for that you haven’t covered yet. Especially note those with lower keyword difficulty scores. These represent quick wins where you can develop better or more in-depth content.

Refine Your Target Keyword List

Once you have identified 5–10 promising keywords, add them to a list. It could be within the tool or export them for more in-depth analysis. Make sure the curated set of keywords are low-competition terms worth pursuing. 

These keywords could be based on a particular location like “best AI software firms in New York”. They may also be based for a particular group like “best AI writing tool for college students”. These can also be question-based like “ what is the best ai tool for long-term use?”

Leveraging SERP analysis features helps you systematically uncover keywords that your competitors haven’t fully optimized—or that you can surpass with well-crafted, comprehensive content.

👉 Explore SERP Analysis with GetGenie to Boost Your Ranking 👈

4. Finding Untapped Keywords

활용되지 않은 키워드 are those search terms that people look for but that few websites thoroughly address. Capturing these queries before they become mainstream can significantly boost your traffic and authority. 

와 함께 KWFinder, you can utilize its “autocomplete” function that taps into Google’s autocomplete data. You can also click on the “Questions” filter to find question-based keywords like “how to…,” “why…,” or “can I…,” which often have lower competition.

당신은 또한 수 type in a broader topic (e.g., “gluten-free baking tips”) and check out the the suggested subtopics. Sometimes you’ll find lesser-known but fast-rising trends (e.g., “keto-friendly gluten-free breads”).

While KWFinder can be a go-to tool, briefly check search interest on Google Trends. If interest in a keyword is growing but competition is still low, you’ve found a genuine gem.

5. Ensuring Niche Keyword Selection

Niche keywords narrow your focus within a broader category. They help you become the “go-to” authority in a specialized segment of your market.

Filter by Location

If your business targets specific regions, you can specify location settings in tools like KWFinder or SEMRush. Location-based keywords have significantly lower competition, making them ideal for local SEO campaigns.

For instance, jotting down keywords like “most popular AI SEO tools in Boston” narrows your search down to the Boston region with less competition from other generic searches. 

Prioritize Buyer Personas

Align your keyword list with your buyer personas. For example, if “budget-conscious families” are a core audience, look for “cost-effective AI SEO tools in Boston” keywords in your preferred tool. This lets you extract data about your niche audience only, helping in presenting low competition keywords. 

Check Keyword Intent

Ahrefs, SEMRush, or KWFinder’s SERP data can also reveal user intent. Are search results primarily “how-to” guides (informational) or product pages (transactional)? Ensure the keywords match the content type you plan to create.

For example, when you look at the following search results for “best ai seo tools”, you can derive  what the users are searching for:

You can see that all four have some commercial intent to them as they are either a landing page or listicle article comparing multiple tools. 

Create Content Clusters

Group similar keywords together. For instance, if you find four different low-competition keywords all related to “free ai seo tools,” create a content cluster (articles, guides, checklists) that all link to each other. This structure boosts your site’s topical authority in that niche.

By selecting niche keywords relevant to your location, audience demographics, and content goals, you carve out a unique SEO space where you can flourish without directly battling well-established brands on overly broad search terms.

Benefits of Finding Low Competition Keywords

✅ Faster Ranking
When you target low-competition keywords, you’re going head-to-head with fewer sites trying to rank for the same term. This reduced competition often leads to quicker visibility in search engine results pages. In practical terms, your content can climb the rankings more rapidly, allowing you to reap the benefits of organic traffic much sooner than if you were fighting for a spot in a crowded market.

✅ Targeted Traffic
Low-competition keywords are usually more specific—often referred to as long-tail keywords. Because these queries reflect particular questions or needs, the users typing them in are already closer to making a decision or purchase. By aligning your content with these precise keywords, you attract visitors who are more likely to engage with your brand and appreciate the targeted information you provide, increasing the likelihood they’ll take the next step.

✅ Lower Costs
If you’re running pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns, choosing low-competition keywords can mean a significantly lower 클릭당비용(CPC). With fewer advertisers bidding on the same terms, you won’t have to outbid as many competitors, allowing you to stretch your marketing budget further and potentially see a better 투자수익률(ROI).

✅ 더 높은 전환율
Because low-competition, long-tail keywords tend to be highly specific, they match user intent more accurately. This relevance means people arriving on your site are looking for exactly what you offer. As a result, they’re more likely to engage with your content, subscribe to your newsletter, or make a purchase, thus boosting your overall conversion rates.

Bonus: Keyword Research Tips

• ➡️ Use the Right Tools: Make sure to do research about the tool you will use for low competition keywords. You should find out which tool has the features to help you in regard to finding out keywords. 
• ➡️ Use Filters: When you generate a list of keywords, filter by metrics like low difficulty, search volume, and user intent to find the golden opportunities.
• ➡️ Check SERP Intent: Make sure the keyword’s SERP results match the content you plan to create. If Google shows product pages but you want to write a blog post, that mismatch can lower your ranking potential.
• ➡️ Stay Updated: Keyword trends and competitor strategies change. Regularly audit your keyword list to keep your strategy fresh.

요약

Finding low-competition keywords are a strategic way to elevate your content and webpages’ visibility and authority without facing the steep uphill climb of hyper-competitive search terms. By focusing on specific, user-driven queries and using the right tools you can find those hidden gems that deliver steady, quality traffic. 

Take the time to research effectively, produce high-value content, and stay agile. With the right approach, you’ll see substantial gains in SEO performance and 리드 생성—even if you’re just starting out. Start implementing these strategies today, and watch your content climb the SERPs!