How to Find Low Competition Keywords (Step-by-Step Guide)

Why Low Competition Keywords Matter

Low competition keywords are your secret weapon in SEO. They allow you to:

• Rank faster (weeks instead of months)
• Drive targeted, high-intent traffic
• Build domain authority gradually
• Generate conversions without massive budgets

What Makes a Keyword "Low Competition"?

A low competition keyword typically has:

✅ Keyword Difficulty (KD) under 30
✅ Established but not dominant competitors
✅ Content gaps in top results
✅ Specific, niche-focused intent
✅ Decent search volume (50+ monthly searches)

Step-by-Step: Finding Low Competition Keywords

Step 1: Start with Seed Keywords

Brainstorm 10-20 broad terms related to your niche. For example, if you're in fitness:

• "weight loss"
• "muscle building"
• "home workouts"
• "nutrition tips"

Step 2: Generate Long-Tail Variations

Use autocomplete tools (like Keyora!) to find specific queries:

"weight loss" →
- "weight loss for women over 40"
- "weight loss meal prep for beginners"
- "weight loss without exercise"
- "weight loss plateaus how to break"

These long-tail variations are often less competitive.

Step 3: Analyze Competition

For each keyword, check:

1. Domain Authority of top 10 results
- Are they all major brands (Forbes, Healthline)?
- Or are there smaller blogs and niche sites?

2. Content quality of page 1
- Are the articles comprehensive and well-researched?
- Or thin and outdated?

3. Backlink profiles
- Do top pages have hundreds of backlinks?
- Or very few?

4. Search intent match
- Do current results perfectly match user intent?
- Or is there a gap you can fill?

Step 4: Use the "Allintitle" Trick

Search Google with: `allintitle:"your keyword"`

This shows how many pages have the exact keyword in their title.

• Under 100 results: Very low competition
• 100-1000 results: Low competition
• 1000-10000 results: Medium competition
• 10000+ results: High competition

Step 5: Check Forum Results

If Reddit, Quora, or forums appear on page 1, it's a goldmine! These indicate:
- Google couldn't find good dedicated content
- Users are seeking answers
- Opportunity to create comprehensive content

Advanced Strategies

Strategy 1: Keyword Gaps

Analyze your competitors' rankings and find keywords they're NOT targeting. Tools like Keyora can help identify these gaps.

Strategy 2: "People Also Ask" Mining

Search your seed keyword and scroll to "People Also Ask" section. These questions often have:
- Lower competition
- High user intent
- Easy content opportunities

Strategy 3: Related Searches

Check the "Related searches" section at the bottom of Google results. These often reveal untapped keyword opportunities.

Strategy 4: Seasonal Opportunities

Use Google Trends to find keywords with rising interest but not yet saturated competition.

Tools for Finding Low Competition Keywords

Free Tools:

Paid Tools:

Real Examples

Example 1: Fitness Niche

High Competition: "weight loss tips" (KD: 78)
Low Competition Alternative: "weight loss tips for busy moms" (KD: 22)

Example 2: Tech Niche

High Competition: "best laptops" (KD: 85)
Low Competition Alternative: "best laptops for coding students under $500" (KD: 18)

Example 3: Food Niche

High Competition: "healthy recipes" (KD: 72)
Low Competition Alternative: "healthy recipes for picky eaters" (KD: 25)

Common Mistakes

❌ Going too niche: Keywords with <10 monthly searches aren't worth the effort

❌ Ignoring commercial intent: Informational keywords are easier but may not convert

❌ Chasing trends: Viral keywords lose value quickly

Not validating search volume: Low competition means nothing if nobody searches for it

Action Plan

1. Week 1: Generate 50-100 keyword ideas using Keyora
2. Week 2: Analyze competition for each keyword
3. Week 3: Filter to 10-15 low competition, high value keywords
4. Week 4: Create content calendar and start producing

Pro Tips

💡 Target question keywords: "how to", "what is", "why does" often have lower competition

💡 Add modifiers: "best", "top", "for beginners", "under $X" reduce competition

💡 Think locally: "keyword + city" is often much easier to rank

💡 Use year: "best [product] 2026" captures fresh search intent

Conclusion

Finding low competition keywords is a skill that improves with practice. Start with the strategies above, use tools like Keyora to validate your ideas, and consistently create better content than what's currently ranking.

Remember: low competition doesn't mean no competition. You still need to create high-quality, comprehensive content that serves user intent better than existing results.

Ready to find low competition keywords? Start with Keyora's free tool →