How to Find Low Competition Keywords: A Beginner’s Guide

If you’re creating content for your website, your first instinct might be to target the most popular keywords in your industry. After all, everyone’s searching for them, right?

However, you’re likely to get a better outcome if you do the opposite and find low competition keywords — phrases with decent popularity that are covered by fewer competitors. 

These low competition keywords give you a better chance to rank and attract organic traffic, especially if your website is new or has lower authority. The catch? Everyone’s looking for them and they are not easy to find.

Let’s tackle this. In this guide, I’ll discuss how to find low competition keywords using five strategies that I use for my own keyword research. 

But first, let’s understand exactly what these keywords are.

What Are Low-Competition Keywords?

Low-competition keywords are search terms that have low to medium search volume but are targeted by very few websites. As a result, they give a much better chance at ranking in SERPs compared to other highly competitive keywords, especially for newer websites.

These keywords usually either cover new trends or are long-tail phrases or questions that are highly specific. 

For example, “skincare products” is a high competition keyword. It has a search volume of 74,000 and a keyword difficulty of 52, meaning a lot of people search for it and a lot of websites have already covered it.

However, change it to a more specific keyword “skincare for sensitive skin,” and you’ll see that the keyword difficulty has dropped to 8 while the search volume is low but decent at 3600.

Make it more specific with “skincare products for sensitive skin,” and you’ll find an opportunity with an even lower difficulty.

Though the search volume isn’t as high as the first keyword, attracting that smaller search volume is much easier with these low competition keywords, making them valuable for your SEO strategy.

But due to their easy to rank nature, low competition keywords are also highly sought after. It’s safe to say that once a competitor taps into a low competition keyword, other websites quickly follow, and it won’t be as easy to rank as before.

That’s why, you need to be quick in finding low competition keywords and use unconventional strategies to spot and use them before anyone does. And that’s what we’ll discuss going forward in this guide.

5 Strategies to Find Low-Competition Keywords

By definition, low competition keywords are keywords with a fair search volume and low keyword difficulty. But when you’re finding low competition keywords, those aren’t the only metrics to look at. 

In fact, keeping metrics aside, you need to strategically consider phrases, questions, and search terms that people might be using and then use a keyword research tool to verify them.

And there are multiple ways to do it. Here are some of my favorite ways to find low competition keywords:

1. Use Google Search as A Keyword Research Tool

Google itself is one of the best free keyword research tools — you just need to know where to look. The autocomplete suggestions, People Also Ask box, and People Also Search For queries at the bottom of the search results page are packed with keyword ideas based on real user queries.

To get started, just type in your product name, industry name, or any other seed keyword into Google search bar. It’ll display several long tail keywords that people actually search for as autocomplete suggestions.

Note these down and click Search. Once it displays the search results, scroll down to check for the “People Also Ask” section. 

These are questions that people actually search for and can be potential keywords. Clicking on any of these expands the list, revealing even more related questions. 

If you scroll further down the SERP, you can also see the People Also Search For section at the bottom of the page:

Once you get a good number of keywords, insert them in a tool like Keyword Researcher and check their search volume and difficulty. 

If a keyword has a difficulty of less than 30 and has some search volume, it’s a good low competition keyword. However, to be on the safer side, I recommend targeting keywords with a keyword difficulty of less than 10.

As a rule of thumb, the lower the keyword difficulty and the higher the search volume, the better when finding low competition keywords. 

2. Browse Reddit and Other Forums for Niche Keyword Ideas

Reddit, Quora, and niche forums are full of real people asking real questions — many of which haven’t been fully answered by major websites. That makes them a great place to find untapped keyword opportunities.

Start by searching for your topic on Reddit. Go through the questions and find keywords related to your niche. 

At the side, you can also find Communities related to your keyword. 

Join or browse any of these communities by clicking on them and you’ll find many more questions and phrases. These are direct questions people want answers to, which often translate into long-tail, low-competition keywords. 

Since many of these queries aren’t covered by high-authority sites, writing content around them can give you an edge.

Another method to check forums for low competition keywords is by using Google search operators to find discussions quickly. Just type: site:reddit.com “[keyword]” into Google’s search bar.

This pulls up relevant Reddit threads where people are talking about the topic. The same method works for Quora and other forums — just swap out the site name.

Once you’ve found potential keyword ideas, run them through the Keyword Researcher like in the first step. If they look promising, add them to your content plan.

3. Use Google Trends to Find Emerging Low-Competition Keywords

Google Trends is one of my favorite tools for spotting low-competition keywords. Unlike traditional keyword tools that show static search volumes, Google Trends reveals how interest in a keyword changes over time — helping you jump on rising trends early.

Open Google Trends and start by entering your seed keyword and click Explore.

You’ll see different types of data related to the keyword, including the interest over time and interest in subregions. 

Scroll down to the Related Topics and Related Queries sections, where Google suggests emerging searches. You will find rising queries related to your niche — keywords with lower competition but increasing interest.

Check these in the Keyword Researcher and see if they have good search volume and low difficulty. For example, here, the keyword “best skincare products for sensitive skin” has a 300% increase in searches.

A quick check in our Keyword Researcher reveals that it has a search volume of 5400 and a difficulty of just 6 — meaning this is a great low-competition keyword to capitalize on. 

4. Use Keyword Research Tools to Expand Your Keyword List

We’re already using a keyword research tool — Keyword Researcher — to check the keyword difficulty and search volume in the previous steps. 

However, you can also use this tool to discover low-competition keywords on its own. As always, start with the seed keyword and click on Identify Keywords.

Scroll down to the Related Terms section.

You’ll find a list of keywords related to the main topic, including long tail keywords.

Browse through the list, note down the long-tail keywords, and put them back through the tool to check their keyword difficulty. You can also check the Also Rank For and Competitor Keywords to identify keywords that your competitors rank for.

5. Let AI Find Low-Competition Keywords

All the methods mentioned above are very helpful in finding low competition keywords. The only downside is that they are tedious, time consuming, and can be a little confusing, especially for a beginner.

If you want a simpler and faster way to find low-competition keywords, use AI. ChatGPT is a good tool to begin with. Just give it a simple ChatGPT prompt with your seed keyword, like:

Within seconds, you’ll get a broad list of keyword ideas. While this is a good start, there’s a major drawback: ChatGPT isn’t designed for keyword research. 

It doesn’t provide search volume, difficulty, or real-time data. Plus, it can hallucinate, i.e., generate keywords that aren’t actually being searched, making it unreliable for strategic keyword research.

If you want to use AI to find low competition keywords, use a tool like SEO AI Agent which is made for keyword research and other SEO processes.

You can use it just like ChatGPT. Enter the same prompt as above and click on Send. 

You’ll get a well-researched report of all the low-competition keywords, along with their search volume, keyword difficulty, and also suggestions on how to best use them.

The SEO AI Agent connects with the necessary tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, and Writesonic to do the keyword research for you. It can also consider platforms like Reddit and Google Trends to find those low competition keywords before your competitors do.

In fact, it can also find hidden opportunities from platforms that you wouldn’t have thought of manually. 

Now that you know how to find low competition keywords in multiple ways, it’s time to create content using them to drive organic traffic. 

However, while it’s important to focus on low competition keywords, what about high competition keywords?

Should You Ignore High-Competition Keywords?

Not necessarily. While low-competition keywords are easier to rank for, high-competition keywords still have value — if approached strategically.

High-competition keywords often indicate strong demand. If you can rank for them, they can drive massive traffic to your site. But since big brands and high-authority sites dominate these keywords, outranking them with a new website is challenging.

So, what’s the best approach?

Instead of completely ignoring high-competition keywords, use them as inspiration. Look for long-tail variations that are more specific and easier to rank for. For example, instead of targeting “best sunscreen,” you might go for “best sunscreen for acne-prone skin under $20.” This way, you still tap into the search demand without competing directly with industry giants.

Another strategy is to create in-depth, high-quality content around high-competition keywords. Google often ranks well-researched, expert-driven content even if the site isn’t as authoritative. If your content provides unique insights or a fresh angle, you might still rank over time — especially if you also optimize for lower-competition keywords in the process.

Tips to Include Low-Competition Keywords in Your Content

Low-competition keywords require a different approach than high-volume, competitive ones. Since they often have fewer searches and less direct competition, your goal is to capture niche search intent effectively and maximize visibility. Here’s how:

1. Target Multiple Variations in a Single Article: Instead of optimizing for just one keyword, group closely related low-competition terms in a single piece to create a topic cluster. 

For example, if “best face serum for rosacea” has low competition, also include variations like “top serums for sensitive skin with rosacea” or “rosacea-friendly hydrating serums” within the content. 

This helps you rank for multiple search queries at once.

2. Go Long-Tail and Specific in Headings: Unlike high-competition keywords, which work best in short, broad titles, low-competition keywords should be placed in detailed, intent-driven headings. 

Instead of “Best Sunscreens,” try “Best Mineral Sunscreens for Acne-Prone Skin in Humid Weather.” This ensures higher ranking chances even with low authority.

3. Use Low-Competition Keywords in Answer Format: Many low-competition keywords come in the form of questions or detailed queries. Format your content in FAQ style or direct answer format to increase the chance of ranking in featured snippets and voice search. 

Example: If your keyword is “Does aloe vera reduce acne scars?” start a section with:
“Yes, aloe vera can help fade acne scars due to its natural healing properties. Here’s how…”

4. Prioritize Context Over Keyword Density: Since low-competition keywords often lack exact-match optimized content, Google prioritizes well-explained, contextually relevant articles over exact keyword matching. Instead of forcing the keyword multiple times, focus on writing in-depth, useful content that fully answers the search intent.
   
5. Internal Link Strategically to High-Traffic Pages: Since low-competition pages don’t get as much organic exposure, boost them by linking from your higher-traffic pages. 

Example: If your main blog post on “Best Skincare for Acne” is ranking well, link to your new low-competition keyword article using anchor text like “Check out our detailed guide on calming acne redness overnight.”

Final Thoughts: Streamline Your Keyword Research with Chatsonic

By now, you must have understood how to find low competition keywords and how to use them in your content. Reddit, Google Trends, and Google Search itself are good platforms to find low competition keywords.

However, if you want an easier and more reliable way, it’s best to use SEO AI Agent. The SEO AI Agent is connected to all the necessary SEO tools — from Ahrefs to Semrush. It conducts the necessary keyword research steps, whether it is finding keywords or discovering topic ideas, and give you a detailed report with actionable suggestions.

With the SEO AI Agent, targeting low competition keywords before your competitors do, won’t be a task anymore.

Ready to find low competition keywords? Sign up for SEO AI Agent for free!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why should I focus on low-competition keywords?

Low-competition keywords give you a much better chance of ranking faster and with fewer backlinks. While high-volume keywords might seem appealing, they are usually dominated by big brands and authoritative sites. Targeting low-competition keywords allows you to gain organic traffic without needing a massive SEO budget or years of domain authority.

2. How do I know if a keyword is truly low competition?

The best way to determine keyword competition is by using SEO tools like Writesonic’s Keyword Researcher. Look at metrics like keyword difficulty, domain authority of ranking pages, and backlink count. If the top-ranking pages are from smaller websites with few backlinks, it’s a strong indicator that you can rank with well-optimized content.

3. Can I rank for low-competition keywords without backlinks?

Yes, you can! Unlike high-competition keywords that require strong backlink profiles, low-competition keywords often allow you to rank with well-structured, high-quality content alone. However, adding internal links and gaining a few niche-relevant backlinks can still help boost your rankings.

Niyati Mahale

Niyati Mahale is a Content Writer @Writesonic. She specializes in artificial intelligence and B2B, with a flair for combining effective storytelling and SEO best practices to create impactful content.