How to Find Low-Competition Keywords

Trying to rank for a broad keyword can feel like showing up to a marathon after everyone else has already crossed the finish line.

If your website is new or still building authority, targeting highly competitive keywords from the beginning can make SEO unnecessarily difficult.

A smarter approach is to find low-competition keywords—search terms where the existing results leave you with a realistic opportunity to compete.

But there’s an important catch:

A low keyword difficulty score does not automatically mean a keyword has low competition.

Keyword tools can help you find opportunities, but the Google SERP is where you verify them.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to find low-competition keywords, evaluate the actual search results, identify weak competitors, spot content gaps, and decide whether a keyword is worth targeting.

This guide explains How to Find Low-Competition Keywords by combining keyword research, SERP analysis, competitor evaluation, and content-gap analysis.
If you’re unsure which keywords to target, follow this beginner-friendly keyword research process for SEO writing.

What Are Low-Competition Keywords?

Low-competition keywords are search terms where the current Google search results have relatively manageable competition, giving a relevant website a realistic opportunity to rank.

They often have one or more favorable signals, such as:

• Smaller websites ranking
• Weak or outdated content
• Poorly matched search intent
• Thin content
• Unanswered questions
• Limited topical coverage
• Long-tail and specific search queries

However, low competition does not mean zero competition.

You are still competing with other pages. The goal is to find a SERP where your website can realistically provide a better and more useful result.

Low Competition vs. Low Search Volume

These terms are related, but they are not the same.

Actionable tip: Don’t choose a keyword simply because nobody else seems interested in it. You want a combination of low competition + relevance + useful search intent + reasonable demand.

Understanding How to Find Low-Competition Keywords starts with recognizing that low competition is about the strength of the current search results, not simply the number shown by a keyword tool.

Low Keyword Difficulty vs. Actual SERP Competition

This is where many beginners go wrong.

A keyword research tool may show a low keyword difficulty (KD) score. That can be a useful signal, but it shouldn’t be your final decision.

Different SEO tools calculate keyword difficulty using their own methodologies, so the number isn’t a universal Google ranking score.

Why KD Alone Isn’t Enough

Imagine you find a keyword with a low difficulty score.

You search it on Google and discover that the top results are:

• Highly authoritative websites
• Comprehensive articles
• Strongly relevant pages
• Well-established domains
• Pages with strong backlink profiles

Would you still call that keyword easy?

Probably not.

That’s why your workflow should be:

Keyword tool → shortlist → Google SERP → final decision

What Should You Check?

The key lesson: KD helps you filter keywords. SERP analysis helps you validate them. This distinction is essential when learning How to Find Low-Competition Keywords, because a low KD score can still hide a highly competitive SERP.

How to Find Low-Competition Keywords Step by Step

Now let’s get to the practical part.

Step 1: Start With a Relevant Seed Topic

Begin with a topic closely related to your website.

For a practical SEO writing website, possible seed topics could include:

• SEO writing
• keyword research
• search intent
• blog writing
• on-page SEO
• content optimization

A seed keyword is simply a starting point for generating more specific keyword variations.

You don’t need to find the perfect keyword at this stage.

You need a relevant topic from which you can discover opportunities.

Internal link opportunity: Link the phrase complete keyword research process to your upcoming pillar, Keyword Research for SEO Writing, once that pillar is published.

Step 2: Find Keyword Ideas and Long-Tail Variations

Once you have a seed topic, expand it into more specific searches. If you’re learning How to Find Low-Competition Keywords, start by expanding a relevant seed topic into specific and long-tail search queries.
How to find long-tail keywords for blog posts guide shows you how to evaluate long-tail keywords and turn them into focused blog topics.

You can use:

• Google Autocomplete
• People Also Ask
• Related Searches
• Keyword research tools
• Competitor articles
• Google Search Console
• Search suggestions

For example:

Seed keyword:
keyword research

↓

More specific:
keyword research for blogs

↓

Long-tail:
how to find low-competition keywords for blog posts

The more specific query may have a clearer search intent and potentially more manageable competition.

But remember:

Long-tail doesn’t automatically mean low competition.

You still need to validate the SERP. For a deeper look at finding and evaluating keyword opportunities, explore this practical keyword research guide from Backlinko.

Step 3: Use Keyword Difficulty as a Filter

Now use an SEO tool to narrow your list.

Look for keywords with a difficulty level that appears realistic for your website.

But don’t blindly follow a rule like:

“Only target keywords below KD 10.”

There is no single KD number that guarantees a ranking.

Instead, use difficulty to create a shortlist.

For example:

The important part comes next.

Step 4: Analyze the Google SERP Manually

This is the most important step in the entire process. The most reliable way to understand How to Find Low-Competition Keywords is to examine the actual pages ranking for your target query.

Search your keyword on Google and examine the pages that currently rank.

Don’t just look at the blue links.

Ask:

Are Small Websites Ranking?

If smaller or less-established websites appear among the top results, that’s potentially encouraging.

It suggests the SERP isn’t completely dominated by massive authoritative domains.

Is the Existing Content Weak?

Look for:

• Thin explanations
• Outdated information
• Poor structure
• Missing examples
• Generic advice
• Unanswered questions
• Weak introductions
• Poorly organized information

Weak content can indicate an opportunity—but only if you can genuinely create something better.

Does the Content Match Search Intent?

Look at the top-ranking pages.

Do they actually answer the query?

If the searcher wants a step-by-step guide but several results provide only basic definitions, there may be an opportunity to satisfy the intent more completely.

Before deciding whether a keyword is worth targeting, learn how to identify user intent in SEO so you can determine whether the ranking pages actually satisfy what searchers are looking for.

Are There Content Gaps?

Ask:

What are these pages failing to explain?

For example:

This is where your content can become more useful than simply being longer.

Step 5: Check Competitor Strength and Content Gaps

Now look beyond the keyword itself.

Your competitors’ pages matter more than the keyword’s difficulty score alone.

Look at:

• Website authority
• Topical relevance
• Backlink strength
• Content depth
• Content freshness
• Search-intent match
• Overall usefulness

Strong Competition

A SERP may be difficult when most results are:

• Highly authoritative
• Extremely relevant
• Comprehensive
• Well-established
• Supported by strong backlinks

Potentially Weaker Competition

A SERP may offer a better opportunity when you see:

• Smaller niche websites
• Thin content
• Outdated articles
• Poorly matched content
• Weak page structure
• Missing information
• Forums or user-generated results
• Obvious content gaps

None of these signals guarantees a ranking.

They simply help you determine whether the opportunity is worth investigating. When you find a content gap, use it to create helpful, reliable, people-first content that provides more value than the existing results.
Knowing How to Find Low-Competition Keywords also means looking for opportunities where existing pages leave important questions unanswered.

How to Validate a Keyword Before Writing

Before opening your WordPress editor, run this final check.

1. Relevance

Does the keyword directly fit your website?

2. Search Intent

Can you create the type of content Google appears to prefer?

3. Competition

Do the current ranking pages look realistically beatable?

4. Search Demand

Is there enough potential interest to justify creating the article?

5. Content Gap

Can you provide information competitors are missing?

6. Website Fit

Does the topic fit your existing topical coverage and expertise?

If you can answer yes to most of these questions, the keyword deserves serious consideration. This final validation step makes How to Find Low-Competition Keywords a practical decision-making process rather than a simple search for low KD scores.

Common Mistakes Beginners Make

1. Choosing a Keyword Only Because KD Is Low

A low score is a starting signal—not a ranking guarantee.

Always inspect the SERP.

2. Ignoring Search Intent

If Google expects a tutorial and you publish a short definition, low competition won’t save the article.

3. Chasing Extremely Low Search Volume

Easy to rank doesn’t necessarily mean valuable.

A keyword should still have meaningful relevance and potential.

4. Assuming Every Long-Tail Keyword Is Easy

Long-tail keywords are often more specific, but they can still have strong competition.

Check the actual results.

5. Ignoring Competitor Weakness

Don’t just count how many competitors exist.

Study how well they answer the query.

6. Choosing Irrelevant Keywords

A keyword can look incredibly easy and still be useless if it doesn’t fit your website.

Low-Competition Keyword Research Checklist

Before targeting a keyword, ask:

• Is it relevant to my niche?
• Is the search intent clear?
• Is the difficulty realistic?
• Does the keyword have useful search demand?
• Did I check the actual Google SERP?
• Are smaller or weaker websites ranking?
• Are there outdated or thin pages?
• Can I identify a genuine content gap?
• Can my website realistically compete?
• Can I create a significantly more useful answer?

If most boxes are checked, you may have a genuine ranking opportunity.
Finding a low-competition keyword is only the first step. You also need to evaluate whether it is relevant to your topic and search intent before you choose the right keyword for a blog post.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are low-competition keywords?

Low-competition keywords are search terms where the existing search results present relatively manageable competition. They may have smaller websites, weaker content, outdated pages, or other gaps that create a realistic opportunity for a relevant website to compete.

How do I find low-competition keywords?

Start with a relevant seed topic, generate keyword variations, check search intent, use keyword difficulty to filter candidates, and then manually analyze the Google SERP. Look for weaker competitors, content gaps, outdated pages, and realistic opportunities before choosing the keyword.

What is a good keyword difficulty for a new website?

There is no universal KD number that guarantees an easy ranking. Different SEO tools calculate difficulty differently. For a new website, use KD as an initial filter and then evaluate the actual SERP, competitor strength, search intent, and your site’s topical relevance.

Are long-tail keywords easier to rank for?

Long-tail keywords are often more specific and may have less competition than broad terms, but this isn’t guaranteed. Always check the keyword difficulty and actual Google results before assuming a long-tail keyword is easy to rank for.

Can I find low-competition keywords without paid tools?

Yes. You can use Google Autocomplete, People Also Ask, Related Searches, Google Search Console, competitor research, and manual SERP analysis to discover and evaluate keyword opportunities without relying entirely on paid SEO tools.

Final Takeaway: Don’t Chase the Lowest KD

The process of How to Find Low-Competition Keywords is not about finding the lowest possible KD score. It’s about identifying relevant opportunities where your website can realistically compete.

Finding low-competition keywords isn’t about discovering a magical list of keywords with a tiny difficulty score.

It’s about finding relevant opportunities where your website can realistically compete.

Use keyword tools to discover and filter ideas, but let the SERP guide your final decision.

Remember the process:

Find → Filter → Inspect → Validate → Target

The most important question isn’t:

“Does this keyword have low difficulty?”

It’s:

“Can I create a better, more useful result than the pages currently ranking?”

If the answer is yes—and the keyword is relevant, valuable, and realistically competitive—you may have found a keyword worth targeting.