How to Find Low-Competition Keywords in 2025

Finding Your SEO Sweet Spot

Are you writing website content but not seeing your site rise in the search engine results pages? If you’re running a new website or blog with lower authority, targeting popular keywords in your industry might seem logical—after all, everyone’s searching for them. But here’s the catch: those broad keywords are increasingly competitive in 2025, making ranking on the first page nearly an impossible task. The solution? Find low-competition keywords with decent popularity but fewer competitors. I’ve spent years helping new blogs gain traction, and I’ve found that these low-hanging keyword opportunities give you a better chance to rank and attract organic traffic in the short term.

The SEO keyword research process might seem daunting at first, but it’s actually quite simple with the right tools and understanding of your market. Rather than pursuing those highly competitive keywords (which is rarely possible for relatively unknown sites), targeting low-competition keywords gives you a leg up to build a stronger online presence. Through simple steps, you can secure these valuable keywords that actually help get visitors to your site. This approach is a great way of boosting organic traffic that doesn’t have to take forever—giving you the better outcome you’re looking for in your SEO strategy without waiting years to get noticed in Google’s search results.

Understanding Low-Competition Keywords:

Low-competition keywords are search terms with low to medium search volume that are targeted by few websites. These gems give newer websites a better chance at ranking in SERPs without battling established competitors. They typically cover new trends, long-tail phrases, or highly specific questions. For example, “skincare products” has 74,000 searches with a difficulty of 52, while “skincare for sensitive skin” dropped to just 8 with 3600 searches—making it much easier to rank for.

These keywords are valuable because you can rank without much effort or high website authority (Domain Rating). They’re a great opportunity for SEO purposes and Google Ads campaigns, helping you hit a traffic jackpot by targeting a bunch of smaller volume keywords. Your niche-oriented content can attract a precisely defined target audience further down the buying cycle. By delivering good answers to these search queries, you build credibility in Google’s eyes, eventually helping you rank for more competitive keywords with higher traffic volumes.

Why target low-competition keywords?

When I launched my first blog years ago, I quickly discovered what most new and smaller blogs learn the hard way: high-competition keywords are nearly impossible to rank for when you’re starting out. These lucrative terms are dominated by larger, established websites with higher domain authority. After months of struggle and minimal visibility, I shifted my strategy, and it transformed my results.

Focusing on low-competition keywords is a smart move that gives you a real fighting chance to appear on page one of search results. Instead of waiting months or years to see results, new bloggers start gaining traction sooner with quicker wins. This serves as a brilliant stepping stone strategy where as you rank for these terms, Google begins to trust your site, enabling you to target higher-volume, more competitive keywords in the future. The traffic potential is impressive too—I’ve found that ranking well for multiple low-volume keywords usually generates significantly more traffic than ranking badly for a few high-volume ones.

Also read: SEO Breakthrough: How to Elevate Your Search Rankings This Year

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6 Strategic Approach to Keyword Research

By definition, low-competition keywords are keywords with a fair search volume and low keyword difficulty. But when finding these valuable targets, successful SEO specialists don’t just look at standard metrics alone. Keeping metrics aside, you must strategically consider the phrases, questions, and search terms that real people are actually using online.

I’ve discovered multiple ways to identify these opportunities through years of content optimization—I’ll share my favorite ways to find thousands of potentially high-volume, low-competition keywords fast. Once you truly understand how these work, you’ll see how incredibly helpful they can be. Let’s dive into a practical step-by-step process you can follow today.

i- Smart Ways to Brainstorm Keyword Ideas:

To begin keyword research, always start with brainstorming. Think of broad themes around your blog’s niche. If you’re in the fitness niche, think of what your brand focuses on—maybe you’re offering training services, home workout tools, or fitness accessories. Or if you’re selling sports equipment, list related products like weightlifting gear, exercise machines, or gym gear. These are your first seed keywords—they form the basis for a strong keyword list. Just jot down whatever comes to mind—don’t overthink it.

Next, use Google. Type in your keywords and look at the People Also Ask (PAA) section. These PAA questions often reveal what real people use when searching. Add them to a spreadsheet to capture ideas and keep the process quicker and easier. I try to get a list of at least 100 potential keywords. Even if you’re targeting computers or fitness equipment, the goal is to find what your target audience is actually looking for.

There’s no need to collect a large number of random keywords. Focus on quality over quantity. A few selected, relevant terms like “gym gear,” “exercise machines,” or “macbook” can attract the right audience and help you expand your reach. Use this simple method to create a strong list without guessing exact phrases.

ii- Spy on Competitors to Build Smarter Keyword Lists:

One method I’ve used successfully is targeting the same keywords that competitors are already ranking for. This strategy lets you tap into proven markets where there’s existing demand but often less competition. Use keyword tools to check what’s working for others in your niche—especially newer sites with similar authority. You’ll often find terms with solid search volume but surprisingly low difficulty, which means you don’t need a high-authority site to start getting noticed in search results.

What’s great about this is you can fast-track your visibility by building content around terms that are already bringing in traffic elsewhere. The trick is to focus on a mix of high and low volume keywords, depending on your site’s size and goals. I like to prioritize terms that meet real demand and aren’t overly saturated. This gives you the best shot at better ranking—without wasting time on impossible targets.

iii- Expand your List with Keyword Research Tools:

Once you have a few seed term options, the next step is to plug them into a keyword research tool like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Ubersuggest. In Ahrefs, use the Keywords Explorer and check the Phrase match report to see detailed keyword ideas, including monthly search volumes, SEO metrics, and related terms. These tools help you discover both trending and established keywords, making it easier to focus on what your audience is actively looking for. To expand your list smartly, try the Keyword Magic Tool from Semrush, where you can set the KD % to a specific range, allowing you to filter out high-competition keywords and only adjust for those you can feasibly rank for. From search intent to volume, everything you need is there to build a complete keyword list that works.

iv- Check Keyword Difficulty Before You Choose:

Once you have a solid list of keywords, the next step is to run them through Ahrefs or Semrush or another trusted tool to check their Keyword Difficulty (KD) and Search Volume (SV). I usually type each search term into the tool, then note the score on a spreadsheet. This helps me identify which low-competition keywords offer a good chance to attract real visitors. A difficulty range of 0-10 is what I aim for early on. I tailor this based on my liking, depending on the topic and what kind of content or offerings I’m planning to publish.

To narrow down the options, I often filter keywords using a mix of parameters like search intent (such as transactional) or minimum number of words in the phrase to find long-tail keywords. For example, a phrase that consists of three or more words with a monthly search volume starting from 100, and a KD score under 30, is usually a winner. This method helps you find keywords that bring more value and are easier to rank for, even if your site is still growing.

v- Spot Emerging Trends with Google Trends:

To find fresh and low-competition keywords, I often use Google Trends because it shows how interest in a keyword changes over time, rather than just giving static search volumes like other keyword tools. This helps me spot rising trends and emerging, less-known terms that people are already talking about but that aren’t yet on my competitors’ radars. Targeting these early gives you a real chance to get ahead of the curve, even if they’re a bit challenging to discover. I’ve had success by checking where my audience spends time—forums, social media, and niche groups. I also read comments on YouTube videos and explore Q&A sites like Quora and Reddit, paying close attention to how users phrase their questions and explain their problems—these phrases often lead to untapped keyword ideas.

vi- Let AI Find Low-Competition Keywords:

Finding low-competition keywords manually can be slow and sometimes overwhelming, especially if you’re just starting out. That’s where AI tools like ChatGPT make things easier. By simply giving it a seed keyword and a clear prompt—for example, “List low-competition keywords ideas for a blog about healthy foods”—you can instantly generate a long list of potential terms to work with. This helps you discover content ideas without the heavy lifting. But keep in mind, while AI is fast, it’s not a complete keyword research tool. It doesn’t offer real-time data, exact search volumes, or difficulty scores, and it may sometimes hallucinate by suggesting keywords that aren’t actually being searched. So after getting ideas from AI, I always run them through tools like Ahrefs, Google Trends, or Ubersuggest to make sure the terms I’m targeting are real, relevant, and worth my time.

Now that you’ve learned several ways to find low-competition keywords, it’s time to put them to use and create content that drives organic traffic.

But, while focusing on low-competition keywords is essential, what should you do about high-competition keywords? 

Should You Ignore High-Competition Keywords?

While low-competition keywords are often easier to rank for, high-competition keywords shouldn’t be completely ignored. These keywords still have value because they reflect strong demand and can drive massive traffic to your site if approached strategically. Though it’s challenging to outrank big brands and high-authority sites, you can still find long-tail variations that are more specific and easier to rank for. For instance, instead of competing with industry giants on broad terms, target a more niche search demand. Another strategy is to create high-quality, in-depth content that offers unique insights or a fresh angle, which can help you rank even with a new website. Additionally, backlinks from credible sources and internal links to boost relevant pages can help build your site authority over time, especially using strategies like the Middleman Technique.

Looking Beyond the Basic Metrics:

While keyword difficulty and search volume are helpful starting points, they don’t tell the whole story. I’ve learned through years of SEO campaigns that additional metrics can reveal hidden opportunities or potential pitfalls that basic tools miss. For instance, some supposedly easy keywords with low difficulty scores are actually difficult to rank for, while certain seemingly competitive keywords might be well within reach of your website. This disconnect exists because Google uses hundreds of ranking signals that no third-party SEO tool can fully decrypt and compute into a truly accurate keyword difficulty metric.

The challenge is borderline impossible when you consider that many presumed ranking factors are mere speculation and have never been confirmed by Google itself. In my experience optimizing content across dozens of niches, there are crucial other factors you need to consider before targeting any keyword.

 Let’s go over these less obvious metrics:

i- Search Intent:

Even when you find keywords with low-difficulty scores, you might still struggle to rank for them if you’re not creating the right content that searchers are looking for. Through years of keyword research, I’ve found it’s worth looking beyond difficulty metrics to ensure the keywords you target make sense for the type of content you want to create. There are four broad types of search intent that shape how users interact with search results.

The main intent categories are: Informational (where the searcher wants information on a topic), Navigational (looking for a specific website), Commercial (researching a particular product or service but hasn’t made up their mind about which one to buy), and Transactional (looking to buy something immediately). You can determine which bucket your keyword falls into by examining keyword modifiers in the query—if it contains words like “buy” or “cheap,” it’s likely a transactional query; terms like “how,” “what,” or “where” signal informational content.

ii-Cost Per Click (CPC):

Even when a keyword has low competition and low search volumes, it can still be incredibly valuable if it shows a high CPC. I often look at the average cost per click to spot hidden gems, because when advertisers are willing to pay or even pay more for a term, it means it holds strong commercial value. From my experience, these keywords usually drive results better than you’d expect, since no one spends money on ads that don’t convert. That’s why I always use CPC as a key factor when hunting for untapped keyword opportunities.

iii- Website Authority and Keyword Competition:

When you’re trying to find low-competition keywords in 2025, one big thing to keep in mind is your website’s authority. SEO tools often use something called Domain Rating (DR), which scores your site on a scale from zero to one hundred, based on your backlink profile. From what I’ve seen, this score can make a big difference in rankings. For instance, the keyword “black sandals” shows a Keyword Difficulty score of just 1, but all the top-ranking pages come from sites with an average Domain Rating of 86, and the lowest DR is 76. So even though it seems like a low-competition keyword, it’s tough for a weaker website to compete. While Google (through John Mueller) has publicly stated that website authority is not a direct ranking factor, experience tells us that brand equity and backlinks still play a huge role in real results.

If you’re a small, mom and pop shoe store, a term like “black sandals” becomes a high-competition keyword because you’re not on the same playing field as the big brands that dominate the SERP. This is where many SEO professionals get it wrong by chasing keywords that look easy just because of a tool’s score. But ranking difficulty is relative—what’s easy for Target might be out of reach for someone just starting out. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible to outrank the big guns, but it’s definitely harder. If you’re a less authoritative, well-known brand, look for keywords where the SERPs aren’t already owned by giants. Always keep in mind: before targeting a keyword, check the results, see who’s on top, and make sure you’re not setting yourself up for a fight you can’t win.

iv- The Importance of High-Quality Backlinks

When looking for low-competition keywords in 2025, backlinks can make a huge difference in your rankings. While quantity matters, the quality of your backlinks is what truly influences your position on the SERP. For example, relevant and authoritative websites linking to your page are far more valuable than just a high number of backlinks. Factors like link placement, anchor text, and whether the link is follow or nofollow can change the weight of the backlink. Even with a low keyword difficulty score, it’s critical to manually check the backlink profiles of the top-ranking pages to understand if you can outrank them. Websites with high-quality backlinks, such as pages with 14 RDs and 94% followed links, tend to rank higher, even if the keyword appears to be less competitive.

Tips to Include Low-Competition Keywords in Your Content:

One of the smartest strategies I use when writing content is targeting low-competition keywords that still offer decent visibility. These terms often have fewer searches, but also much less direct competition, making it easier to rank. I recommend creating content that includes a group of closely related terms in a single piece, forming a topic cluster. For instance, instead of just optimizing for “best face serum for rosacea,” I’d also include top serums for sensitive skin with rosacea and rosacea-friendly hydrating serums. This allows your article to show up for multiple search queries instead of depending on one.

When creating headings, avoid the kind you’d see for high-competition keywords with short, broad titles. Instead, go with detailed, intent-driven headings like “Best Mineral Sunscreens for Acne-Prone Skin in Humid Weather” instead of just “Best Sunscreens.” This improves your ranking chances, especially if your site has low authority. You can also take advantage of questions and detailed queries using an FAQ style or direct answer format. For example, if your keyword is “Does aloe vera reduce acne scars,” begin the paragraph with “Yes, aloe vera can fade acne scars due to its natural healing properties…” This method often helps land spots in featured snippets and even voice search results.

I’ve found that Google values contextually relevant articles more than exact-match, optimized content when it comes to low-competition spaces. That’s why you should prioritize in-depth, useful content that addresses the search intent. Also, support your low-competition pages by linking from higher-traffic pages, like a main blog post such as “Best Skincare for Acne,” using relevant anchor text like “Check out our detailed guide on calming acne redness overnight.” And finally, make sure to write high-quality, helpful content that answers the search query, understands user intent, and provides what the searcher is really looking for. Naturally insert the keyword, use it in headings, subheadings, and body text, and add synonyms, related keywords, and cover multiple terms throughout your blog post.

Also Read: Freelance Writing 101 How to Start and Succeed

Final Thoughts:

To succeed with low-competition keywords in 2025, focus on niche search intent and skip the high-volume, competitive terms with heavy direct competition. Create content around a topic cluster—for example, combine best face serum for rosacea, top serums for sensitive skin with rosacea, and rosacea-friendly hydrating serums—to target multiple search queries in one blog post. Use detailed, intent-driven headings like “Best Mineral Sunscreens for Acne-Prone Skin in Humid Weather” and answer questions in FAQ style, such as “Does aloe vera reduce acne scars” with “Yes, aloe vera…” to increase your chances of appearing in featured snippets and voice search. Focus on useful content, strong internal linking, and naturally placed keywords, synonyms, and related keywords to match search intent and boost ranking chances even with low authority.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Over to You!

Drop a comment below if you have any questions or want to share your success stories – I’d really enjoy hearing from you!