Most new websites make the same mistake — they target keywords like "SEO tools", "keyword research", or "meta tags" and wonder why they never rank. These keywords have thousands of competing pages from established sites with years of backlinks and authority.
The solution is simple: target low competition keywords. These are specific, longer phrases where the competition is thin enough for a new site to rank on page one within weeks or months rather than years. This guide shows you exactly how to find them.
What Makes a Keyword "Low Competition"?
A low competition keyword has several characteristics that make it easier to rank for:
Keyword difficulty scores below 30 are generally achievable for new or low-authority websites without a large backlink profile.
Long-tail keywords are more specific, have clearer search intent, and face less competition. "free keyword density checker online" is far easier than "keyword tool".
If the top results are forum posts, outdated pages, or thin content from low-authority sites, you can outrank them with a comprehensive, well-optimized page.
Keywords with specific intent (informational, transactional, navigational) are easier to match content to. Vague keywords have mixed intent and mixed results.
Method 1 — Google Autocomplete (Free, Fast)
Google Autocomplete is one of the most underused free keyword research methods. When you start typing a query into Google, the dropdown suggestions are based on what real users are actually searching for.
How to use it:
- Type your seed keyword + a letter (e.g. "keyword research a", "keyword research b") to find alphabetical variations
- Add prepositions: "keyword research for...", "keyword research without...", "keyword research using..."
- Add questions: "how to find keywords...", "what is keyword research..."
- Use an underscore as a wildcard: "keyword _ tool free"
Each autocomplete suggestion is a real keyword people search for. Many will have low competition because they are so specific that most sites have not written dedicated content for them.
Method 2 — People Also Ask (Google's Gift to SEO)
The "People Also Ask" box in Google search results is a goldmine for low competition keywords. These questions represent real queries that Google considers related to your search — and most of them have relatively low competition.
The trick: Every time you click on a PAA question, Google shows more questions. Click through 3-4 times and you will have dozens of specific question-based keywords, many of which qualify as low competition.
Question keywords (how, what, why, when, where) are excellent for blog content because they match informational search intent perfectly and often trigger featured snippet positions — giving you more visibility even at position 2 or 3.
Method 3 — Google Search Console Hidden Gems
If your site has been live for at least a few weeks, Google Search Console contains some of the most valuable low competition keyword data available — completely free.
The "almost ranking" technique:
- Go to Google Search Console → Performance → Search Results
- Click "Average Position" to show position data
- Filter by position between 8 and 20
- Sort by Impressions (highest first)
These are keywords where your pages are already appearing on page 1 or 2 without you actively optimizing for them. With a small amount of on-page optimization — adding the keyword to your title tag, H2, and increasing content depth — you can push many of these to positions 1-5 quickly.
Method 4 — Our Free Keyword Difficulty Checker
Once you have a list of potential keywords from the methods above, use our free Keyword Difficulty Checker to quickly estimate competition levels and prioritize which keywords to target first.
Enter any keyword and get an instant difficulty estimate. No signup required.
Use Keyword Difficulty Checker →How to interpret scores:
Method 5 — Competitor Gap Analysis
Find keywords that your competitors rank for but you do not. This is called a keyword gap — and these are often low competition because if one competitor ranks for them, the keyword cannot be that hard.
Free method:
- Find 2-3 competitors in your niche (search for your main keyword and note who ranks)
- Go to their website and read their blog and tool pages
- Note every topic they cover that you do not have content for
- Use Google Autocomplete to find long-tail variations of those topics
- Check difficulty with our free checker and prioritize the easiest ones
Method 6 — Forum and Community Mining
Reddit, Quora, and niche forums are excellent sources of low competition keyword ideas because they show you exactly what questions your audience is asking in their own words.
How to use Reddit for keyword research:
- Search Reddit for your main topic and read the top posts in relevant subreddits
- Note recurring questions and problems people mention
- Turn these into keyword-optimized blog posts or tool pages
Forum threads often rank on page 2-3 for specific questions because no dedicated content exists. By creating a dedicated page that answers the question thoroughly, you can often outrank the forum thread easily.
Method 7 — Mangools KWFinder (Best Paid Method)
For serious keyword research with accurate difficulty scores, real monthly search volumes, and SERP analysis, Mangools KWFinder is the most cost-effective professional option available.
Unlike free methods that require triangulating data from multiple sources, KWFinder gives you everything in one place — including a proprietary difficulty score based on actual backlink data from the top 10 results.
Mangools KWFinder
Find hundreds of low competition keywords with accurate difficulty scores and SERP data. 10-day free trial — no credit card needed.
How to Organize Your Low Competition Keywords
Finding keywords is only half the battle. You also need to organize them into a content plan so you can systematically build topical authority.
Use our free Keyword Cluster Helper to group related keywords into topic clusters. Each cluster becomes one piece of content — a pillar page or supporting article.
Example cluster for "SEO tools" topic:
→ free keyword density checker online
→ free keyword difficulty checker tool
→ free meta tag generator
→ free robots txt generator online
→ free xml sitemap generator
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a low competition keyword?
A low competition keyword is a search term that fewer websites are actively optimizing for. These typically have difficulty scores below 30, are 3+ words long, and have specific search intent. New sites can rank for them much faster than broad competitive terms.
How do I find low competition keywords for free?
Use Google Autocomplete for long-tail ideas, check People Also Ask boxes, mine Google Search Console for almost-ranking keywords, and use our free Keyword Difficulty Checker to estimate competition levels.
What difficulty score should I target as a new site?
New websites should target keywords with difficulty scores below 30. Sites with 6-12 months of history can target 30-50. Only established sites with strong backlink profiles should pursue scores above 50.
Are low competition keywords worth targeting?
Absolutely. Low competition keywords convert better because they are more specific. Ranking for 100 low-competition keywords brings more targeted traffic than failing to rank for one competitive keyword. They also build the authority needed to eventually rank for harder terms.
How many low competition keywords should I target per page?
Target one primary keyword plus 3-5 closely related secondary keywords per page. Use our Keyword Density Checker to ensure your primary keyword appears at 1-2% density, then weave secondary keywords naturally throughout.
Key Takeaways
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