High traffic, low competition keywords are search terms with decent demand where the current top results are beatable: smaller sites, outdated pages, forum threads or content that doesn’t quite match what searchers want. You find them by combining keyword tools with Google Search Console, competitor research, and a quick look at page one for each keyword.
One honest note before we start: keywords with huge volume and no competition are rare. The real goal is keywords with enough traffic that you can realistically win, given your site’s current strength.
Here’s a step-by-step process that works for new sites, blogs and small businesses.
What are low competition keywords?
Low competition keywords are searches where it’s relatively easy to reach page one, usually because the ranking pages are weak, not because nobody searches for them.
Example:
- “SEO”: huge volume, dominated by major brands. Very hard
- “SEO checklist for a new WordPress blog”: smaller volume, more specific, often easier to rank for
Low competition depends on your site. A keyword that’s easy for an established site can still be hard for a brand-new one.
Why target them?
- Faster results: you can rank in less time than for broad, competitive terms
- Better visitors: specific searches often mean clearer intent and better conversions
- Builds momentum: ranking for many related keywords builds topical authority and trust, which helps with harder terms later
- Lower cost: less need for heavy link building or ad spend
Step 1: Start with keyword tools
Keyword tools give you ideas, estimated volume and difficulty scores:
- Google Keyword Planner (free): great for ideas and rough demand. Its “Competition” column shows ad competition, not SEO difficulty. See our Google Keyword Planner guide
- Semrush and Ahrefs (paid): keyword difficulty, competitor keywords and gap analysis. See our comparison of SEO keyword research tools
- Ubersuggest and KWFinder: more budget-friendly options
- More free options in our list of free SEO tools
A useful starting filter: low-to-medium keyword difficulty and a volume that makes sense for your niche. For a new site, many people start with KD under about 20–30. Treat that as a filter, not a guarantee. Difficulty scores differ between tools and don’t know your site’s strength.
Step 2: Use Google autocomplete, People Also Ask and related searches
Google shows you what people actually search:
- Autocomplete: type your topic and note the suggestions. Try adding letters (a, b, c…) or words like “how,” “best” and “for”
- People Also Ask: real questions, and great H2s and FAQ entries
- Related searches at the bottom of the results
Example: typing “vegan recipes” might suggest “vegan recipes for beginners” or “high protein vegan recipes,” and People Also Ask might show “What is the easiest vegan meal to make?”
Step 3: Focus on long-tail keywords
Long-tail keywords are longer, more specific searches. Each one brings less traffic, but they’re usually easier to rank for and convert better. Together, they add up.
- Short-tail: “SEO”
- Long-tail: “how to do SEO for a small business website”
For location-based examples, see long-tail keywords for local businesses.
Step 4: Check Google Search Console for quick wins
If your site already has some traffic, this is often the fastest win.
- Open Performance (Search results)
- Look at Queries with plenty of impressions but few clicks
- Focus on queries where your average position is roughly 8–20
- Improve the page that ranks: answer that query more clearly, add a section, improve the title, and add internal links
These are keywords Google already connects with your site, so a little work can move them onto page one.
Step 5: Study smaller competitors
Big brands rank because of their authority. Smaller competitors who rank well usually do it by picking easier keywords, which you can target too.
- Find competitors around your size
- Put their domain into Semrush or Ahrefs to see which keywords they rank for
- Filter by lower difficulty and decent volume
Our SEO competitor analysis guide walks through this step by step.
Step 6: Run a content gap analysis
Content gap (or keyword gap) tools in Semrush and Ahrefs show keywords that several competitors rank for and you don’t. Filter by:
- Lower difficulty
- Clear intent that matches your business
- Reasonable volume
Step 7: Check forums and communities
Reddit, Quora, Facebook groups and niche forums show the exact language people use, and questions nobody has answered well.
Example (fitness): “How can I lose weight without going to the gym?” or “Which protein powder is easiest on the stomach?”
Then check the questions in a keyword tool or on Google to confirm demand.
Step 8: Check page one by hand
This is the step most people skip, and it matters most. Google the keyword and look for these signs of weak competition:
- Forum threads (Reddit, Quora) ranking in the top results
- Outdated pages (old years, old screenshots)
- Thin pages that barely answer the question
- Results that don’t quite match the search intent
- Smaller sites similar to yours on page one
Also check SERP features. If an AI Overview, featured snippet, video carousel or map pack takes up most of the screen, fewer people may click through to normal results. That’s not a dealbreaker, but factor it in. See CTR in SEO and featured snippets.
Step 9: Look at traffic potential, not just volume
One page often ranks for dozens of related searches. A keyword with modest volume can be part of a bigger topic with much more total traffic.
Some tools show this as “traffic potential” or “parent topic.” If not, check how much traffic the top-ranking page gets in total. Then plan one page per topic and group related keywords together. See how many SEO keywords per page and content clusters and pillar pages.
Step 10: Match intent and check seasonality
Intent types:
- Informational: “what is technical SEO”
- Commercial: “best SEO tools for small businesses”
- Transactional: “buy SEO audit”
- Navigational: “Ahrefs login”
Informational keywords build visibility. Commercial and transactional keywords usually drive more revenue. A good plan includes both.
Seasonality: use Google Trends or Keyword Planner’s trend data. “Christmas gift ideas” peaks in November and December, so publish or update by October.
Validate before you commit
Before targeting a keyword, ask:
- Does it fit my audience and business?
- Can I create the best result for this search?
- Is page one beatable for a site like mine?
- Is demand steady, or just a short-lived spike?
- Will this traffic lead to leads, sales or subscribers?
Worked example
Niche: a new blog about home coffee
- Seed: “coffee grinder” is very competitive
- Autocomplete and PAA: “best coffee grinder for pour over at home,” “burr vs blade grinder for beginners”
- Tool check: low-to-medium difficulty, steady volume
- Page one: a few forum threads, an outdated listicle, one big retailer
- Decision: target “burr vs blade grinder for beginners” with a clear comparison guide, linked to a broader “home coffee grinder guide”
That’s a realistic, winnable keyword, and it builds toward bigger terms over time.
Common mistakes
- Chasing volume alone: high volume often hides strong competition or the wrong intent
- Trusting difficulty scores blindly: always check page one yourself
- Ignoring intent: traffic that doesn’t convert has limited value
- Targeting the same keyword on multiple pages: see keyword cannibalization
- Stuffing long-tail variations into a page unnaturally
- Never updating your list: search behavior changes, so revisit every few months
Special cases
- YouTube: see how to add keywords to YouTube videos
- Amazon sellers: see Amazon search terms
- Multiple countries: see international keyword and market research
Frequently asked questions
What are high traffic, low competition keywords?
Keywords with meaningful search demand where the current top results are beatable, often long-tail searches with weak or outdated pages ranking.
What is a good keyword difficulty for a new website?
Many people start with low scores (roughly under 20–30, depending on the tool), but always confirm by checking page one yourself.
Can I find low competition keywords for free?
Yes. Use Google Keyword Planner, autocomplete, People Also Ask, Google Trends, forums and Google Search Console.
Is Keyword Planner’s “Competition” the same as SEO difficulty?
No. It shows how many advertisers bid on the keyword, not how hard it is to rank organically.
How long does it take to rank for low competition keywords?
It varies, but low competition keywords usually rank faster than competitive ones, often within a few months for established sites.
Do low competition keywords still matter with AI search?
Yes. Specific, well-answered questions are exactly what AI tools look for. See answer engine optimization.
Final thoughts
Finding high traffic, low competition keywords isn’t about one magic tool. It’s about combining data with judgment. Use tools for ideas, Search Console for quick wins, competitors for inspiration, and page one for the final call.
Start with keywords you can win, build topical authority, and work up to bigger terms over time. If your site is brand new, pair this with our guide to SEO for a new website. Then optimize each page with the on-page SEO checklist. And if you’d rather have experts handle it, see what’s included in organic SEO services.
Curious where search is heading? Read SEO trends 2026 and is organic SEO dead in the age of AI.
About the author
Saurabh K. has been working in SEO and digital marketing for 10+ years, helping businesses grow their search traffic.
