Best Ways to Discover Easy-to-Rank Keywords (Beginner’s SEO Guide)

Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI.

Introduction

Want to climb Google's rankings without battling giants?

Low competition keywords are your best shortcut. These easier-to-target search terms help new or low-authority sites get meaningful organic traffic without needing a ton of backlinks.

This guide covers:

• What low competition keywords are
• Where to find them (free & paid methods)
• How to turn them into traffic-driving content

Let’s get started.

What Are Low Competition Keywords?

Low competition keywords are specific search terms that aren’t heavily targeted by top-ranking sites. That means there’s less SEO resistance when trying to rank for them.

They usually:

• Contain 3+ words
• Reflect clear user intent
• Appear in underserved niches
• Have low keyword difficulty (KD) scores
• Show forums or weak pages ranking high in SERPs

If you're just starting out, these are the best SEO opportunities to focus on.

Why Target Low Competition Keywords?

Here’s why smart SEOs love these terms:

• Faster results: Rank in weeks instead of months
• More relevance: Users searching them know what they want
• Less effort: You won’t need tons of links or authority
• Stronger conversions: Specific keywords often drive ready-to-buy traffic
• Topical authority: Help you own a niche by covering every subtopic

Skip the rat race. Focus on what’s winnable.

6 Ways to Find Low Competition Keywords

1. Use Answer Socrates (Free Tool)

AnswerSocrates.com pulls hundreds of questions from Google Autocomplete and People Also Ask data.

Steps:

• Enter a broad topic like “budget travel”
• Review long-tail keyword questions
• Export and filter by relevance

Why it works:

• Pulls real Google search behavior
• Reveals low-competition, intent-driven queries

Example: “best time to visit Bali for surfing” beats the competition-heavy “Bali travel tips.”

2. Try the Keyword Golden Ratio (KGR)

This formula finds ultra-low competition keywords with less than 250 searches/month.

KGR = # of allintitle results ÷ Monthly search volume

Rule: If KGR < 0.25 → quick ranking possible

How to apply:

• Use Allintitle.co to count indexed pages with the exact title
• Use search tools (Ahrefs, Ubersuggest) for volume

3. Use Alphabet Soup (Autocomplete Hack)

This simple trick uncovers real user queries:

Steps:

• Search "coffee brewing a", then "coffee brewing b", etc.
• Capture autocomplete suggestions

Add modifiers like "for beginners", "with", "without" to get more variations.

These terms often have low competition and high conversion potential.

4. Tap Into Google Search Console

Already have content? GSC reveals easy wins:

Steps:

• Go to Performance > Search Results
• Sort by impressions
• Find queries with rankings in position 11–30

Optimize your pages for these near-wins—they’re already getting visibility.

5. Check Competitor Weak Spots

Steal keyword gaps from similar-sized rivals:

Steps:

• Use Ahrefs or SEMrush
• Filter their keywords for position 5–20
• Sort by KD < 30

Pro tip: Look for results with forums or low-authority domains. That’s your opening.

6. Mine Reddit, Quora & Forums

Real conversations = keyword gold.

How to use it:

• Browse niche subreddits or Quora topics
• Identify common questions
• Search them in Google—do forums rank?

If yes, that’s a great blog post or content opportunity.

Advanced Keyword Tips

Don’t Dismiss “Zero Volume” Keywords

Sometimes tools say a keyword has 0 searches. Often, they’re wrong.

Why?

• New trends take time to show in tools
• Low-volume terms still bring quality traffic
• Tools round down or lack complete data

Test these terms live. Many rank fast and convert well.

Add Modifiers for Specific Phrases

Refining a keyword with intent-based modifiers helps dodge competition.

Examples:

• Location: "hiking trails near Cebu"
• Year: "2025 passive income ideas"
• Audience: "blogging tips for dentists"
• Stage: "buying a used car checklist"

How to Evaluate Keyword Competition

Check the SERP

Search the term. Ask:

• Are forums or weak content ranking?
• Any featured snippets you can target?
• Is content outdated or off-topic?

If yes—you’ve got an opening.

Use Keyword Difficulty Scores

Tools to check:

• Ahrefs: < 20 = low
• SEMrush: < 40%
• Moz: < 30

Combine data with a manual SERP review for best accuracy.

Look at Backlinks

Do top pages have <15 referring domains? That’s beatable.

If they’re link-heavy and your site is new, save the keyword for later.

How to Rank With Low Competition Keywords

Match Search Intent Exactly

Why did they search that keyword?

Answer it clearly—early in your post.

Build Better Content Than What’s Ranking

• Use original tips, FAQs, visuals
• Format well with H2s, bold, lists

Make it skimmable and useful.

On-Page SEO Checklist

• Exact keyword in title
• Keyword in first 100 words
• Use related terms in subheadings
• Meta description that invites clicks

Strengthen With Internal Links

From older posts → your new keyword page.

This boosts crawling and relevance.

Avoid These Keyword Mistakes

• Chasing big-volume terms too early
• Ignoring what the user wants
• Creating weak or duplicate content
• Believing tool data without checking Google

Conclusion: Win SEO with Easier Keywords

Low competition keywords are your SEO growth hack.

They:

• Drive real traffic
• Help you build trust with Google
• Give you quick results

Start with tools like Answer Socrates, apply proven methods like KGR, and never ignore what’s already working inside Google Search Console.

One blog post. One keyword. One win at a time.

FAQs

What’s an ideal KD score?

Ahrefs < 20, Moz < 30, SEMrush < 40%.

Can I rank for keywords with no search volume?

Yes—especially if they’re specific, new, or commercial.

How fast will I rank?

Anywhere from 2–8 weeks for truly low competition terms.

How many keywords should I target per article?

One primary, plus 2–5 variations.

Do I need paid tools?

Helpful, but optional. Start with Answer Socrates, Search Console, and forums.