How to Find Low Competition Keywords (Step-by-Step)

One of the biggest mistakes new bloggers make is targeting keywords that are simply too hard to rank for. They write great content, wait months, and see nothing — because they were competing against established sites with thousands of backlinks from day one.

The fix is learning how to find low competition keywords: terms where your content actually has a shot at ranking without needing years of domain authority behind it.

This guide walks you through the process step by step.

What Makes a Keyword "Low Competition"?

A low competition keyword is one where the pages currently ranking for it are relatively weak — meaning a newer or smaller site can realistically outrank them with solid, focused content.

Several factors determine this:

• 👉 Keyword difficulty (KD) score

A numerical estimate (usually 0–100) of how hard it is to rank for a keyword based on the strength of current ranking pages. Lower is easier.

• 👉 Domain authority of ranking pages

If the top results are all from massive, high-authority domains, ranking is harder. If smaller sites are showing up on page one, that's a signal the keyword is more accessible.

• 👉 Content quality of current results

Sometimes pages rank for a keyword with thin, outdated, or poorly written content. That's an opening.

• 👉 Search intent match

A keyword might look competitive but rank different content types (videos, forums, product pages). If you match intent better than current results, you can outperform them.

No single metric tells the whole story — but KD score combined with a quick look at who's actually ranking gives you a clear enough picture to decide.

Why Low Competition Keywords Matter More for New Sites

If your site is less than a year old, or has fewer than a few dozen backlinks, you are at a disadvantage on competitive keywords. That is just how search engines work — authority accumulates over time.

Chasing high-competition keywords early is not just hard. It is usually a waste of time and content budget.

Low competition keywords let you:

• ✅ Get your first rankings faster

• ✅ Build domain authority through smaller, real wins

• ✅ Understand what content works for your audience before investing in bigger topics

• ✅ Generate actual traffic while you are still growing

As your site builds authority, you can start targeting harder keywords. But in the early stages, low competition is not a compromise — it is the right strategy.

Step-by-Step: How to Find Low Competition Keywords

• ➤ Step 1 — Start With a Broad Seed Topic

Pick the general subject your site covers. Do not start with a specific keyword — start with a topic.

For example: "home coffee brewing," "freelance writing," "personal finance for beginners," "dog training tips."

This is your seed. Everything else grows from it.

• ➤ Step 2 — Generate a List of Related Keywords

Use a keyword research tool to expand your seed topic into a list of related keyword ideas. Look for:

• 👉 Question-based keywords ("how to," "what is," "why does")

• 👉 Long-tail variations (three words or more)

• 👉 Comparison keywords ("X vs Y," "best X for Y")

• 👉 Beginner-focused terms ("for beginners," "step by step," "guide")

These keyword types tend to be more specific, which usually means lower competition and clearer search intent.

Rankivo's [keyword research tool](/tools/keyword-research) generates keyword ideas from a seed topic, shows search volume and difficulty scores side by side, and flags low-competition opportunities automatically — so you are not manually sorting through hundreds of rows.

• ➤ Step 3 — Filter by Keyword Difficulty Score

Once you have a list, filter it by KD score. A general starting framework:

- KD 0–20 — Very low competition. Good target for brand new sites.

- KD 21–40 — Low to moderate. Achievable with decent content and some internal linking.

- KD 41–60 — Moderate. Possible with solid content, but harder for new sites.

- KD 61+ — High competition. Best left until your site has real authority.

If your site is less than six months old, focus almost entirely on the 0–30 range. You can always revisit harder keywords later.

For a deeper look at how difficulty scores work and how to interpret them, see our article on what is keyword difficulty.

• ➤ Step 4 — Check Who Is Actually Ranking

A KD score is an estimate — not a guarantee. Before committing to a keyword, do a quick manual check.

Search the keyword in Google and look at the top five results. Ask:

• 👉 Are these big, well-known domains — or smaller, niche sites?

• 👉 Is the content thin, outdated, or poorly structured?

• 👉 Do the top results actually match what someone searching this term would want?

If you see smaller sites ranking with mediocre content, that is a genuine opportunity. If every result is from a massive authority domain with comprehensive, well-optimized articles — the KD score might be understating how hard it is.

• ➤ Step 5 — Prioritize by Search Intent

Not all low competition keywords are worth targeting. A keyword with KD 10 and 20 monthly searches is not worth a full article.

Look for the sweet spot: low difficulty, reasonable search volume (even 100–500 searches/month is worth targeting early on), and clear informational intent that matches content you can realistically write well.

Group related low-competition keywords together — sometimes three or four low-volume terms can be covered in a single article, multiplying your chances of ranking.

Common Mistakes When Looking for Low Competition Keywords

• ❌ Ignoring search volume entirely.

• A keyword with zero searches is not an opportunity — it is just easy to rank for something nobody looks for.

• ❌ Trusting KD score without checking results.

• Always verify with a manual search. The score is a starting point, not the final word.

• ❌ Only targeting keywords that feel exciting.

• Boring, specific, unglamorous keywords often convert better and rank faster. "Best lightweight hiking boots for flat feet" beats "best hiking boots" every time for a new site.

• ❌ Quitting too early.

• Low competition keywords still take time — usually three to six months to start ranking. Publish, build internal links, and be patient.

Build Your Rankings From the Ground Up

Finding low competition keywords is not about taking shortcuts. It is about being strategic with limited resources — writing content that can actually rank now, while building the authority to go after bigger keywords later.

For everything you need to start, our keyword research for beginners guide covers the full process from scratch.

And if you are building a new site and want a complete low-competition keyword strategy, read our deep dive on low competition keywords for a new website.

Ready to find keywords your site can actually rank for? Start free at rankivo.co and run your first keyword search in minutes.

This Article Is Part of Our Keyword Research Series

📚 Explore the full Keyword Research Series
Start here:

Pillar article:

👉 How to Do Keyword Research for Beginners (2026 Guide)

Supporting cluster articles:

• Why Keyword Research Is Important for SEO

• Types of Keywords Every Blogger Should Know

• How to Find Low Competition Keywords (step by step) ← You are here

• Best Free Keyword Research Tools in 2026

• How to Understand Search Intent

• Long-Tail Keywords: What They Are and Why Beginners Need Them

• Common Keyword Research Mistakes to Avoid

Sub-cluster articles in this section:

• 👉 What Is Keyword Difficulty and How to Use It

• 👉 How to Find Low Competition Keywords for a New Website

Explore the full series to go deeper on any topic.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good keyword difficulty score for a new website?

Aim for KD 0–30 when your site is new. These keywords give you a realistic shot at ranking without needing a large backlink profile or years of domain authority.

How many low competition keywords should I target?

There is no fixed number — but building a content plan around 20 to 30 low-competition keywords gives you a solid foundation to start driving traffic while your site grows.

Can I rank for low competition keywords without backlinks?

Yes, especially for KD scores under 20. Strong on-page optimization, good content structure, and solid internal linking can be enough to rank for genuinely low-competition terms.

How long does it take to rank for a low competition keyword?

Typically three to six months for a newer site, sometimes faster. Factors like how often Google crawls your site, internal linking, and content quality all affect speed.

Do low competition keywords get less traffic?

Often yes — but not always. More importantly, low-competition keywords tend to attract more specific, higher-intent visitors. A smaller volume of the right audience beats a large volume of the wrong one.