How to Find Low-Competition Keywords for SEO (2025)

Find Low-Competition Keywords for SEO (2025 Guide)

If you run a new website or a niche blog, ranking for broad terms is tough. The fastest path to organic traffic is targeting low-competition keywords specific, intent-matched phrases that larger sites overlook. In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to find low-competition keywords for SEO in 2025, evaluate them with reliable metrics, and turn them into rankings and revenue. We’ll combine real-world keyword research techniques with SERP analysis, intent mapping, and on-page SEO so your content stands a realistic chance to rank.

What Are Low-Competition Keywords?

Low-competition keywords are search queries where the top-ranking pages are beatable with better content and basic links. They typically have one or more of the following traits:

• The SERP shows low-authority sites ranking on page one.

• Few or weak backlinks to top pages.

• Thin or outdated content in the top results.

• Search intent is clear and underserved (e.g., no direct, thorough answer).

• Long-tail wording (3–6 words) or niche modifiers such as “for beginners,” “under $50,” “2025,” “template,” “vs,” “near me,” or “how to.”

What qualifies as “low competition” for a new site?

For a DA/DR 3–4 site, prioritize keywords where:

• Keyword difficulty (KD) is low to medium (e.g., 0–20 in many tools),

• Competing pages have weak on-page optimization or thin content.

• The allintitle count is low,

• SERP features (People Also Ask, forums, Reddit) suggest informational gaps you can fill.

How to Find Low-Competition Keywords: A 7-Step Process (2025)

Step 1: Start with seed topics and topical authority

• Brainstorm 5–10 seed topics that align with your product, service, or niche. Example: “indoor plants,” “budget video editing,” “WordPress performance,” “sourdough baking,” “email deliverability.”

• Map topical clusters: create 3–5 subtopics under each seed. Example for “WordPress performance”: “image optimization,” “caching,” “hosting,” “Core Web Vitals,” “lazy loading.”

• Goal: Focused topical authority. Ranking for low-competition keywords becomes easier when your site structure supports a clear theme.

Step 2: Expand with autocomplete and People Also Ask

• Use Google Autocomplete: type your seed and note suggestions (A–Z keyword expansion). Example: “image compression plugin for WordPress,” “best caching plugin for small sites,” “how to reduce LCP on WordPress.”

• Check People Also Ask (PAA): collect specific questions. Example: “What is a good LCP for WordPress?” “Does WebP improve Core Web Vitals?”

• Look at Reddit and niche forums: questions often become low-competition long-tail keywords.

Step 3: Use keyword tools and gather metrics

Use multiple sources to cross-verify:

• DataForSEO (Labs or Keywords Data): export keyword ideas, search volume, CPC, and competition index. Filter by low competition and long-tail.

• Google Keyword Planner: broad volume ranges and related terms; use it to sanity-check trends.

• Ahrefs/Semrush/Moz: collect KD, traffic potential, and SERP snapshots.

• Google Trends: confirm seasonality and rising queries.

• AnswerThePublic/AlsoAsked: question-based long tails.

Key metrics to capture:

• Volume: enough to justify content (often 30–1000 monthly searches is fine for long tails).

• KD/Competition: aim for low (0–20) for new sites.

• CPC/Commercial value: A higher CPC can signal monetization potential.

• SERP features: identify result types you must optimize for (featured snippet, videos, images).

Step 4: Evaluate difficulty beyond KD

KD is a shortcut, not a guarantee. Manually inspect the SERP:

• Page types: Are page-one results forums, Quora, or thin listicles? Opportunity!

• Content quality: Are there gaps, outdated screenshots, missing steps, or poor formatting?

• Page-level authority: Use any tool to check backlinks to the top-ranking pages. Few/weak links = better odds.

• Title relevance: Are top pages loosely matching the query? If so, a focused article can outrank them.

• Allintitle: Use Google with the operator allintitle:"your keyword" to gauge how many pages directly target the term. Lower counts indicate lower competition.

• KGR (Keyword Golden Ratio): KGR = allintitle count ÷ monthly search volume. A ratio below 0.25 is often considered prime for new sites. Treat this as a heuristic, not a rule.

Step 5: Validate intent and traffic potential

Match search intent precisely:

• Informational: tutorials, how-tos, checklists, definitions.

• Commercial: best-of lists, comparisons, alternatives, “X vs Y.”

• Transactional: pricing pages, product pages, local services.

• Navigational: brand or tool-specific queries.

Check the click landscape:

• Do ads, knowledge panels, or instant answers dominate? Click-through may be suppressed.

• Are there featured snippets you can target with concise definitions or lists?

• You can still win with “zero-volume” or “low-volume” keywords if forum demand is visible and the topic is new or niche; the volume often lags the trend.

Step 6: Prioritize with a simple scoring model

Assign each candidate a 1–5 score for:

• Intent match (how well you can satisfy the searcher),

• Difficulty (lower is better),

• Business value (how close to your offer),

• SERP opportunity (weak content/links on page one).

Add the scores for a quick stack rank. Prioritize topics scoring 14+ out of 20.

Step 7: Plan content clusters and internal links

• Choose a primary topic and plan 5–8 supporting articles around it.

• Decide pillar vs. supporting post structure. Example: “WordPress Core Web Vitals” as the pillar, with supporting posts on “optimize LCP,” “reduce CLS,” “image CDNs,” “lazy loading,” and “critical CSS.”

• Internal link plan: link supporting posts to the pillar using descriptive anchors (e.g., “reduce LCP on WordPress”) and interlink siblings where relevant.

Practical Examples and a Sample Shortlist with Illustrative Metrics

Below is a small, hypothetical shortlist to show how you might evaluate opportunities. Verify final numbers in your tool (DataForSEO, Ahrefs, or Semrush) before publishing.

Example niche: WordPress performance (targeting a DA 3–4 site)

• Keyword: How to improve LCP in WordPress 2025

• Intent: informational

• Illustrative monthly volume: 90–150

• Difficulty: low (KD ~ 10–18)

• SERP notes: mixed results, few up-to-date 2025 guides, outdated screenshots

• Opportunity: target featured snippet with a step list and fresh performance tests.

• Keyword: best image compression plugin for WordPress free

• Intent: commercial investigation

• Illustrative monthly volume: 200–350

• Difficulty: low–medium (KD ~ 15–25)

• SERP notes: some listicles; several lack test data

• Opportunity: add benchmarks, before/after WebP/AVIF results, page-size savings.

• Keyword: Reduce CLS WordPress without a plugin

• Intent: informational

• Illustrative monthly volume: 70–120

• Difficulty: low (KD ~ 8–15)

• SERP notes: developer threads and partial answers

• Opportunity: step-by-step theme/layout fixes, critical CSS, font-display swaps, demo gifs.

• Keyword: lazy load background images CSS WordPress

• Intent: informational

• Illustrative monthly volume: 50–110

• Difficulty: low (KD ~ 5–12)

• SERP notes: fragmented answers; code examples missing

• Opportunity: clear code snippets, Intersection Observer, noscript fallbacks, testing.

• Keyword: core web vitals plugin vs manual optimization

• Intent: comparison

• Illustrative monthly volume: 40–80

• Difficulty: low–medium (KD ~ 12–20)

• SERP notes: few direct “vs” comparisons

• Opportunity: pros/cons table in text, use cases, time-to-implement breakdown.

How to sanity-check with DataForSEO-style metrics:

• Pull the keywords via DataForSEO Labs Keyword Suggestions and set the location/language.

• Gather volume, CPC (if relevant), and competition index.

• Combine with SERP snapshots and page-level backlinks to judge true difficulty.

On-Page SEO to Win After You Pick Low-Competition Keywords

Choosing the right term is half the job. The rest is packaging the best answer on the internet.

To see how keyword optimization and content strategy intersect, explore Content Marketing and SEO: How They Work Together to Boost Your Business

Match intent with the correct format

• Informational: how-to guide with clear steps, images, and an FAQ.

• Commercial: comparison tables, pros/cons, decision criteria, and internal CTAs.

• Transactional: trust signals, pricing clarity, and concise benefits.

Nail titles, headings, and semantic coverage

• Title tag: include the primary phrase near the start and a differentiator. Example: “How to Improve LCP in WordPress (2025 Guide + Real Test Results).”

• H2/H3 structure: Use secondary keywords naturally in subheadings.

• Semantic keywords: add related terms (LSI) that the algorithm expects. For the LCP keyword, include “Core Web Vitals,” “render-blocking resources,” “critical CSS,” “server response time,” “image optimization,” and “preload.”

• Featured snippet optimization: include a 40–60-word definition or a numbered list near the top if the SERP shows snippets.

Internal linking that sends authority to your new page

• Link from relevant existing articles with descriptive anchors avoid generic “click here.”

• Add 3–5 internal links to each new post (from pillars and sibling articles).

• Use breadcrumbs and a logical URL structure to clarify topic relationships.

• Internal link ideas for the examples above:

  • From: “Complete Core Web Vitals Guide” → To: “Improve LCP in WordPress (2025).”

  • From: “Image Optimization for WordPress” → To: “Best Image Compression Plugin for WordPress (Free).”

  • From: “Fix Layout Shifts” → To: “Reduce CLS in WordPress Without a Plugin.”

Add schema and media for richer SERP results

• Use the FAQ Page schema for common questions and the How-to schema for step-based tutorials (if eligible).

• Add compressed images with descriptive alt text that includes semantically related terms.

• Consider a short video walkthrough; YouTube thumbnails can pull additional clicks.

Advanced Tips to Find Even Easier Wins in 2025

Target freshness gaps

• Add “2025,” “latest,” or “updated” when the topic changes yearly (e.g., tools, benchmarks, regulations). Refresh every 6–12 months.

Mine forum and community demand

• If Reddit and niche communities show repeated questions with no solid articles to link, that’s a strong signal even if keyword tools show “0” volume.

Use the allintitle + SERP contrast

• If allintitle is under 20 for a term with decent volume and page-one content is weak or off-intent, you likely found a low-competition keyword.

Build comparison and alternative pages

• “Tool A vs Tool B,” “Tool A alternatives,” and “best X for Y” formats convert well and often have manageable difficulty when the niche is specific.

FAQs About Low-Competition Keywords

What KD is considered low for a new site?

Many tools label KD under 20 as low, but treat KD as a filter, not a verdict. Always read the SERP and judge page-level authority and content quality.

How many monthly searches are enough?

For long-tail, 30–200 searches can be worth it if the intent is strong and the topic fits a cluster. Ten articles at 100 visits each can outperform one broad article stuck on page two.

Do zero-volume keywords still make sense in 2025?

Yes. Tools lag behind real queries, especially for new tech, product features, and niche how-tos. If you see forum demand and related trending terms, test it.

Does the Keyword Golden Ratio still work?

Use KGR as a quick proxy, not a rule. If KGR < 0.25 and the SERP looks weak, publish. If the SERP is strong despite a “good” KGR, deprioritize.

What’s a good first target for a DA 3–4 site?

Aim for long-tail, informational how-tos with KD 0–15, clear PAA demand, and weak page-one content. Build a small cluster around it for topical authority.

How should I track results?

• Map each article to a primary and 3–5 secondary keywords.

• Track rankings weekly for 8–12 weeks.

• Monitor impressions and CTR in Google Search Console.

• Refresh content if it stalls at positions 11–20: improve intros, add missing subtopics, tighten titles, and add internal links.

A Simple 30-Day Action Plan

• Week 1: Choose two seed topics and collect 200–300 keyword candidates via autocomplete, PAA, DataForSEO/Ahrefs/Semrush. Filter by KD, volume, and intent.

• Week 2: Manually review the SERP for your top 20. Pick 8–10 with low competition and clear gaps.

• Week 3: Draft and publish 4 articles. Each should target a primary keyword and cover related LSI terms.

• Week 4: Publish 4–6 more, add internal links, submit to Search Console, and build 3–5 contextual links from relevant communities or guest notes if available.

Conclusion:

Finding low-competition keywords in 2025 is about precision, not guesswork. Combine smart discovery (autocomplete, PAA, forums), tool-based validation (DataForSEO-style metrics, KD, CPC), and human SERP analysis to pick targets your site can genuinely win. Then publish high-quality content that perfectly matches intent, uses semantic keywords, and leverages strong internal linking. If you consistently apply this process, you’ll uncover low-competition keywords, rank faster, and build sustainable organic growth even from a brand-new site.