Unlocking the Secrets: How to Discover Low Competition Keywords with High Traffic Potential

Tony Yan

·July 31, 2025

·4 min read

Struggling to Rank? Master the Art of Finding Goldmine Keywords

You pour hours into your content, but your traffic won’t budge. You’ve probably heard that keyword research is the magic key—but where do you actually find those low competition keywords that attract real traffic? This guide will walk you step by step to uncover hidden, winnable keywords with high growth potential—no guesswork, no expensive tools required (but we‘ll cover premium options too).

After reading, you‘ll know:

How to use free and paid tools to generate keyword lists
What “low competition” and “high traffic” really mean (and how to spot them)
How to manually check SERPs for beatable opportunities
Pro tips, templates, and troubleshooting when you hit a wall

Let’s start your journey to SEO wins—even if you’re a beginner.

Preparation: What You Need (and What You Don’t!)

Essential Tools

At least one keyword research tool:
- Free: Google Keyword Planner (guide), Ubersuggest (official walkthrough), Google Trends, Google Autocomplete
- Paid/Free Trial: Ahrefs (official guide), SEMrush (quick start), KWFinder (review)
A spreadsheet (Google Sheets or Excel)
A browser and steady internet connection
A Google account (for Keyword Planner, Search Console, Analytics)

Prerequisites

Defined niche, website, or target audience
1–3 seed keywords/topics as a starting point

Pro Tip: Don’t have niche ideas? Use forums, Reddit, Quora, or Google’s "People Also Ask" for real-world topic inspiration (RankMath Content AI).

Step-by-Step: Discovering Low Competition, High Traffic Keywords

Step 1: Define Your Niche and Brainstorm Seed Ideas

Write down your core topics, products/services, or problems you solve for your audience.
Brainstorm 1–3 "seed" keywords. For example: “healthy recipes,” “dog training,” “email marketing.”

Step 2: Generate Keyword Ideas with Tools

Google Keyword Planner:
1. Sign in to Google Ads > Tools & Settings > Keyword Planner
2. Choose “Discover new keywords.” Enter your seed terms.
3. Review the list. Export to CSV/Sheets for easy sorting.
4. Filter for ‘Low’ competition and monthly searches >100 (adjust for your niche).
Alternative: Ubersuggest (Free):
1. Go to ubersuggest.io
2. Enter your seed keyword; click “Search.”
3. Use the “Filter” for low SEO Difficulty (SD ≤ 30 is a typical starting point).
4. Sort by volume, then competition ratings.

Pro Tip: Every tool measures "difficulty" differently—always check their thresholds (comparison explanation).

Step 3: Assess Competition—Don’t Trust Tool Scores Alone

Numbers matter, but context is king:

Ahrefs/SEMrush/KWFinder:
- Look for Keyword Difficulty (“KD”) ≤ 30 for most new sites; established sites can aim for KD ≤ 40.
- Check domain rating or site authority listed on top-ranking pages.
Manual SERP Audit (The Crucial Filter):
1. Google your candidate keyword.
2. Look for: Outdated pages, forums/Quora, thin content, <40 DA (using MozBar or SimilarWeb), or few/none with the exact keyword in title (use intitle:"your keyword").
3. SERP Features: Avoid keywords dominated by ads, big brands, or feature-heavy results (like shopping, video packs), unless your content can directly compete.

A simple checklist:

[ ] Top results aren’t industry giants
[ ] Multiple pages with low authority (DA under 40)
[ ] Outdated/thin/barely optimized content
[ ] Few exact match titles (use intitle: search)
[ ] Content intent matches your planned page

Download: SERP Audit Checklist Template

Step 4: Validate Traffic Potential

For beginners, look for keywords with at least 100+ monthly searches.
If you find a keyword with low competition but volume shows “0–10” (especially common in Google tools), check Google Trends for upward momentum or validate in 2–3 other keyword tools.
Traffic potential isn’t just about raw numbers. Check “People also ask,” related searches, and observe seasonality with Google Trends.

Step 5: Prioritize & Build Your Shortlist

Group keywords by core topic/theme in your sheet.
Assign an easy ranking: "Low, Medium, High" for competition and opportunity.
Select 5–10 keywords that:
- Have winnable SERPs for your site’s strength
- Show evidence of real search interest
- Align with your audience’s needs

Troubleshooting & Advanced Tips: When You’re Stuck

Common Problems & Solutions:

No good low competition keywords? → Get more specific (add modifiers, locations, "for beginners"), try synonyms, or analyze forums and Reddit threads for long-tails.
All search volumes are "zero" or very low? → These can still drive traffic—especially if competitors ignore them! Use Google Trends to spot rising ideas.
Competition everywhere? → Focus on answering unique, intent-driven questions, or target underserved formats (how-tos, lists, videos).

Don’t rely on a single tool’s scores. Always do a manual SERP spot-check. Tool data isn’t perfect—new keywords and niches often underreport real search interest (SurferSEO blog).

Expert Tip: Use search operators (intitle:, inurl:, etc.) to gauge keyword saturation. If few results exactly match, the keyword may be a blue ocean.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 'low competition' exactly?
- For most tools, it means a keyword isn’t targeted by strong domains. Aim for KD/KC ≤ 30, or "Low" in Google Planner—but always double-check real SERPs.
How much monthly volume is “worth it”?
- Even 50-100 searches/month can bring steady, quality traffic—especially if you can dominate that niche.
How long does it take to see results?
- Typically, 1–3 months for initial rankings with fresh content; up to 6+ months for competitive niches.
Can I use only free tools?
- Yes! Free tools + smart SERP analysis = powerful DIY strategy. Paid tools just speed things up and offer deeper analytics.

Wrap-Up: Your New Path to SEO Wins

You’ve just unlocked the proven framework that expert SEOs use to find undervalued, winnable keywords. Let’s recap:

Define your niche and seed topics
Generate ideas with at least one keyword tool—free or paid
Filter by competition and volume, but always verify with manual SERP checks
Prioritize and build your shortlist
Create targeted, useful content and track your progress

Next Steps:

Download and customize a keyword research worksheet (use your preferred spreadsheet tool) to organize your findings.
Ready to go deeper? Explore competitor gap analysis and semantic keyword strategies using advanced tools (Ahrefs guide).

Action: Don’t just read—block 30 minutes, walk through these steps using your own niche, and unlock your first 5–10 high-potential, low-competition keywords now.