How to Find Low-Competition Keywords: A Complete Guide for SEO Professionals

Introduction

For anyone engaged in SEO, from beginners to advanced professionals, finding low-competition keywords is one of the most powerful strategies for achieving quick and sustainable rankings in search engines. While many focus on high-volume keywords, the real secret to effective SEO—especially for newer websites or niche projects—is mastering the art of low-competition keyword targeting.

This detailed guide covers the essential theory behind keyword competitiveness, the factors that influence it, and the top 7 tools and methods to uncover these golden opportunities. By understanding how to evaluate, collect, and utilize low-competition keywords effectively, you can position your site in the top search engine results faster and with fewer resources.

Why Low-Competition Keywords Matter

Low-competition keywords are search phrases with relatively low SEO difficulty. These are often long-tail queries or less popular variations that have:

Lower content saturation in the search results.
Fewer or weaker competing domains.
Higher conversion potential due to their specificity.

Instead of targeting broad, heavily saturated keywords like “buy shoes,” it’s far more productive to focus on niche queries like “buy waterproof hiking shoes for men in Denver.” These are often easier to rank for and are used by users with a clear purchase intent.

What Determines Keyword Competitiveness?

Evaluating competition isn’t just about how many people are searching. You need to assess how difficult it will be to outrank existing content in the top search results. Here are the most important factors:

1. Keyword Length and Specificity

Longer, more specific keywords typically have lower competition. A user who searches “buy Samsung 55 inch 4K TV in Chicago” is much closer to converting than one who searches just “TV.”

2. Intent Behind the Search

Understanding intent is key—commercial, informational, navigational, or transactional. Commercial and transactional queries are often more competitive but also more valuable. The more specific the intent, the lower the competition tends to be.

3. Homepage Dominance

If most top-ranking results are homepages of large websites or well-known brands, the keyword is likely more competitive.

4. Backlink Profile of Top Results

Pages in the top 10 results with thousands of quality backlinks are hard to outrank unless your content is exceptional or more targeted.

5. Domain Authority and Age

Older domains that have accrued SEO trust are harder to beat. Using tools that show domain age and authority helps evaluate this aspect quickly.

6. SERP Features and Aggregators

Presence of features like shopping carousels, maps, or aggregator sites (e.g., marketplaces, directories) can indicate strong competition, especially in local or commercial niches.

7. Content Relevance and Optimization

A well-optimized piece of content that exactly matches user intent will likely outrank a generic page, even on a lower-authority domain.

The Pyramid Strategy for Targeting Keywords

A widely used approach to keyword strategy is the “pyramid model.” Here’s how it works:

Top of the Pyramid: Highly competitive keywords with massive search volumes.
Middle Layer: Mid-level competition keywords.
Base Layer: Low-competition, long-tail, and highly specific keywords.

Newer or less authoritative websites should start by building a foundation at the base. As topical authority and site metrics grow, mid- and top-level keywords become more achievable.

Evaluating Search Query Competition: Key Metrics

To quantify keyword competition, you can evaluate:

Search volume: Number of monthly searches.
Keyword difficulty (KD): Score indicating how hard it is to rank.
Number of competing pages.
Backlink count of top-ranking pages.
Domain age and authority of top domains.
Commercial intent (measured by ads or CPC).

Top 7 Tools for Finding Low-Competition Keywords

1. Pixel Tools

Pixel Tools offers advanced keyword analysis, including metrics like:

Keyword length
Commercialization rate
Presence of aggregators in SERPs
Domain authority analysis
Geo-dependency

You can enter keywords, select a region, and instantly receive scoring based on multiple competition factors. It’s ideal for evaluating whether a keyword is commercially viable and achievable.

Standout Features:

Age of documents in SERP
Type of websites dominating SERPs (blogs, directories, e-commerce)
Weighted competition score (0–10)

2. Arsenkin Tools

Another robust competitor, Arsenkin’s platform provides similar scoring, but with a slightly different methodology. It classifies site types (aggregators, content sites, reviews) and gives a clear competition score.

Use Cases:

Batch-check thousands of keywords.
Automatically tag keyword groups by competition level.
Identify content gaps based on page types in SERP.

Both Pixel and Arsenkin tools use a method called “SERP scoring,” which automates the evaluation of top results. They excel in identifying the competitive landscape, especially for commercial or local search queries.

3. Key Collector

Key Collector is a desktop tool that collects keyword data and allows in-depth analysis. While it doesn’t natively analyze SERP composition, it provides valuable metrics like:

Search volume (exact and phrase match)
Word count
Number of ads in SERP
Keyword effectiveness index (KEI)

To use it for competition analysis:

Extract keywords.
Identify low-frequency, long-tail queries.
Cross-check against current rankings and CPC data.

4. Kparser (Mutagen)

Mutagen offers keyword analysis and ranks keyword difficulty from 0 to 10. It’s designed for SEO professionals focused on Russian-language search but has broader use.

Features:

Difficulty level based on multiple data points.
Suggests keywords suitable for low-budget campaigns.
Fast analysis of large keyword groups.

It’s great for agencies needing quick overviews of content viability.

5. Simrush (Semrush-like Tools)

Simrush, though limited in the Russian market post-2022, still serves international SEOs well. For English-language queries, it provides:

Organic difficulty score
Required backlinks to rank
Search volume by region
SERP composition and featured snippet data

This tool is particularly useful for identifying low-competition content gaps in global markets.

6. SEO Keeper

SEO Keeper is a newer entrant but offers powerful SERP competition analysis. Its “Top Strength” metric evaluates the strength of websites in the top 10, including:

Domain age
Backlink quality
Page optimization
Commercial vs. informational nature

This tool helps filter out keywords that might seem easy but are dominated by massive brands or government sites.

7. Google Search Console + Analytics Combo

While not a competition-checking tool in the traditional sense, Google’s native tools are invaluable:

Identify keywords for which your site already ranks.
Spot long-tail queries with low impressions and low CTR.
Use performance data to refine your targeting strategy.

Combined with manual SERP checks, these tools help uncover low-hanging fruit your site is already close to ranking for.

Manual Methods for Validating Keyword Competition

In addition to tools, manual checks still matter. Here’s how to validate competitiveness without automation:

Step-by-Step:

Search the keyword in an incognito browser.
Evaluate the types of pages in the top 10:
- Are they forums, user-generated content, or outdated pages?
- Are they weakly optimized?
Check backlinks for top pages using free tools.
Analyze the depth of content and whether user intent is fully satisfied.
Use site: operator to see how many results Google/Yandex returns.

If most results are weak, unoptimized, or poorly aligned with intent, it’s a low-competition opportunity.

Combining Tools for Maximum Accuracy

No single tool gives the full picture. Best practice involves combining the strengths of several:

Use Pixel or Arsenkin to analyze SERP composition.
Validate findings with Key Collector or Simrush.
Use Search Console data for real-time performance insights.
Check SERPs manually for a real-world perspective.

The Strategic Role of Search Intent

Correctly identifying intent (informational, navigational, commercial, transactional) is crucial:

Informational: Often low competition, ideal for blog posts.
Commercial: More competitive, requires product pages or reviews.
Transactional: High value but tough to rank; aim for specific long-tail forms.

Aligning content format with intent dramatically improves your chances of ranking.

Filtering and Prioritizing Keywords

Once you have a large set of potential keywords, filter them by:

Difficulty Score: Prefer lower numbers for quicker wins.
Search Volume: Moderate volume with low competition is ideal.
Relevance to Your Offerings: Avoid chasing traffic that won’t convert.
Content Gap Analysis: Prioritize keywords your competitors haven’t fully addressed.

Use spreadsheets or automation platforms to group and score your keywords accordingly.

Conclusion

Finding and ranking for low-competition keywords is one of the most effective strategies in modern SEO, especially for startups, small businesses, and new websites. Using the right combination of tools and techniques—from Pixel Tools to Simrush, from SERP scoring to manual validation—you can identify and dominate in untapped search opportunities.

By focusing on search intent, keyword difficulty, and proper SERP analysis, you build a sustainable strategy that generates targeted traffic, delivers real business value, and lays a strong foundation for long-term SEO success.

Let me know if you’d like this article adapted for a specific platform, condensed into a checklist, or enhanced with visuals.

7 Best Tools to Find Low-Competition Keywords