Let me tell you about the keyword that changed everything for me. How to Find Low Competition Keywords.
I was six months into blogging, struggling to get any traffic. I’d been targeting big keywords like “productivity tips” and “freelance writing”—keywords with millions of results, dominated by Forbes, Inc., and blogs that had been around for a decade. I was a tiny fish in an ocean of whales.
Then one evening, frustrated and ready to quit, I stumbled on a random Reddit thread. Someone mentioned using Google’s autocomplete to find “long-tail keywords” that no one else was targeting. I spent an hour typing phrases into Google, watching what autocomplete suggested. I found a weird, specific phrase: “how to focus when working from home with ADHD.”
I wrote a post targeting that exact phrase. Within two weeks, I was on page one. Within a month, I was ranking #3. That post brought me my first 1,000 visitors.
That’s when I understood: you don’t need to compete with the giants. You just need to find the keywords they’re ignoring.
In this guide, I’m going to show you exactly how to find those keywords—the low-competition, high-opportunity phrases that can get you ranking quickly, even as a beginner. No expensive tools. No complicated metrics. Just simple methods that work.
What Makes a Keyword “Low Competition”?
Before we find them, let’s understand what we’re looking for.
Low competition keywords are phrases where:
- Established, authoritative sites aren’t targeting them
- You can realistically rank with a new or small site
- People are actually searching for them
They usually have these characteristics:
| Characteristic | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Long-tail (3+ words) | More specific = less competition |
| Question-based | People ask questions; big sites often don’t answer them |
| Contains a modifier | Words like “for beginners,” “easy,” “step by step,” “free” |
| Specific audience | “For students” or “for small business owners” narrows the field |
| Local | Adding a location reduces competition dramatically |
The biggest myth: “Low competition means no one searches for it.”
Wrong. Low competition means fewer people are trying to rank for it. But the people searching for it often have higher intent—they’re closer to taking action.
The Free Method: Google Autocomplete (The Easiest Place to Start)
This is how I found my first winning keyword. No tools. No subscriptions. Just Google itself.
How It Works
When you start typing into Google, it suggests completions based on what people actually search. These suggestions are pure gold—they’re real searches, often with very low competition.
Step-by-Step:
Step 1: Start with a seed keyword
Pick a broad topic in your niche. Let’s say you have a blog about productivity.
Seed keyword: “how to focus”
Step 2: Type it into Google and watch what appears
Start typing “how to focus” and pause. Google shows suggestions:
- how to focus on studying
- how to focus with adhd
- how to focus when tired
- how to focus on work from home
Each of these is a potential keyword. Note them down.
Step 3: Add letters to find more
This is the secret most people don’t know. Add a letter after your seed keyword and see what Google suggests.
Type “how to focus a” and see:
- how to focus and study
- how to focus and not get distracted
Type “how to focus b”:
- how to focus better
- how to focus books
Go through the alphabet. You’ll find dozens of keywords no one else is thinking about.
Step 4: Add modifiers
Modifiers are words that narrow down the audience:
| Modifier | Example |
|---|---|
| For beginners | “productivity for beginners” |
| Easy | “easy productivity tips” |
| Step by step | “step by step productivity system” |
| Free | “free productivity tools” |
| Cheap | “cheap productivity tools” |
| Best | “best productivity apps for students” |
Each combination creates a new keyword opportunity.
Step 5: Check the competition quickly
Now you have a list of potential keywords. You need to know if they’re actually low competition.
The “Quote Test”: Put your keyword in quotes in Google. Like this: “how to focus with adhd”
The number in the results tells you how many pages are exactly targeting that phrase. Lower is better.
- Under 100 results: Very low competition
- 100-500: Low competition
- 500-1,000: Moderate
- 1,000+: High competition
Pro tip: Also look at what’s ranking. If the top results are from forums (Reddit, Quora) or small blogs, that’s a good sign. If you see Forbes, HuffPost, or major publications, competition is high.
The Question Method: “People Also Ask” & AnswerThePublic
People ask questions every day. Most big websites don’t answer niche questions. That’s your opportunity.
Method 1: Google’s “People Also Ask” Box
Search your seed keyword. Scroll down. You’ll see a box with questions people ask.
Example: Search “productivity”
People Also Ask shows:
- What is the 5-minute rule for productivity?
- How can I increase my productivity?
- What is the 80/20 rule for productivity?
- What are the 4 pillars of productivity?
Each question is a keyword. Click on a question and more questions appear. You can mine dozens of keywords in minutes.
Method 2: AnswerThePublic (Free Tier)
AnswerThePublic is a free tool that visualizes all the questions people ask about your keyword.
How to use it:
- Go to answerthepublic.com
- Enter your seed keyword
- Choose your location/language
- See all the questions people ask
It organizes questions by:
- What (what is productivity, what are productivity tools)
- How (how to be productive, how to stay focused)
- Why (why am I not productive, why is productivity important)
- Who (who is the most productive person)
- Where (where to work productively)
- When (when is the best time to work)
Pro tip: Export the results as a CSV (free with account). You now have a list of 100+ keyword ideas in minutes.
The Forum Method: Reddit, Quora, and Facebook Groups
People go to forums to ask questions that haven’t been answered well by Google. These are your lowest-competition opportunities.
Reddit Method
Step 1: Go to reddit.com and search your niche
Step 2: Look for posts with questions
Step 3: Sort by “top” of the past month or year
Example: Search “productivity”
You’ll find posts like:
- “What’s the one productivity tip that changed your life?”
- “How do you stay focused when working from home?”
- “Best productivity apps for ADHD?”
Each post title is a potential blog post. If people are asking it on Reddit, people are searching for it on Google.
Quora Method
Quora is entirely Q&A. It’s a goldmine.
Step 1: Search your niche on Quora
Step 2: Look at the “Questions” tab
Step 3: Sort by “Most Viewed”
You’ll find questions with thousands of views that haven’t been answered well. That’s your keyword.
Facebook Groups Method
Join groups in your niche. Look at the questions people ask. Create content answering those questions.
Pro tip: Save these questions. When you answer them on your blog, you can go back to the group and share your post as a resource. This gives you traffic and a backlink from the group.
The “Your Audience” Method: What Are You Actually Being Asked?
This is the method most people ignore. And it’s the most powerful.
What to do: Think about the questions people ask you. Not strangers. You.
- What do your friends ask you about?
- What do your family members ask?
- What do your colleagues or classmates ask?
- What questions come up in your WhatsApp groups?
Why this works: If people are asking you these questions, they’re asking Google too. And if you know the answer, you’re already an expert.
Real example: A friend kept asking me how to start freelancing. I wrote a post answering that question. It’s now one of my top-performing posts. The keyword? “How to start freelancing with no experience.” Low competition, high intent.
The Competitor Method: Steal Their Low-Competition Keywords
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Your competitors have already done the research.
Step-by-Step:
Step 1: Find a blog in your niche that’s smaller than you want to be (not Forbes, not big publications)
Step 2: Look at their popular posts
Step 3: See what keywords they’re ranking for
Free tool: Ubersuggest (free tier, 3 searches per day)
- Go to ubersuggest.neilpatel.com
- Enter your competitor’s URL
- Click “Top Keywords”
- Sort by “Volume” and look at the “SEO Difficulty” column
Low SEO Difficulty (under 30) + decent volume = your target.
Pro tip: Look for keywords where your competitor is ranking but the content is thin. You can create a better, more comprehensive post and outrank them.
The Google Search Console Method (If You Already Have a Site)
If you already have a blog, Google Search Console is sitting on a goldmine of keywords you’re almost ranking for.
Step-by-Step:
Step 1: Log into Google Search Console
Step 2: Go to “Performance” report
Step 3: Look at the “Queries” tab
Step 4: Sort by “Impressions”
You’ll see keywords where your site is appearing in search results, but you’re not in the top positions.
What to look for:
- Keywords with high impressions but low clicks (your title or meta description needs work)
- Keywords where you’re on page 2-3 (with a little optimization, you can reach page 1)
- Keywords you hadn’t thought to target
Action: For each keyword you find, optimize your existing post to target it better. Update title, headers, content. This is the fastest way to get traffic.
The “Keyword Modifier” Cheat Sheet
If you’re stuck for ideas, use these modifiers to generate low-competition keywords:
| Modifier | Example | Competition Level |
|---|---|---|
| for beginners | “productivity for beginners” | Very low |
| easy | “easy productivity hacks” | Low |
| step by step | “step by step productivity system” | Very low |
| simple | “simple productivity tips” | Low |
| free | “free productivity tools” | Moderate |
| best | “best productivity apps” | High (but “best for students” is lower) |
| for students | “productivity tips for students” | Low |
| for small business | “productivity tools for small business” | Low |
| for moms | “productivity tips for moms” | Low |
| with [tool] | “productivity with notion” | Low |
| without | “productivity without caffeine” | Very low |
| fast | “fast productivity methods” | Low |
| cheap | “cheap productivity tools” | Low |
| at home | “productivity at home” | Moderate |
| remote | “productivity for remote workers” | Low |
| 2026 | “productivity tips 2026” | Low (temporary) |
The formula: Broad keyword + modifier + audience = low competition
Example:
- Broad: “productivity”
- Modifier: “tips”
- Audience: “for students”
- Result: “productivity tips for students” (much lower competition than “productivity”)
How to Spot a Low-Competition Keyword (The Quick Test)
You’ve found a keyword. Here’s how to quickly check if it’s worth targeting.
The 3-Question Test:
1. How many results are there in quotes?
Search the exact phrase in quotes: “how to focus when working from home”
- Under 100: Very low competition (go for it)
- 100-500: Low competition (good target)
- 500-1,000: Moderate (possible, but check what’s ranking)
- 1,000+: High (probably not for beginners)
2. What’s ranking on page 1?
Look at the first 5 results. Are they:
- Forums (Reddit, Quora) → Low competition
- Small blogs → Low competition
- Medium posts → Low competition
- Major publications (Forbes, NYT) → High competition
- Established niche sites → Moderate competition
3. Are people actually searching for it?
Check Google’s “People Also Ask” for your keyword. If there are related questions, people are interested. If Google shows nothing, it might be too niche.
Bonus: If your keyword is a question, check if Google shows a “People also ask” box for it. If it does, people are searching.
The Ultimate Low-Competition Keyword Formula
After years of testing, here’s the formula that consistently works:
Keyword = [Problem] + [Audience] + [Solution Format]
| Element | Examples |
|---|---|
| Problem | “how to focus,” “stop procrastinating,” “save money” |
| Audience | “for students,” “for beginners,” “for freelancers” |
| Format | “tips,” “guide,” “step by step,” “tools” |
Examples:
- “how to focus for students step by step”
- “stop procrastinating for freelancers guide”
- “save money for beginners tips”
These keywords have:
- Low competition (specific audience)
- High intent (people searching for a solution)
- Clear format (Google knows what to show)
Your 7-Day Keyword Research Plan
| Day | Task | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brainstorm 20 seed keywords in your niche | 1 hour |
| 2 | Use Google autocomplete (alphabet method) for each seed | 2 hours |
| 3 | Use AnswerThePublic for your top 3 seeds | 1 hour |
| 4 | Mine Reddit and Quora for questions | 1 hour |
| 5 | Apply modifiers to your best ideas | 1 hour |
| 6 | Run the 3-question test on 10-20 keywords | 1 hour |
| 7 | Pick your top 5 keywords. Plan content for each. | 1 hour |
Goal by Day 7: 5-10 low-competition keywords ready to target.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Mistake #1: Ignoring search intent
You found a low-competition keyword like “productivity apps.” But if you write a “top 10” list post and the top results are all “best for students,” you’re targeting the wrong intent. Match what’s already ranking.
Mistake #2: Targeting keywords with no search volume
Some low-competition keywords have zero searches. Use Google’s autocomplete—if Google suggests it, people search for it. If Google doesn’t suggest it, it’s probably too niche.
Mistake #3: Not checking what’s ranking
Even if a keyword has low competition, if the top results are incredibly comprehensive, you might need to compete. Look for gaps in the top results that you can fill.
Mistake #4: Focusing only on search volume
Beginners often go for high-volume keywords they can’t rank for. One post ranking #1 for a 500-search keyword can bring more traffic than ten posts ranking on page 5 for 5,000-search keywords.
Quick Reference: Low-Competition Keyword Sources
| Source | Method | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Google Autocomplete | Type keyword + letter, note suggestions | 5 minutes per seed |
| People Also Ask | Search keyword, mine questions | 2 minutes per seed |
| AnswerThePublic | Enter seed, export questions | 5 minutes per seed |
| Search niche, look for question posts | 10 minutes | |
| Quora | Search niche, look at “Most Viewed” | 10 minutes |
| Ubersuggest | Enter competitor URL, filter by difficulty | 5 minutes per competitor |
| Google Search Console | Look for keywords with impressions | 10 minutes |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What’s the easiest way to find low-competition keywords?
Google autocomplete + the “quote test.” Type your keyword, add a letter, see what suggests. Put it in quotes. If results are under 500 and the top results are forums or small blogs, you’ve found one.
2. Do I need paid keyword tools?
No. Free tools (Google autocomplete, AnswerThePublic, Ubersuggest free tier) are enough to find dozens of low-competition keywords. Paid tools make it faster, but they’re not essential.
3. What’s a good SEO difficulty score for beginners?
If you’re using a tool that gives difficulty scores (0-100):
- Under 20: Very easy (go for it)
- 20-40: Moderate (possible with good content)
- 40+: Hard for beginners
4. How many keywords should I target per post?
Focus on one primary keyword. Include related keywords naturally. Targeting multiple unrelated keywords dilutes your focus.
5. Can I rank for low-competition keywords without backlinks?
Yes. Low-competition keywords often have little competition. Great content and basic on-page SEO can be enough. As you grow, backlinks will help, but they’re not essential for these keywords.
6. How long does it take to rank for low-competition keywords?
1-8 weeks, depending on competition. Much faster than high-competition keywords, which can take 6-12 months.
7. What if I can’t find any low-competition keywords in my niche?
Go narrower. Instead of “productivity,” go “productivity for students.” Instead of “student productivity,” go “productivity for medical students.” There’s always a niche within a niche.
Final Thoughts
When I found that first low-competition keyword—”how to focus when working from home with ADHD”—I didn’t think much of it. It was weird. Specific. Probably no one was searching for it.
I was wrong. People were searching. And more importantly, no one else was answering.
That one post taught me the most important lesson of my blogging career: you don’t need to compete with the giants. You just need to find the questions they’re ignoring and answer them better.
Your first 1,000 visitors won’t come from “productivity tips.” They’ll come from “how to stay focused when studying for exams with a part-time job.” They’ll come from “best productivity apps for college students on a budget.” They’ll come from the weird, specific phrases that no one else is thinking about.
And once you have those first visitors? You’ll have momentum. Traffic. Authority. And then you can start competing for the bigger keywords.
But for now, start small. Start specific. Start with the questions no one else is answering.
Your first winning keyword is out there. Go find it.
What’s the most specific, weird keyword you can think of in your niche? Drop it in the comments—I’ll tell you if it’s worth targeting.