Master how to find low competition keywords to rank faster - LLMrefs

The whole game of finding low-competition keywords is about spotting search queries that get a decent number of eyeballs but aren't swamped by big-name, high-authority websites. The process is pretty straightforward: you start by brainstorming topics in your niche, then use a few good tools to dig up related long-tail keywords, and finally, you roll up your sleeves and analyze the search results for weak spots—think outdated articles or forum threads ranking on page one. It's a killer strategy for newer or smaller sites to get ranking fast and pull in visitors who are actually looking for what you offer.

Why Low Competition Keywords Are Your SEO Superpower

So many content strategies crash and burn because they're built around chasing massive-volume, high-difficulty keywords. Sure, ranking for a term like "project management software" would feel amazing, but let's be real—you're going head-to-head with industry titans who have colossal backlink profiles and marketing budgets to match. For a newer site, it's a fight you're almost guaranteed to lose.

This is exactly why shifting your focus to low-competition keywords is your secret weapon. Instead of waging an impossible war, you find the underserved queries where you can realistically snag a spot on the first page of Google.

The Strategic Advantage of Underserved Queries

Going after these keywords isn't about settling for scraps of traffic; it's about capturing smarter traffic. These search terms are usually much more specific, which tells you the user knows what they want. Think about it: someone searching for "best Asana alternative for marketing agencies" is way further down the funnel than someone just typing in "project management."

When you laser-focus on these opportunities, you unlock some serious benefits:

The big idea here is simple but incredibly effective: stop trying to out-muscle everyone in the crowded spaces. Instead, find the niche conversations happening on the sidelines and become the go-to answer. This is how you build a lasting foundation for SEO success.

A New Way to Find Keyword Gems

Unearthing these hidden gems is part art, part science. It takes a mix of creative thinking and solid data. This is where an innovative tool like LLMrefs really comes in handy, helping you think beyond the same old seed keywords everyone else is plugging into their tools. By asking an AI for niche questions, industry jargon, or common user frustrations, you can generate a list of authentic, user-focused keywords that traditional tools often overlook.

Of course, mastering low-competition keywords is just one piece of the puzzle. For more ways to get a quick edge, you can explore other tactics like these 10 quick SEO wins to boost your site's visibility.

This guide will walk you through a repeatable process for finding these keywords: starting with creative idea generation in LLMrefs, moving to validation with SEO data, and finishing with a manual SERP analysis to seal the deal. It’s a method for building a rock-solid SEO strategy from the ground up.

Finding Keyword Opportunities Others Miss with LLMrefs

Let's be honest: your best keyword ideas won't come from the same tools everyone else is using. Traditional keyword research tools are great for getting hard data, but they tend to surface the same obvious, high-competition phrases for every user. If you want to find genuinely low-competition keywords, you have to get creative. This is where an excellent tool like LLMrefs really shines.

The goal here is to sidestep the obvious seed keywords and instead uncover the actual language your audience uses. We're hunting for ideas that are more specific, more human, and, as a result, far less crowded.

Think Like a Customer, Not a Marketer

It all starts with the prompt. Instead of just plugging in a generic term like 'project management software,' we need to frame our request from a real user's perspective. This isn't about mining data; it's about exploring intent.

Think about it. A marketing agency owner isn't just typing "software" into Google. They have specific problems they're trying to solve. So, a much better prompt would be something like this:

Practical Example: "Act as a marketing agency owner. What specific problems are you trying to solve with project management software? List 10 long-tail keywords or questions you would search for when looking for a solution."

This simple change in approach makes a world of difference. Suddenly, you’re not getting broad, competitive terms. You're getting gold.

You might see ideas like:

These are the queries real people with real problems are typing in. They signal high purchase intent and are often completely missed by competitors focused on broader terms. You can take this even further by learning how to weave these insights into your workflow with generative AI SEO software.

Zeroing In on Niche and Comparison Keywords

LLMrefs is particularly good at digging into specific keyword categories that are ripe with low-competition potential. As you brainstorm, keep these areas top of mind.

Industry Jargon and Specific Scenarios
Every niche has its own internal language. Push LLMrefs to generate keywords using that lingo or focusing on very specific job functions. For example, a fitness site shouldn't stop at "workout plan." A better prompt would be to ask for "CrossFit WODs for beginners over 40" or "best marathon training diet for plant-based runners." See how much more specific that is?

Question-Based Keywords
So many low-competition opportunities are hiding in plain sight as questions. Ask LLMrefs to give you a list of "how-to," "what is," and "why is" questions that people are asking about your topic. This is a natural way to generate long-tail keywords that are perfect for creating helpful, informational content.

Comparison Keywords
When people are close to making a decision, they compare their options. This is a goldmine for driving targeted traffic. Use a prompt that pits products or services against each other:

Practical Example: "Generate a list of comparison keywords for a user deciding between Mailchimp and ConvertKit for their small business."

This will spit out valuable terms like 'Mailchimp vs ConvertKit pricing,' 'which is better for e-commerce Mailchimp or ConvertKit,' or 'ConvertKit alternatives for creators.'

Using LLMrefs for this initial ideation phase gives you a long list of authentic, user-focused keywords. It's a crucial first step that provides unique ideas that other tools would never find, setting you up perfectly for the data validation stage that follows.

Validate Your Keyword List with SEO Metrics

You’ve used a tool like LLMrefs to brainstorm a fantastic list of potential keywords. That’s the fun part. Now comes the critical step: switching from creative thinking to cold, hard data. An idea is just an idea until you can prove it’s a real opportunity.

This validation process isn't about guesswork. It’s a systematic way to pinpoint terms that can deliver results, ensuring your content creation efforts aren't wasted on unwinnable battles. Let's dig into the numbers that matter.

Focus on Keyword Difficulty and Traffic Potential

Your most important metric here is Keyword Difficulty (KD). You'll see it called "competition score" or something similar in tools like Ahrefs or Semrush. It's a score, usually from 0-100, that estimates how tough it will be to crack the first page of Google.

If you’re running a newer site or one without a ton of authority, sticking to keywords with a KD score under 20 is a solid strategy. It gives you a realistic target to aim for.

Don't just take my word for it. A recent analysis found that keywords scoring 33 or below are generally considered low competition. That same study highlighted that the software and financial services niches had a surprising number of these opportunities, at 38.4% and 21.5% respectively. You can check out the full report on top low-competition keywords for more context.

A keyword with a KD of 15 and 250 monthly searches is almost always a better bet than one with a KD of 50 and 5,000 searches. Why? Because you can actually win the first one. Ranking on page one for the easier term will bring you far more traffic than ranking on page five for the harder one.

A Quick Guide to Key SEO Metrics

When you're scanning your keyword list, it's easy to get fixated on a single metric, but that’s a mistake. You need to look at the whole picture to find the truly underrated keywords that your competitors have overlooked.

Here's a quick reference table for the most important metrics when you're hunting for those low-competition keywords.

Table: Key Metrics for Spotting Low Competition Keywords

Metric What It Measures Ideal Low-Competition Range
Keyword Difficulty (KD) The estimated effort needed to rank on page one of Google. Below 20-30. The lower, the better.
Search Volume The average number of times a keyword is searched per month. 100-500+. Don't ignore lower volumes.
Traffic Potential The total estimated monthly organic traffic the top-ranking page gets. Varies. Look for pages getting traffic from many related terms.

These numbers tell a story together. A low KD tells you the fight is winnable. A decent search volume confirms people are actually looking for it. And Traffic Potential shows you the true size of the prize.

Once you’ve picked your targets and created content, the job isn’t done. You'll need a solid process for keyword rank monitoring to see if your strategy is actually working. By prioritizing keywords with low difficulty and realistic traffic potential, you're not just creating content—you're making smart, data-backed decisions that build a real foundation for growth.

Analyze Search Results for Competitor Weaknesses

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Keyword metrics like KD scores are great for a first pass, but they only tell you part of the story. The real detective work begins when you stop looking at spreadsheets and start looking at the actual search results. This is where you get your hands dirty and manually inspect the SERP (Search Engine Results Page) to confirm if an opportunity is real.

Think of it this way: a low KD score is like a tip-off that a target is vulnerable. But you don't just take the tip and run with it. You have to do your own surveillance—scoping out the scene to find the chinks in the armor. That's what SERP analysis is all about.

Spotting Cracks in the Competition

When you pull up the search results, you're not just looking at who's ranking. You're trying to figure out why they're ranking and, more importantly, how easily they can be beaten. A truly low-competition keyword often has a SERP littered with signs of weakness.

Here’s my mental checklist for what to look for:

Another old-school trick that still works is checking the allintitle count. A low allintitle count—ideally under 20 for a new site—means very few pages have bothered to put that exact keyword in their title. It's a classic signal of an underserved topic.

A Practical SERP Analysis Example

Let's walk through a real-world example: "how to track non-billable hours in monday.com".

A quick look at the SERP for this query shows it's ripe for the picking.

Here’s what you’d likely see:

  1. A Forum Post in Position #2: The official monday.com community forum ranks high. While useful, it’s not a polished, comprehensive guide.
  2. An Outdated Article from 2020: A blog post in position #4 is several years old. Anyone who uses monday.com knows the platform looks and works completely differently now.
  3. No Exact Match Titles: None of the top results use that exact phrase in their main H1 title. They're all close, but not a direct hit.

This SERP is basically sending up a flare, begging for a dedicated, up-to-date article. By creating a really solid guide that nails the user's intent, you stand a fantastic chance of leapfrogging these weaker results. This is the core of smart competitor keywords analysis.

To get really good at this, you need the right tools in your arsenal. Having a look at the 12 Best Competitor Analysis Tools can give you an edge. This final, manual check is what separates chasing metrics from targeting keywords you can actually own.

Group Keywords into Clusters to Build Authority

The old SEO playbook of targeting individual, disconnected keywords just doesn't cut it anymore. If you want to make a real impact today, you have to think bigger. The name of the game is building topical authority by grouping related keywords into smart, strategic clusters.

This isn't just about organizing your content; it's about signaling your expertise. When Google sees you’ve covered a topic from every conceivable angle, it starts to see your site as a go-to resource. That trust helps your entire content ecosystem rank higher.

Adopting the Pillar and Cluster Model

One of the most powerful frameworks for this is the pillar and cluster model. It’s a beautifully simple way to map out your content and show off your deep knowledge in a way search engines understand.

Here’s how it breaks down:

Let’s say you run a blog about home fitness. A pillar and cluster setup might look like this:

See how that works? Each cluster article answers a highly specific question, and the pillar page weaves them all together into the ultimate resource. You're building an interconnected web of content that proves your authority.

When you create a comprehensive resource hub like this, you’re not just trying to rank for one keyword. You're building a long-term asset that can rank for dozens, even hundreds, of related search terms. It’s about maximizing the return on every single piece of content you create.

Using Tools to Build Smart Clusters

Trying to piece these clusters together by hand is a massive headache. Thankfully, modern keyword research tools have made this process incredibly efficient, which is a lifesaver for small businesses and new sites that need to find those low-competition gems.

In fact, an analysis from Surfer SEO's 2025 guide points to keyword clustering as one of today's most effective strategies. The sweet spot they identify? Keywords with a KD of less than 30 and a monthly search volume under 1,000. Going after a whole cluster of these terms almost always drives more traffic than trying to battle it out for one high-competition keyword.

Let's ground this in a B2B scenario. Instead of a broad pillar like "email marketing," you could sharpen your focus to "email marketing automation."

Using a tool to guide your research, your supporting cluster content might look like:

With this approach, you're not just another voice in a crowded room. You're methodically building an authoritative library that both search engines and your ideal customers will come to trust.

Your Low-Competition Keyword Questions, Answered

As you start digging for these low-competition gems, a few questions always seem to pop up. It's one thing to understand the theory, but things can get a little fuzzy when you're in the trenches.

Should I Really Bother with Zero Search Volume Keywords?

It feels completely backward, I know. But going after keywords that SEO tools claim have "zero volume" can be one of the smartest things you do. Remember, these tools are looking at historical data; they aren't crystal balls that can predict new search trends or ultra-specific long-tail queries.

Think about it this way: a keyword showing 0-10 monthly searches could be the first sign of a brand-new problem people are just starting to have. A term like "LLMrefs API integration for custom dashboards" might show zero volume right now. But for the developer who desperately needs that solution, that query is pure gold.

Here's the bottom line: if a keyword perfectly describes the exact problem your product solves, the search volume figure doesn't matter nearly as much. You're not trying to attract everyone. You're trying to attract the right one, and answering that super-specific need is how you find your best customers.

When Does It Make Sense to Go After a More Competitive Keyword?

Okay, so this guide is all about the path of least resistance, but that doesn't mean you should always run from a fight. Sometimes, it's absolutely the right call to target a keyword with a Keyword Difficulty (KD) of 40 instead of a cozy 15.

You might want to gear up for a more competitive term when:

This is the long game. You're not looking for a quick traffic spike; you're building a foundational asset that establishes your site's credibility for the long haul.

How Does This Apply to Local SEO?

For local businesses, the game is the same, but the playing field is smaller and has a geographic spin. This is great news because your competition is often drastically lower—you're up against other businesses in your city, not the entire world.

The trick is to simply combine what you do with where you do it. Instead of a broad term like "HVAC repair," you zero in on what real customers are typing into their phones:

These hyper-local phrases might have low search volume, but the intent is off the charts. The person searching for this isn't just browsing; they have a problem and their wallet is out. These are some of the most valuable keywords you can possibly find.