When it comes to SEO, finding the right keywords is crucial to driving targeted traffic to your site. But, while many marketers focus on high-volume, highly competitive keywords, there’s another strategy that can pay off immensely—low-competition keywords with high search intent. These keywords may not have the same massive search volume, but they often attract a highly relevant audience who’s more likely to convert. In this post, we’ll guide you on how to identify and leverage these valuable keywords for your content.

Why Low-Competition Keywords Matter

You’ve probably heard that ranking for high-volume, competitive keywords is the key to SEO success. While it’s true that ranking for broad keywords can bring in a lot of traffic, these keywords are often highly competitive and require significant effort, especially for new websites or businesses.

Low-competition keywords, on the other hand, are often easier to rank for and can be just as valuable, if not more. These keywords typically have a smaller but more targeted audience who are looking for specific answers or products. The best part? They often have high search intent, meaning the people using them are closer to making a decision or taking action.

What Is Search Intent?

Before diving into finding low-competition keywords, it’s important to understand search intent—the reason behind a user’s search. Essentially, search intent is what users hope to achieve when they perform a query.

There are three main types of search intent:

  1. Informational Intent – Users are seeking information or answers to questions. Example: “How to start a blog.”
  2. Navigational Intent – Users are looking for a specific website or page. Example: “Facebook login page.”
  3. Transactional Intent – Users are ready to make a purchase or take an action. Example: “Buy SEO software.”

For SEO success, high search intent keywords are those where the user is closer to taking an action—whether that’s buying a product, signing up for a service, or even engaging with your content. Focusing on these types of keywords will help you attract users who are more likely to convert.

Step 1: Use Keyword Research Tools

The first step in finding low-competition keywords with high search intent is to conduct keyword research using the right tools. While there are several keyword research tools out there, here are a few that can help you identify the best opportunities:

  • Google Keyword Planner – Free and simple to use, Google’s tool helps identify keyword volume and competition. Focus on keywords with moderate search volume but low competition.
  • Ahrefs – This premium tool offers a wealth of data on keyword difficulty, search volume, and keyword suggestions, helping you uncover hidden opportunities.
  • SEMrush – SEMrush is another great tool for keyword research, providing valuable insights into search intent, keyword competition, and more.

These tools help you not only discover low-competition keywords but also understand their search intent, volume, and difficulty level.

Step 2: Filter for Low-Competition Keywords

Once you’ve generated a list of keyword suggestions, the next step is to filter for low-competition keywords. You can use a few different approaches to identify low-competition terms:

  • Look for Long-Tail Keywords – Long-tail keywords are longer, more specific search phrases (e.g., “best affordable SEO tools for small businesses”) and tend to have less competition compared to shorter, broad terms (e.g., “SEO tools”). They are often easier to rank for and are highly relevant to users with clear search intent. 
  • Focus on Low Keyword Difficulty Scores – Many keyword research tools provide a “keyword difficulty” score, which indicates how hard it will be to rank for a particular keyword. Look for keywords with a low difficulty score (usually between 0-30), as they typically have less competition. 
  • Target Niche Keywords – Keywords that target specific niches often have lower competition. For example, instead of targeting a broad keyword like “digital marketing,” try “digital marketing for real estate agents” or “SEO tips for bloggers.” Niche keywords can drive highly targeted traffic with less effort. 

Step 3: Analyze Search Intent

It’s not enough to just find low-competition keywords—you also need to ensure they have high search intent. Here’s how to assess the search intent for the keywords you’re considering:

  1. Check the SERPs – Perform a Google search for your chosen keywords and look at the results. Are they dominated by informational content (like blog posts or guides), or are there product listings, services, or other transactional content? If the results align with the search intent you’re targeting, that’s a good sign. 
  2. Look for Purchase Intent – For transactional keywords, look for terms that indicate buying intent. Keywords like “buy,” “best,” “cheap,” or “reviews” can signal users who are ready to make a purchase. For example, “best budget cameras under $500” shows clear transactional intent. 
  3. Identify Content Gaps – Sometimes, the search intent is clear, but there’s a gap in the content currently ranking for that keyword. This presents an opportunity for you to create high-quality content that better serves the user’s needs, whether that’s through more comprehensive answers, product comparisons, or reviews. 

Step 4: Leverage User-Generated Content and Forums

Another effective way to uncover low-competition keywords with high search intent is by looking at user-generated content in places like online forums, Reddit, and Quora. These platforms are filled with real questions from real people, making it easier to identify long-tail keywords that reflect high search intent.

For example, you might find a user on a forum asking, “What’s the best digital marketing tool for small businesses?” The keyword “best digital marketing tool for small businesses” could be a low-competition term with high transactional intent that you can target in your content.

Step 5: Monitor and Adjust

Keyword research is an ongoing process. Once you’ve selected and started using low-competition keywords, monitor their performance using tools like Google Search Console and Google Analytics. Track metrics like search rankings, organic traffic, and conversion rates. If some keywords aren’t delivering results, refine your strategy and experiment with new ones.

Final Thoughts

Finding low-competition keywords with high search intent is one of the most effective ways to improve your SEO strategy without battling the big players for competitive keywords. By using keyword research tools, focusing on long-tail and niche terms, and analyzing search intent, you can unlock a wealth of opportunities to drive targeted traffic to your site and increase conversions.

Remember, the key to SEO success is not just attracting traffic—it’s attracting the right traffic. So, prioritize quality over quantity when selecting your keywords, and you’ll see the benefits in both rankings and conversions.