How to find low competition keywords
Finding low competition keywords is the fastest way to get your B2B content in front of buyers without fighting billion-dollar brands. Most founders waste months targeting terms that are impossible to rank for, then wonder why their lead generation stalls. Here is a practical, repeatable process to uncover keywords you can actually win.
Start With Problems Not Keywords
The best low competition keywords hide inside the exact questions your prospects ask before they buy. Instead of brainstorming generic terms, mine your own sales calls, support tickets, and onboarding emails for recurring phrases. Write down every pain point, objection, and "how do I" question you hear. These become your seed list, and they are naturally less competitive because they reflect real, specific intent rather than broad curiosity.
Next, expand each seed using tools like Google autocomplete, People Also Ask boxes, and AnswerThePublic. Type your seed into Google and note the suggested searches and related questions at the bottom of the results page. These are almost always longer, more specific phrases with lower competition. Aim for at least 50 to 100 candidate keywords before you start scoring them.
- Record sales calls and highlight repeated prospect language.
- Scan support inbox for questions asked more than twice.
- Use Google autocomplete and People Also Ask for expansion.
- Collect 50 to 100 candidate keywords before filtering.
Check Keyword Difficulty With Free Tools
Once you have a candidate list, estimate difficulty before you invest in content. Free tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, and Keywords Everywhere give you search volume and a rough difficulty score. For B2B, anything under 20 on a 0 to 100 scale is usually winnable for a small site, while scores above 50 require serious domain authority. Volume matters less than intent: a keyword with 200 monthly searches and clear buying intent beats one with 5,000 searches and pure curiosity.
Cross-check by looking at the current top 10 results. If you see forums, Quora threads, Reddit posts, or thin blog articles ranking, that is a strong signal the keyword is low competition. If every result is a Fortune 500 company or a major review site, move on. This manual check takes two minutes per keyword and saves months of wasted effort.
- Use Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, or Keywords Everywhere.
- Target difficulty scores below 20 for new sites.
- Prioritize intent over raw search volume.
- Manually inspect top 10 for forums and thin content.
Look For Long Tail And Question Keywords
Long tail keywords, usually four or more words, are the backbone of any low competition strategy. They have lower volume but far higher conversion rates because the searcher knows exactly what they want. Phrases like "best CRM for small construction firms" or "how to automate B2B lead generation without a developer" attract prospects who are close to buying. Build clusters of 10 to 15 related long tail terms around one core topic and create a single comprehensive page that answers all of them.
Question keywords are especially valuable for prospecting content. When someone types "how do I find qualified leads for my agency," they are actively looking for a solution. Answer the question directly in the first paragraph, then expand with practical steps and examples. This format earns featured snippets and voice search results, which drive steady traffic without paid ads.
- Target keywords with four or more words.
- Group 10 to 15 related terms into one topic cluster.
- Answer the question in the first 50 words for snippets.
- Focus on phrases that signal buying intent.
Analyze Competitor Gaps
Your competitors have already done part of the research for you. Run their domain through a free or low-cost tool like Ahrefs Webmaster Tools or Moz, and look for keywords they rank for on pages two and three of Google. These are terms they have not fully optimized, which means you can outrank them with a better, more focused article. Pay special attention to comparison keywords, integration keywords, and industry-specific problems they have ignored.
Also check their blog comments and social media replies. Unanswered questions there are direct requests for content. If a prospect asks "do you integrate with X?" and no one answers, that is a low competition keyword waiting to be claimed. Write the answer, publish it, and reach out to that prospect with the link. This turns keyword research directly into pipeline.
- Find competitor keywords ranking on pages two and three.
- Target comparison and integration terms they miss.
- Mine comments and social replies for unanswered questions.
- Turn each answer into a piece of content and a sales touch.
Validate Before You Write
Before committing hours to an article, validate the keyword with a quick pre-check. Search the exact phrase in an incognito window and confirm the results are weak. Check if the top results are outdated, thin, or off-topic. If the first page has not been updated in three years, you can win with a fresh, thorough piece. Also check if there is a clear commercial angle: can you naturally mention your product or service without forcing it? If not, the keyword may attract traffic that never converts.
Finally, estimate the effort versus reward. A keyword with 150 monthly searches and low difficulty might take two hours to rank and bring three qualified contacts per month. That is a great trade for a B2B sales team. Stack ten of those and you have a predictable lead generation engine without spending a dollar on ads.
- Search in incognito to see unbiased results.
- Confirm top results are outdated or thin.
- Check for a natural commercial angle.
- Stack multiple small wins into a steady pipeline.
Build A Repeatable Keyword System
Low competition keyword research is not a one-time project. Build a simple spreadsheet with columns for keyword, volume, difficulty, intent, and status. Review it weekly and add new candidates from sales calls and customer emails. Assign one writer or marketer to publish two to three optimized articles per month. Track rankings and conversions, then double down on the topics that bring contacts and opportunities.
Over time, this system compounds. Each new article strengthens your domain authority, making the next low competition keyword even easier to rank for. Before long, your blog becomes a reliable source of inbound leads that your sales team can reach out to with relevant, helpful content instead of cold pitches.
- Maintain a shared keyword spreadsheet with status tracking.
- Publish two to three optimized articles monthly.
- Measure rankings and conversions, not just traffic.
- Reinvest wins into adjacent low competition topics.
Low competition keywords are not a secret hack, they are a discipline. Start with real prospect questions, validate difficulty manually, and publish consistently. Pick one keyword from your list today, write a focused article, and watch your pipeline grow one qualified contact at a time.
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FAQ
What counts as a low competition keyword?
A low competition keyword typically has a difficulty score under 20 on tools like Ubersuggest, and its top 10 results include forums, thin blogs, or outdated pages. It usually has lower search volume but clear buying intent, making it winnable for small B2B sites.
How many low competition keywords do I need to see results?
Aim for at least 10 to 15 well-optimized articles targeting low competition terms before expecting consistent lead generation. Each article can bring a few qualified contacts per month, and the effects compound as your domain authority grows.
Can I find low competition keywords without paid tools?
Yes. Google autocomplete, People Also Ask, Google Keyword Planner, and manual SERP checks are free and effective. Paid tools speed up the process but are not required to start finding winnable keywords.
How do I know if a keyword will bring sales not just traffic?
Look for commercial intent signals like words such as best, for, alternative, pricing, or how to. If the searcher is comparing solutions or asking how to solve a specific business problem, they are more likely to become a contact in your pipeline.