Low competition keywords are search terms where the pages on Google's first page are weak enough for a smaller site to outrank: few backlinks, thin or outdated content, or a poor fit for what the searcher wants. They are almost always specific: "invoicing software for freelance photographers," not "invoicing software."
Below are 100+ example keywords across 12 niches, grouped by the 10 patterns that tend to produce weak search results. Treat them as templates, not guarantees. Volume and difficulty change every month and depend on your site, so run each one through the 2-minute check at the end before you write.
Key takeaways
- Low competition keywords are specific. They name an audience, a use case, a constraint, a location or a small product.
- The keywords Outrank targets for 4,348 customer sites have a median of 170 searches a month and a median KD of 14.
- Ten patterns produce most easy keywords, from "[product] for [audience]" to "[small tool] vs [small tool]" and "[problem] after [situation]".
- A real "high traffic, low competition" keyword is rare. Clusters of 10 to 30 related long-tail keywords get you there instead.
- Check every keyword yourself with a free volume and KD lookup, then a look at the top 10 for forums and outdated pages.
What low competition keywords look like in practice
Most people picture low competition keywords as hidden gems with thousands of searches. In practice they are small. Here is the search volume of the main keyword behind 189,369 articles Outrank wrote for customer sites, where the keyword selection favors terms each site can realistically rank for:
Monthly search volume of the keywords Outrank targets
Hover or tap the chart for exact values.
Small doesn't mean worthless. A page that ranks for a 200-search keyword usually ranks for dozens of variations too, and a narrow keyword brings visitors who know exactly what they want. If you want the full method for finding and validating these, read how to find low competition keywords.
The 10 patterns behind low competition keywords
Every keyword in the lists below follows one of these patterns. Learn the patterns and you can generate your own list for any niche.
Ten patterns that produce low competition keywords
| Audience | [product] for [specific audience] | invoicing software for freelance photographers | Big sites target the category, not each audience |
| Use case | [product] for [specific job] | kettlebell workout for small spaces | Narrow jobs rarely get a dedicated page |
| Small-brand comparison | [small tool] vs [small tool] | Plausible vs Fathom Analytics | Review giants only cover the category leaders |
| Alternative | [niche product] alternative for [audience] | Jobber alternative for a plumbing company | Buyer intent, few pages per product |
| Integration | how to connect [tool] to [tool] | how to send Typeform responses to Notion | Only the two vendors and a few forums cover it |
| Template or example | [document] template for [audience] | client onboarding questionnaire for web designers | Generic templates rank; specific ones are open |
| Problem | [thing] not [working] after [situation] | sourdough starter not rising after 7 days | Forum threads usually own these results |
| Constraint | [thing] without [ingredient or tool] | gluten-free bread without xanthan gum | Each constraint splits the SERP |
| Local | [service] cost in [city] | water heater replacement cost in Denver | National sites rarely localize prices |
| Fresh topic | [new product or rule] + [question] | how to [use a feature released this year] | Demand appears before big sites publish |
Click a column header to sort.
Low competition keywords list by niche
These are example keywords that follow the patterns above. We haven't attached volumes or KD scores on purpose: both shift month to month, and how hard a keyword is depends on your own site's authority. Swap in your city, product or audience, then check each one.
SaaS and software
- invoicing software for freelance photographers
- client portal software for bookkeepers
- shared inbox for small support teams
- how to send Typeform responses to Notion
- Cal.com vs SavvyCal
- Plausible vs Fathom Analytics
- employee onboarding checklist template for remote teams
- how to automate client reminders without a CRM
More in our guide to SEO keywords for software companies.
E-commerce
- linen bedding for hot sleepers
- running shoes for wide feet and flat arches
- standing desk for small apartments
- cast iron skillet for a glass top stove
- how to wash merino wool base layers
- gifts for new beekeepers
- yoga mat for hot yoga beginners
- how to fix a squeaky office chair
For product-led research, see ecommerce keyword research.
Local home services
- water heater replacement cost in [city]
- emergency plumber open Sunday in [neighborhood]
- roof repair after hail damage in [city]
- how long does a furnace tune-up take
- signs your sump pump is failing
- is a tankless water heater worth it in a cold climate
- how much does it cost to rewire a 1950s house
- how often to clean gutters with pine trees
Our SEO guide for plumbers shows how local trades turn these into pages.
Health and fitness
- strength training plan for women over 50
- how to start running with bad knees
- kettlebell workout for small spaces
- high protein breakfast without eggs
- mobility routine for desk workers
- zone 2 training on a rowing machine
- how to track macros on a vegetarian diet
- stretches for cyclists with lower back pain
Food and recipe blogs
- sourdough starter not rising after 7 days
- gluten-free bread without xanthan gum
- air fryer tofu without cornstarch
- what to do with leftover pickle juice
- vegetarian freezer meals for new parents
- one-pot camping meals without a cooler
- how to fix runny homemade jam
- how to keep homemade bagels from going stale
Personal finance
- how to budget on an irregular freelance income
- sinking funds list for homeowners
- budget template for couples with separate accounts
- how to split rent fairly by room size
- emergency fund for self-employed: how many months
- first job budgeting checklist for new grads
- cash envelope system with a digital bank
- how to save for a car with a variable income
Travel
- 3 days in Porto with kids
- Lisbon to Sintra by train with a stroller
- what to pack for Iceland in October
- is the Japan Rail Pass worth it for Tokyo and Kyoto only
- quiet beaches near Split without a car
- Scottish Highlands road trip itinerary for 5 days
- carry-on packing list for two weeks in Southeast Asia
- best time to hike the Dolomites without crowds
Pets
- how to introduce a puppy to an older cat
- dog food for senior dogs with sensitive stomachs
- why does my cat scratch the walls at night
- crate training a rescue dog with separation anxiety
- how to trim a rabbit's nails alone
- apartment-friendly dog breeds for first-time owners
- bearded dragon tank setup for beginners
- how much exercise does a border collie puppy need
Real estate
- how to sell a house with a tenant in [state]
- first-time homebuyer programs in [city]
- closing costs for buyers in [state]
- what to fix before selling a house built in the 1970s
- how to choose between two offers on a house
- is a home inspection worth it on new construction
- moving checklist for retirees downsizing
- how long does a short sale take in [state]
Legal
- what happens if you die without a will in [state]
- small claims court limit in [state]
- can my landlord keep my deposit for nail holes
- how long do you have to file a workers comp claim in [state]
- how to trademark a business name without a lawyer
- does a power of attorney end at death
- what to do after a minor car accident with no police report
- how to change your name after divorce in [state]
Education and online courses
- PMP exam study plan for 8 weeks
- how to study for the NCLEX while working full time
- CPA exam study schedule with a full-time job
- how to become a notary in [state]
- homeschool schedule for a 7 year old
- how to pass the real estate exam on the first try in [state]
- medical billing and coding certification for career changers
- how to learn Excel for accounting jobs
Marketing and agencies
- SEO for dentists in small towns
- Google Business Profile post examples for plumbers
- how to price a website redesign for a small business
- social media content calendar for restaurants
- email marketing for yoga studios
- client onboarding questionnaire for web designers
- local SEO checklist for chiropractors
- how to report SEO results to clients who don't care about rankings
Do these keywords work in every niche?
The patterns are the same everywhere; what changes is how crowded the specific results are. Outrank's data is one way to see it. Sites on Outrank publish articles that mostly target low-difficulty keywords (median KD 14), and in our AI SEO agents study, no niche with at least 25 sites had fewer than 70% of its sites growing their Google clicks:
Share of sites that grew Google clicks, by niche
Sports & fitness
88%
Home & garden
82%
Health & wellness
81%
Travel & hospitality
81%
Marketing & advertising
78%
Finance & fintech
74%
Education & e-learning
73%
Real estate
73%
Legal & compliance
72%
E-commerce & retail
71%
SaaS & tech
70%
SaaS and e-commerce sit at the bottom for a reason: both niches are crowded with review sites and marketplaces, so the patterns need to be narrower there (specific audiences, integrations, small-brand comparisons).
How to search low competition keywords for a blog
Every keyword above needs two minutes of checking before it earns a page.
- 1
Look up volume and difficulty
Enter the keyword in Outrank's free keyword research tool. Keep it if the KD fits your site (under 20 for a new blog) and it shows some demand. A volume of 0 isn't a deal-breaker for very specific phrases. - 2
Google it in a private window
Look for Reddit or Quora threads in the top 5, pages that are several years old, or results that only mention your keyword in passing. Any of those means page one is beatable. - 3
Check the format
If the top results are product pages, a blog post won't rank, and the reverse. Match the format that's already winning. - 4
Group the variations
Keywords that show the same top results belong on one page. Use the extra variations as headings and FAQ questions.
Want the free toolkit and the manual tests in more depth, including the Keyword Golden Ratio? See how to find low competition keywords for free.
Which pattern should you start with?
Answer three questions to get the pattern that fits your site best.
3-question decision helper
Which low competition keyword pattern fits your site?
Question 1 of 3
What kind of site is it?
High traffic, low competition keywords: the honest answer
You won't find a reliable list of high-volume keywords with weak competition, because any list published online is read by your competitors too. Of the keywords Outrank targeted for customers in the last 90 days, only 3.3% had more than 1,000 searches a month.
What works instead is volume by accumulation. Twenty related long-tail keywords at 100 to 300 searches each add up to thousands of monthly searches, and one well-built page often ranks for many of them. That's the logic of keyword clustering: you find the cluster, not the unicorn. To estimate what a cluster is worth, add up the volumes, then use the calculator in our search volume guide to turn them into realistic clicks.
Outrank does this for your own site automatically: it analyzes your niche and competitors, picks keywords with real volume and a difficulty your site can handle, and publishes one article a day.
FAQ
What are low competition keywords?
Low competition keywords are search terms where Google's first page is weak enough for a smaller site to outrank: few backlinks, thin or outdated pages, or forum threads instead of dedicated answers. They are usually long, specific phrases with a keyword difficulty under 20 to 30.
Where can I find a list of low competition keywords?
Use the examples above as templates, then generate your own: put a seed keyword in a free tool like Outrank's keyword research tool, filter for a low KD, and check the results on Google. A list built for your niche and your site's authority beats any generic list, because competition is relative to your site.
What are the lowest competition keywords?
The lowest competition keywords are usually very specific questions, problems and comparisons that no dedicated page answers yet, such as a troubleshooting question answered only by a Reddit thread. Many show zero volume in keyword tools, because almost 93% of the keywords in Ahrefs' US database get fewer than 10 searches a month.
How do I find high search volume, low competition keywords?
Look for clusters instead of single keywords: groups of related long-tail terms that add up to high volume together. Rising topics in Google Trends and queries where the top results use the wrong format are the other two places where volume and weak competition overlap.
Are low competition keywords worth it if the volume is low?
Usually, yes. A page that ranks for a low-volume keyword tends to rank for many related variations, and specific searches bring visitors closer to a decision. The median keyword Outrank targets for its customers gets 170 searches a month.
