Everyone aims to dominate search engines using competitive keywords, but few consider low-competition keywords.
If you're starting in the market, it's highly recommended to opt for low-competition keywords. Otherwise, it will be complicated and very costly for you to establish yourself. Those starting with a new website may desire short-term results; however, the reality is different.
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| Low-Competition Keywords: Why They Rank Faster & How to Find Them? |
The world of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is highly competitive, making it essential to work with a good strategy. You need to search for low-competition keywords that have not gained enough popularity in your field of work, yet are common enough to drive traffic to your website.
Learn How to Find Low-competition Keywords and How to Use Them.
1. Consider the Topics You Want to Work On
First, think about the topics you want to focus on. Put yourself in your target audience's shoes to get a clearer vision of how they search for you on Google. Instead of guessing exact phrases, brainstorm and observe the general topics that emerge.
2. Create a Keyword List
Once you have a clearer idea of the topics you want to work on, the next step is to create an initial keyword list. Use tools that provide you with the keywords used by your competitors' websites. Start researching based on your niche to conduct an analysis and identify keywords that drive search engine traffic.
You will also find a column measuring the keyword's competition (if you have just started) that you searched for. If you wish, you can use filtering to find more specific and relevant search terms for your business. Some tools allow you to assess keyword gaps as well, helping you find long-tail queries. Export all these keywords to create your list.
3. Use Large Volume Keywords with Less Competition
Another way to find low-competition keywords is by reviewing the average monthly search volume for each keyword. Through such reports, you can determine the potential visits you can receive. Keep in mind that the higher your ranking for high-volume search terms, the more traffic your website will receive.
However, be aware that competition for popular keywords is very high. It's not practical to try to rank for those keywords you won't reach. Instead, you should balance search volume with keyword competition.
For this, you need to use specialized tools that help you assess the keyword's difficulty. It will provide you with an estimate of how difficult it is to surpass higher-ranking websites. This is especially useful if you are working with organic search.
Apart from competition level, consider the bidding intensity by advertisers for specific search terms. It's relevant to paid search, and it may serve as a representation of valuable information.
4. Understand User Search Intent
Among the things you should consider is user search intent, which is what users expect to find when entering a keyword. Even though the keyword may be low in competition, there might be difficulties in ranking without creating the corresponding content.
When searching for keywords, it's essential that they align logically with the content you want to create. To make your keywords work better, understand the four common types of content users consider when searching:
- Informational: Users seek information about a specific topic.
- Navigational: Users search for a particular website.
- Commercial Investigation: Users are interested in purchasing a product or service but haven't made a decision yet.
- Transactional: In this case, users are searching with direct intent to make a purchase.
5. Domain Rating (DR) Ranking
When looking for low-competition keywords, also consider Domain Rating (DR) ranking. It measures a website's authority on a scale from 0 to 100 based on its backlink profile. Some believe that Google uses a form of website authority ranking in its ranking algorithm. However, Google denies it, but people still consider it a reference for some low-competition keywords. You'll notice that the top-ranking pages often come from high-ranking websites.
6. Verify High-Quality Backlinks
Several factors influence keyword difficulty. In fact, the number of backlinks pointing to the top-ranking pages is also taken into account, but not just their quantity; their quality matters too. To evaluate this correctly, you must consider:
- The relevance of the linking site and page.
- The authority of the linking site and page.
- The placement of the links on the page.
- The anchor text of the linking.
If one thing is certain, it is practically impossible to take all aspects of these factors into account, especially when creating keywords. Therefore, it is best to keep things simple and consistent by only looking at the average number of referring domains pointing to the top ten pages.
This is the main reason why manually checking the backlink profiles of high-ranking pages is always worth it. Remember that quantity isn't everything; quality is crucial.
7. Utilize Featured Snippets
During the process of finding appropriate keywords for your business, you can also consider other aspects, particularly keywords that trigger features like featured snippets or instant answers.
What are featured snippets?
They are distinct answers that appear at the top of search results and provide search engines with the answer even before clicking the result.
Think of them as an opportunity to enhance your search engine ranking. So, write every keyword in your list with a featured snippet in mind. Keep in mind that if you create your content properly, there's a better chance of getting a featured snippet along with your link.
If you wonder what you can do when working with low-competition keywords containing a prominent featured snippet in search results:
- Capitalize on the potential existing at the top of search results.
- Provide your audience with quick and reliable information.
- In theory, they can be obtained more easily than highly difficult keywords.
Are You Ready to Use Your Low-competition Keywords?
With all these tips, you can now find keywords that are not common but can be effective in ranking. Remember that this is the recommended path initially because using highly competitive keywords would make it almost impossible to achieve a good ranking in search engines.
Later, when your company gains more visibility and recognition from users, you can experiment with other keywords. The idea is to climb gradually to be on par with your competitors and establish your presence in your field of work.
Conclusion
Leveraging low-competition keywords is a smart approach for optimizing search engine rankings and attracting targeted audiences. While competitive keywords may seem appealing, focusing on less contested terms allows businesses to establish a strong online presence, especially for new ventures and niche markets. Thorough keyword research, user intent understanding, and backlink evaluation are essential for identifying relevant and attainable low-competition keywords. Crafting user-centric content enhances the likelihood of ranking well and driving organic traffic. Embracing this strategy empowers businesses to gradually climb the search rankings, connect with their target audience, and succeed in their industry.
