How to Find Low-Competition Keywords for Blogging (Step-by-Step Guide)
If you're starting a blog or trying to grow one, you’ve probably heard the phrase “low-competition keywords.” These are search terms with relatively few websites competing for them, which makes them ideal for new or small blogs to rank higher in Google search results. In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn step-by-step how to find such keywords — without paying for expensive tools.
Why Low-Competition Keywords Matter
When you're new to blogging or don't have a high domain authority, it’s nearly impossible to rank for highly competitive keywords like “weight loss” or “digital marketing.” Your best chance of success is to find keywords that:
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Have decent search volume
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Are underserved by big websites
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Are specific enough (long-tail)
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Match user intent clearly
These are the low-hanging fruits that can bring in steady traffic and help you grow faster.
Step 1: Start With a Seed Keyword
Begin with a general idea or topic that fits your niche. For example:
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Health blog → “home remedies”
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Travel blog → “cheap places to visit”
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Tech blog → “best budget phone”
Seed keywords are the starting point for keyword exploration. Write down 5–10 broad ideas you can explore further.
Step 2: Use Free Tools to Generate Keyword Ideas
You don’t need paid tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to begin. Start with these free tools:
a) Google Autocomplete
Type your seed keyword into Google and note the autocomplete suggestions. These often show what real users are searching for.
Example: Type “home remedies for” and you may get:
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home remedies for cold
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home remedies for sore throat
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home remedies for acidity
b) Google’s "People Also Ask" Box
Search any query on Google and scroll to the “People also ask” section. Expand it to see even more related questions.
c) Answer the Public
This tool visualizes questions people ask around a keyword. Input a topic and get dozens of potential long-tail keywords.
d) Ubersuggest (Free Version)
Offers keyword ideas with estimated competition and search volume. Look for keywords with a lower SD (SEO Difficulty) score.
Step 3: Check Keyword Difficulty (Even Without Paid Tools)
Once you have a list of keyword ideas, check how competitive they are manually:
a) Do a Google Search
Search your keyword and analyze the top 10 results:
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Are they all from big authority sites like WebMD, Forbes, or Wikipedia?
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Are they well-optimized blog posts with detailed answers?
If the top results are forums (Reddit, Quora), old articles, or low-quality content, it's a sign of low competition.
b) Use MozBar Chrome Extension (Free)
Install MozBar to see the domain authority (DA) of ranking sites.
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If the top results have DA below 30, it's likely a low-competition keyword.
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Look for keywords where blogs similar to yours are already ranking.
Step 4: Focus on Long-Tail Keywords
Long-tail keywords are longer, more specific phrases like:
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“home remedies for sore throat during winter”
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“cheap places to visit in South India in December”
These are searched less but are far easier to rank for and often convert better because they reflect specific user intent.
Tips:
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Add modifiers like: “best,” “cheap,” “how to,” “for beginners,” “in 2025,” etc.
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Think like a searcher: What would you type if you were searching?
Step 5: Use Google Trends to Validate Demand
Go to Google Trends and compare your keyword with similar terms. Make sure interest in the keyword is stable or rising. This helps avoid targeting keywords that may become irrelevant soon.
Step 6: Look Into Your Competitor’s Weak Spots
Find a few similar blogs in your niche. Use tools like:
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Similarweb or Ubersuggest to get an overview of their top pages.
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Use Screaming Frog SEO Spider (free for 500 URLs) to crawl their content and extract keywords.
Look for keywords they rank for but haven't fully optimized — that's your opportunity.
Step 7: Validate Keywords With Forums and Social Media
Go to platforms like:
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Reddit
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Quora
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Facebook groups
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Pinterest
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YouTube
Search your keyword. If you see lots of questions and discussions but little high-quality content, that's a golden opportunity for your blog.
Step 8: Create Content Around the Keyword
Once you find a good low-competition keyword, write a detailed blog post optimized around it. Include:
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Keyword in title, URL, and first paragraph
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Subheadings using related terms
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Natural use of the keyword throughout the post
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Related FAQs for extra SEO points
Also, add internal links to related posts and external links to high-authority sources. Optimize for both readers and search engines.
Step 9: Monitor and Adjust
Use free tools like Google Search Console to track keyword performance. After publishing:
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Wait 2–4 weeks
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See which keywords get impressions and clicks
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Update the post if needed — add more FAQs, improve content depth, or adjust headings
Bonus Tip: Build Topic Clusters
Group similar low-competition keywords under one pillar topic. For example:
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Pillar: Home remedies for seasonal issues
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Subtopics: Home remedies for cough, sore throat, cold, flu, etc.
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Link these posts together to strengthen SEO and improve time on site.
Summary
Finding low-competition keywords is part art, part science. It involves:
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Starting with a seed idea
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Using tools like Google Autocomplete, Answer the Public, and Ubersuggest
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Manually checking search results
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Prioritizing long-tail and specific search intent
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Validating with trends and social signals
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Creating focused, helpful content
With patience and consistency, you’ll start seeing organic traffic even if your blog is new.
