How to Find Low-Difficulty Keywords (And Rank Faster)

Rank faster and reach your audience sooner. Discover how to find low-competition keywords and build a smarter SEO strategy that works.

Want to rank faster and drive more organic traffic without spending a fortune? Targeting low-difficulty keywords is likely your best move. These easy-to-rank terms can help you get your content in front of the right people sooner, setting a strong SEO foundation while building domain authority. In this guide, we break down low-difficulty keywords, why they’re valuable, and how to incorporate them into your content strategy.

What Is a Low-Difficulty Keyword?

Keyword difficulty (KD) refers to how hard it is to rank for a specific keyword. So, a low-difficulty keyword is a search term that’s easier to rank for on Google. These keywords usually have less competition, meaning fewer websites try to appear for them. If your site is newer or you’re just starting to pay attention to SEO, they’re a fantastic brand awareness and traffic opportunity. 

Keywords that are harder to rank for tend to be shorter and broader. For example, “coffee shops near me” has a KD of 80 (out of 100), according to Semrush’s Keyword Magic Tool. Keywords with lower difficulty scores tend to be longer and more specific. Following the coffee shop example, “coffee shop for studying near me” has a KD of just 11. If you’re a small coffee shop battling against well-known names like Starbucks and have the perfect study sesh vibes, targeting this keyword will be worth your effort.

Why Do You Want to Target Low-Difficulty Keywords?

There are two main reasons you want to go after keywords with lower difficulty: less competition and higher intent. 

Less Competition 

Unless you’re an enterprise brand with well-established authority, you’re a small fish swimming in an SEO ocean. The higher the difficulty score for a keyword, the more competitive it is. Countless brands (both large and small) are targeting it, and those large brands usually gobble up the top positions on the SERP. 

On the flip side, keywords with low difficulty tend to have far less competition. Either the term is too specific to apply to all brands in the industry (not all coffee shops are open late, have the right atmosphere for studying, or allow dogs), or it’s not valuable for larger brands because they draw enough traffic from high-difficulty keywords. So, low-difficulty terms present the perfect opportunity for smaller brands like yours to swoop in and gain some traffic. 

Higher Intent

Because low-difficulty keywords are usually longer and specific, they tend to have a higher intent behind them. Let’s say you own a local boutique selling wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses in-store and online. A keyword like “bridesmaid dresses online” has a monthly search volume of 5,400, which may make you want to rank for it. However, it has a KD of 69, making it extremely hard to push past larger brands. 

Aside from this, we need to consider the intent behind the search. Someone performing a generic search for online bridesmaid dresses is likely early in their journey and exploring what dress styles, colors, brands, and prices are available. They are likely still far from making a purchase. On the other hand, a term like “sage green floral bridesmaid dresses” may only have a volume of 590, but its KD score is just 11, making it a great target. Plus, someone searching for this term already knows exactly what type of dress they’re looking for and is ready to buy, increasing your chances of a conversion.

How to Find Easy-to-Rank Keywords

Now that we understand the importance of low-competition keywords, how do we identify them? Finding the right keywords to rank for doesn’t have to be a guessing game. With proper keyword research, you can target low-competition, high-impact keywords that rank.

Turn to Your Trusted Keyword Research Tool

Popular keyword research tools like Semrush and Moz can show you how competitive a keyword is. Look for terms with a low “keyword difficulty” or “competition” score — these are the terms that are easier to rank for. 

Use Filter & Sort Options

You don’t need to sift through thousands of keywords looking for one with a low enough difficulty score. Leverage filter and sort options to focus your search from the start. 

If you’re wondering how to find long-tail keywords with low SEO difficulty, filter your keywords by an easy difficulty score and question format only. Questions are naturally more specific and usually have lower difficulty. 

Using Semrush, you may consider selecting the “Very easy” keyword difficulty filter and sorting by questions instead of all keywords, as seen below. 

Check Out the SERP

Even if you don’t have a keyword research tool, you can still determine how easy your keyword might be. Search your keyword on Google and see what shows up. You may struggle to rank if the results are filled with big-name brands or government sites. But if you see smaller blogs or forums ranking high, that’s a good sign you’ve found a low-competition opportunity.

Don’t forget to check the People Also Ask section. You can often find other, more attainable keywords to target here. For example, ranking for something as broad as “car won’t start” will be difficult without a strong brand and a website with established authority in the automotive space. But the People Also Ask section for this search provides more specific, lower difficulty phrases you can target instead, like “Why won’t my car start but I have power?”

Identify Keyword Gaps

Another great way to find low-competition opportunities is to uncover the keywords your competitors are NOT targeting or ranking for. Some tools let you compare your site to others in your industry to spot these gaps. You may be surprised by what hidden gems you can uncover. 

Think Like Your Audience

When brainstorming keyword ideas, imagine yourself in your customers’ shoes. What would you search for if you were looking for your product or service? Make a list of common questions or phrases, then use your keyword research tool to find related keywords that are less competitive. 

Determining How High You Can Aim

If you’re just starting out or your site doesn’t have much authority yet, you’ll want to stick with lower keyword difficulty (KD) scores. Typically, this means targeting keywords in the 0 to 50 KD range. 

• 0–14 KD: Great for new or smaller sites. 
• 15–29 KD: Still easy to rank for, especially with well-written content.
• 30–49 KD: Possible to rank for but might require more backlinks, a higher domain authority, or a strong existing content strategy.

Once you hit 50+ KD territory, you’ll usually compete with major brands or highly authoritative websites. 

This doesn’t mean you should never target keywords with higher difficulty. You may surprise yourself! You might have a shot if you see smaller blogs or local businesses ranking, even if the KD is slightly higher than you’d usually target. A higher-difficulty keyword can also be worth going after if it’s part of your long-term strategy or ties into other content you’re building. Layer these high-difficulty keywords with other low-difficulty ones to ensure your content still has a chance of ranking for something. 

Balancing KD and Search Volume

When selecting your keywords, you also need to consider search volume. A keyword might have a KD of 5 but only 10 monthly searches. This topic may not be where you want to focus your efforts if other, higher volume options exist. The real sweet spot you want to find is keywords with hundreds or thousands of searches a month with a KD below 35. 

Low-volume keywords can still be valuable, especially if they relate directly to your business or service. More niche industries might not have a ton of search volume behind them, so you’ll want to rank for the keywords you can find. Plus, publishing about and ranking for relevant topics helps you build authority and expertise, which can help you rank for more difficult keywords down the road. 

Keyword Strategy & Content That Drives Results

Finding the right keywords is just the first step. Even low-difficulty keywords won’t help you rank if the content doesn’t deliver. To stand out in search results, you need content that’s optimized, helpful, and engaging. It’s about striking the right balance between strategy and substance.

At GPO, our SEO and content specialists work together to uncover low-competition, high-opportunity keywords—and then build content designed to perform. From blog posts to landing pages, we craft copy that speaks to your audience and sends the right signals to search engines. The longer you wait, the harder it gets to break through. Let’s build your strategy today.