In the crowded world of online content, one of the biggest challenges is standing out. With established websites dominating the top rankings for popular keywords, it can feel nearly impossible to get your content seen. But don’t worry, this article will show you how to find low competition, high traffic keywords to boost your website’s visibility, increase traffic, and, more importantly, enhance conversions.
By following this guide, you'll learn how to leverage free tools, use AI to streamline keyword research, and focus on the right metrics to outperform your competitors, no matter your niche.
Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Low Competition High Traffic Keywords
Step 1: Install Essential Free Tools
Before diving into keyword research, it’s important to have the right tools in place. For this process, you'll need two key free tools:
AIPRM: A free Chrome extension that integrates with ChatGPT, transforming it into a keyword research powerhouse. This tool will save you countless hours of manual keyword research by generating keyword clusters and search intent data.
How to install AIPRM:
- Head to the Chrome Web Store.
- Search for "AIPRM."
- Click "Add to Chrome" and sign up for a free account.
AI FT (AI-Fueled Turbo): A plugin designed to improve your website’s speed and performance. A fast-loading website is crucial because a slow site can drive visitors away and hurt your Google rankings.
How to test your website speed:
- Open Google and search for "PageSpeed Insights."
- Paste your website URL and run the analysis. A good score is in the 90s.
- If your site performs poorly, don’t panic. Install AI FT on your WordPress site to optimize loading times, and rerun the test. You should now see improvements that positively impact your ranking.
Why speed matters: According to a 2020 Google study, 53% of users will abandon a page if it takes more than 3 seconds to load. Fast-loading sites not only provide a better user experience but are also ranked higher by Google’s algorithms.
Step 2: Using AI to Generate Keyword Ideas
Once your tools are set up, it’s time to dive into keyword research. Here’s where AI comes in handy. Open ChatGPT, type "keyword strategy," and you’ll get a detailed table with keyword clusters, search intent, suggested titles, and meta descriptions.
Tip: Don’t settle for generic keywords. Ask ChatGPT to generate more unique keyword ideas based on your niche. You can focus on long-tail keywords and niche-specific phrases that will have less competition but still drive significant traffic.
Now, it’s time to refine this list:
- Open Google Keyword Planner and click on “Discover New Keywords.”
- Paste in your keywords (in batches of 10).
- Filter the results to show only low competition keywords and sort them by average monthly searches.
- You’ll now have a curated list of low competition, high-traffic keywords, with search volumes ranging between 1,000 and 100,000 per month.
Why Google Keyword Planner works: This free tool offers valuable insights into keyword volume, competition, and trends, making it one of the most reliable sources for keyword research. According to Backlinko’s 2021 SEO report, effective use of Google Keyword Planner can increase your chances of ranking for less competitive terms by up to 60%.
Step 3: Finding High-Intent Keywords
Not all traffic is created equal. You want to focus on keywords with high conversion intent. For instance, someone searching for “buy organic coffee beans” is likely ready to make a purchase, whereas “best coffee recipes” may lead to fewer conversions because the search intent is informational rather than transactional.
Here’s how to focus on high-intent keywords:
- Look at the keywords you’ve shortlisted.
- Focus on keywords where the search intent aligns with actions like purchases, sign-ups, or inquiries.
- Plug these keywords back into ChatGPT to refine them further, generating similar phrases with varying levels of intent.
What is search intent? The purpose of a user's search query is referred to as search intent. A 2022 Moz study highlighted that pages optimized for high-intent keywords have a much higher chance of converting visitors into leads or customers.
Step 4: Analyzing Your Competitors' Keywords
Understanding what’s working for your competitors can provide valuable insights into which keywords are worth targeting. To do this, head over to Ubersuggest:
- Enter your competitor’s URL.
- Check their traffic overview and analyze which keywords drive the most traffic.
- Click on “Keywords by Traffic” and filter the results by SEO difficulty and volume.
- This will reveal additional low-competition, high-traffic keywords that you can target.
Why competitor analysis matters: According to SEMrush, competitor analysis can improve your keyword strategy by highlighting untapped opportunities. Even sites that dominate certain keywords might overlook niche terms that could drive considerable traffic to your site.
Step 5: Long-Tail Keywords for Niche Markets
Long-tail keywords are longer, and furthermore, are specific keyword phrases that are searched for and they often have less competition. These are especially useful if you're operating in a niche market, where the more common keywords are already saturated.
Here’s why long-tail keywords work:
- Higher Conversion Rates: Visitors who search using long-tail phrases are usually further along in the buying process.
- Lower Competition: Most big sites focus on broader, more competitive keywords, leaving space for niche sites to dominate.
- Higher Relevance: Long-tail keywords often align more closely with the specific interests or needs of your audience.
For example, instead of targeting "running shoes," focus on "best running shoes for flat feet in 2024."
Supporting data: Research from Ahrefs shows that long-tail keywords account for 70% of all web searches, making them a powerful tool for increasing organic traffic in underserved niches.
Best Practices for Keyword Research in 2024
Balancing Keyword Difficulty and Search Volume
While low competition keywords are important, they must also have sufficient search volume to make your efforts worthwhile. Striking the right balance between keyword difficulty and search volume is crucial to building an effective SEO strategy.
- High Search Volume: Keywords with at least 1,000 searches per month are ideal for driving consistent traffic.
- Low Competition: Use SEO tools to ensure that your chosen keywords aren’t dominated by major websites.
A 2022 SEMrush study found that targeting keywords with a difficulty score of 20-30 can generate significantly more traffic with less effort.
Tracking and Refining Your SEO Strategy
It’s essential to track your SEO progress. Use tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console to monitor which keywords are driving traffic and how users engage with your site. If you notice a drop in rankings or traffic, refine your keyword strategy by revisiting your keyword list and adding new, high-intent keywords.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for website or blog isn’t a one-time activity; it’s an ongoing process. According to a Backlinko study, SEO rankings can fluctuate, so continuous optimization is key to long-term success.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are low competition keywords?
Low competition keywords are search terms that have relatively fewer websites competing for high rankings on Google. These keywords provide easier opportunities to rank your website on the first page of search results.
How do I find high-traffic keywords?
To find high-traffic keywords, use tools like Google Keyword Planner or AI-powered extensions like AI PM to identify search terms with high monthly search volumes but low competition.
Is Google Keyword Planner free to use?
Yes, Google Keyword Planner is a free tool, although it works best when connected to an active Google Ads account. You can use it to research keyword volume, competition, and trends.
How do long-tail keywords help with ranking?
Long-tail keywords are less competitive, highly specific search terms that often generate more relevant traffic and have higher conversion rates compared to broader, high-competition keywords.
What is search intent, and why does it matter?
Search intent refers to the purpose behind a user’s search query, whether informational, navigational, transactional, or commercial. Understanding search intent helps you target keywords that align with the actions you want users to take, such as making a purchase or signing up for a service.
Can I still rank on Google if I target low competition keywords?
Yes! In fact, targeting low competition keywords is one of the most effective ways to rank on Google, especially for newer or smaller websites. While it may take time, using the right keyword research tools and strategies can significantly improve your search rankings.
Conclusion
In today’s competitive digital landscape, finding low competition, high traffic keywords is essential to driving traffic and increasing your site’s visibility. By leveraging the right tools and focusing on high-intent, long-tail keywords, you can optimize your SEO strategy to achieve consistent growth. Remember, SEO is a long game—continual refinement and analysis are key to maintaining and improving your rankings.
For more insights and tools to improve your SEO, head over to MykeEducate.