If you’re starting a new blog, one of the fastest ways to get traffic is by targeting low-competition keywords. These are keywords that real people search for — but not many websites are writing about.
That means you have a much higher chance of ranking on Google, even if your blog is brand new.
But here’s the challenge:
Most beginners don’t know where or how to find these keywords.
The good news?
Finding low-competition keywords is actually simple — and you don’t need expensive SEO tools to do it.
In this guide, you’ll learn exact steps, beginner-friendly methods, and free tools to help you find keywords you can rank for quickly.
Let’s get started.
1. Understand What “Low-Competition Keywords” Really Mean
Before searching, you need to know what you’re looking for.
✔ Low-competition keywords usually have:
- lower difficulty scores (easy to rank)
- narrower, more specific topics
- fewer high-authority websites in search results
- long-tail nature (3–6 words or more)
- clear search intent
✔ Examples:
❌ Hard: “blogging tips”
✔ Easier: “blogging tips for beginners 2025”
❌ Hard: “meal prep”
✔ Easier: “easy meal prep ideas for busy students”
The more specific → the lower the competition → the faster you rank.
2. Start With Google Autocomplete (Super Simple Method)
Google itself gives you low-competition keyword ideas.
✔ Step-by-step:
- Go to Google
- Type your main topic:
- “blogging”
- “meal prep”
- “budgeting”
- “Pinterest tips”
- Look at the suggestions
- These suggestions come from real searches
Example:
Type: “blogging for”
You might get:
- blogging for beginners
- blogging for students
- blogging for business
These long suggestions are often easier to rank for.
3. Use Google’s “People Also Ask” Section
This is an SEO goldmine.
When you search a keyword, scroll down and look for:
✔ People Also Ask (PAA)
This section shows questions people frequently search — perfect for low-competition topics.
Example:
Search “blog traffic” → PAA shows:
- How do beginners get blog traffic?
- Why is my blog not getting views?
- How can I increase organic traffic?
Each question = keyword opportunity.
4. Use Pinterest Search for Keyword Ideas (Extremely Underrated!)
Pinterest is a search engine, and its keyword suggestions are extremely beginner-friendly.
✔ How to find keywords:
- Go to Pinterest
- Type a topic
- Look at the suggestions under the search bar
- Explore idea bubbles
- Look at popular pins for long-tail titles
Example:
Search “meal prep” → Pinterest suggests:
- meal prep for beginners
- meal prep for weight loss
- meal prep ideas cheap
- meal prep for busy people
These are perfect low-comp keywords for blog posts.
Pinterest works especially well for lifestyle, food, DIY, travel, blogging, motherhood, and productivity niches.
5. Use Free SEO Tools to Check Difficulty
You don’t need Ahrefs or SEMrush as a beginner.
Use these free tools:
✔ Ubersuggest (Free Version)
Shows:
- search volume
- difficulty score
- long-tail suggestions
Search for “blogging for beginners” → you’ll see related phrases and competition levels.
✔ Google Keyword Planner (Free)
Works well if you have a Google Ads account.
✔ AnswerThePublic (Free Queries Daily)
Shows hundreds of questions related to one keyword.
These tools help validate keyword difficulty before you write.
6. Study What Already Ranks on Google
A powerful trick:
✔ If small blogs are ranking → YOU can rank too.
Search your keyword and check the first page:
- Are results from giant sites like HubSpot, Forbes, or Wikipedia?
- Or small niche blogs, Medium articles, or new websites?
If smaller blogs dominate page 1 → the keyword is low competition.
This method is more accurate than any tool.
7. Analyze Search Intent (Beginners Often Miss This!)
Google ranks content that satisfies what the user really wants.
✔ Types of search intent:
- Informational → How to start a blog
- Comparison → Canva vs Photoshop
- Transactional → best budget planners
- Navigational → Pinterest login
If your content doesn’t match intent → you won’t rank, even with a great keyword.
✔ Example:
Keyword: “how to meal prep chicken”
Intent: Step-by-step tutorial
If you write a product review → you won’t rank.
Match the intent every time.
8. Turn Broad Keywords Into Low-Competition Long-Tails
Take a broad topic → turn it into long-tail keywords using simple formulas:
✔ Formulas:
- “How to + specific problem”
- “Best + for + specific audience”
- “Tips for + specific situation”
- “Ideas for + specific group”
- “Guide to + specific purpose”
Examples:
Broad: blogging
Long-tail:
- blogging tips for introverts
- how to start a blog as a student
- blogging schedule for busy moms
Broad: meal prep
Long-tail:
- cheap meal prep ideas for beginners
- meal prep for weight loss on a budget
- vegetarian meal prep for busy workers
These are usually low competition.
9. Use Competitor Blogs (Especially Small Ones!)
This trick is extremely effective:
✔ Step-by-step:
- Find a small blog in your niche
- Use their search bar
- Look at their categories
- Look at their popular posts
- See which posts get comments or shares
If they can rank → you can too.
You don’t need to copy topics.
Just get inspiration.
10. Use “Keyword Variations” to Create Multiple Blog Ideas
Once you find a low-competition keyword → expand it.
Example:
Keyword: “blogging tips for beginners”
Variations:
- blogging tips for students
- blogging tips for moms
- blogging tips for introverts
- blogging tips for small businesses
- blogging tips for 2025
Each variation = new, low-completion keyword opportunity.
You can build an entire content cluster from just one keyword.
11. Use “Content Gaps” to Beat Your Competition
Search your keyword on Google.
Read the top three articles.
✔ Identify missing elements:
- Did they skip examples?
- Is the article too short?
- Is it too general?
- No visuals?
- Outdated info?
Fill the gaps → your content becomes more valuable → better chance of ranking.
12. Organize Keywords into Content Clusters
Google loves structured, topic-focused content.
✔ Example cluster: “Pinterest Marketing”
Blog posts inside the cluster:
- Pinterest SEO for beginners
- How to create Pinterest pins
- How to find Pinterest keywords
- Pinterest mistakes to avoid
- Pinterest tools for creators
This builds topical authority → helps rankings grow faster.
Final Thoughts
Finding low-competition keywords isn’t complicated — it just requires the right approach.
To recap, here’s how beginners can find easy keywords:
- Use Google autocomplete
- Check People Also Ask
- Use Pinterest search
- Use free keyword tools
- Study small blogs already ranking
- Match search intent
- Expand keywords into long-tail versions
- Look for content gaps
- Build topic clusters
If you do this consistently, you will quickly build a list of hundreds of low-competition keywords — enough to grow your blog for months or even years.
Small blogs can absolutely rank.
You just need the right keywords.
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