How to Find Low-Hanging Fruit Keywords

Table Of Contents

Look, I’ve been in the SEO game for over a decade now. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that most people are making keyword research way harder than it needs to be.

They’re out there chasing after keywords with 100,000 monthly searches, trying to compete with Wikipedia and Amazon. Meanwhile, there are thousands of easier targets sitting right in front of them. Keywords that get decent traffic but don’t have every major brand fighting over them.

That’s what we call low-hanging fruit keywords. And finding them? That’s where the real money is made. Targeting low-hanging fruit keywords is a strategic way to drive relevant traffic, especially for smaller sites that need to build authority and attract visitors who are more likely to convert.

I’m going to show you exactly how to find these opportunities. Finding and targeting the right keywords gives you a significant advantage over competitors. No theory. No fluff. Just the methods I use every single day to help businesses on Legiit rank faster and drive more traffic. The key is to focus on the right keywords rather than just high-volume ones.

What Makes a Keyword Low-Hanging Fruit

Before we dive into the how, let’s get clear on the what.

A low-hanging fruit keyword isn’t just about low competition. It’s about the sweet spot where opportunity meets reality.

Here’s what I look for:

Search volume between 100-1,000 monthly searches. Yeah, I know. That sounds small. But you want to make sure the keyword has enough search volume to be worth your effort. Even keywords with lower search volumes can add up to a decent amount of traffic when you target them in bulk. If you can rank #1 for a keyword getting 500 searches per month, you’re looking at maybe 200-250 visitors. Do that with 20 keywords and you’ve got 4,000-5,000 visitors monthly. Not bad for “small” keywords.

Keyword difficulty under 30. This varies by tool, but generally, anything under 30 means you’ve got a fighting chance without building links for months.

Commercial intent. I don’t care if a keyword gets 10,000 searches if nobody’s buying. Look for words that indicate someone’s ready to spend money or solve a problem.

Gaps in existing content. Sometimes the competition looks tough on paper, but when you actually look at what’s ranking, it’s garbage. Old content. Thin content. Content that doesn’t actually answer the question.

I remember working with a client who sold industrial cleaning supplies. Everyone told them to go after “industrial cleaning” or “commercial cleaning services.” Those keywords were brutal. Huge companies with massive link profiles.

Instead, we found “how to remove grease stains from concrete floors.” Only getting 300 searches per month—a lower search volume compared to the main industry terms, but still a decent search volume for our goals. But guess what? The top results were terrible. One was a forum post from 2015. Another was a blog post that barely mentioned concrete.

We created a comprehensive guide. Ranked #1 in six weeks. That single keyword now drives 20-30 leads per month. Each lead worth about $500 on average.

That’s the power of low-hanging fruit.

The Foundation: Understanding Search Intent

Here’s where most people mess up. They see a keyword with low competition and jump on it without understanding what the searcher actually wants.

Search intent falls into four buckets:

Informational. Someone wants to learn something. “How to,” “what is,” “why does” keywords. These can work, but they’re usually top-of-funnel. Good for building authority and getting people into your ecosystem.

Navigational. Someone’s looking for a specific website or brand. Usually not worth targeting unless it’s your brand.

Commercial. Someone’s researching before they buy. “Best,” “reviews,” “vs” keywords. These are gold mines. People are close to making a decision.

Transactional. Someone’s ready to buy right now. “Buy,” “price,” “cost” keywords. High value but often high competition too.

Matching your content to the needs and search intent of your target audience is crucial for SEO success. Understanding your target audience ensures your content is relevant and meets their specific needs.

The sweet spot? Commercial intent keywords that look informational on the surface. These keywords are more likely to attract a targeted audience that is ready to convert.

Take “best project management software for small teams.” That looks informational. Someone just wants to learn about options, right?

Wrong. That person is probably shopping. They’ve got a team. They need software. They’re comparing options. They’re maybe 80% of the way to making a purchase. Using such specific keywords helps you reach a more targeted audience with higher conversion potential.

But because it starts with “best,” a lot of businesses ignore it. They think it’s just an information play.

I’ve built entire businesses around commercial intent keywords that other people thought were just informational.

Method 1: The Competitor Gap Analysis

This is my favorite method because it works fast and the data is solid. Competitor analysis is a crucial part of any effective SEO strategy, as it helps you identify gaps and opportunities to outperform others in your niche.

Start by making a list of your top 5-10 competitors. Not the big dogs like Amazon or Wikipedia. Your actual business competitors. Companies of similar size going after similar customers.

Plug them into a tool like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or even Ubersuggest if you’re on a budget. Use these tools to see where your competitors rank for specific keywords and perform SERP analysis to identify gaps in their content or weaknesses you can exploit.

Go to their “organic keywords” report. Set the filters to:

Position 4-20 (they’re ranking but not dominating)
Search volume 100-2,000
Keyword difficulty under 30

When filtering for positions 4-20, pay special attention to keywords where your site is currently on the second or third page of search results, as these represent prime opportunities for improvement.

Now you’ve got a list of keywords your competitors are getting some traffic from, but they’re not crushing.

Here’s the key: look at what’s actually ranking for those keywords.

I was doing this for a client in the accounting space. Found that a competitor was ranking #8 for “QuickBooks alternatives for freelancers.” Only 400 monthly searches, but perfect commercial intent. By analyzing the average position of keywords in Google Search Console, you can quickly spot low-hanging fruit that are ripe for optimization.

I looked at what was ranking #1-3. Outdated software reviews. A listicle from 2019. A forum discussion.

We created a comprehensive comparison guide. Real screenshots. Actual pricing. Pros and cons based on different freelancer needs. Ranked #2 within eight weeks.

That keyword now drives about 150 visitors per month. Conversion rate is 12% because these people are ready to buy. That’s 18 new customers monthly from one keyword.

The math works. Developing a clear keyword strategy based on competitor analysis and SERP analysis can significantly improve your search engine rankings.

Method 2: Question-Based Keyword Mining

People ask questions. Lots of them. And Google wants to answer those questions.

The problem is, most businesses focus on the obvious questions. The ones everyone’s targeting.

I dig deeper.

Start with Answer the Public or a similar tool. Plug in your main topic and see what comes up. This tool helps you find keywords and identify specific phrases and search terms that people are actively searching for, making it easier to discover keyword phrases with lower competition.

But here’s where I do something different. I don’t just take those questions as-is. I modify them to be more specific.

Let’s say you’re in the fitness space. Answer the Public might show “how to lose weight fast.”

That’s brutal competition. Everyone and their mother has content about losing weight fast.

But what about:

“How to lose weight fast for wedding in 3 months”
“How to lose weight fast after 40”
“How to lose weight fast without giving up carbs”

Same core intent. Much more specific. Way less competition.

I call this the “modifier method.” Take a broad question and add modifiers that make it more specific. This approach is especially effective for uncovering long tail keywords and low difficulty keywords that are easier to rank for.

Time modifiers: fast, quickly, in 30 days, overnight Demographic modifiers: for men, for women, for seniors, for beginners Situation modifiers: at home, without equipment, on a budget, for work Problem modifiers: without side effects, naturally, safely

Each modifier creates a new keyword opportunity. And often, these modified versions have way less competition than the broad version.

I used this method for a SaaS client. Instead of targeting “CRM software,” we went after specific keyword phrases and search terms like:

“CRM software for real estate agents under $50”
“CRM software that integrates with QuickBooks”
“CRM software for teams under 10 people”

Each of these gets 200-600 searches per month. Combined, they drive more traffic than we ever would have gotten fighting over “CRM software.”

Method 3: The Forum and Community Mining Approach

This one takes more time, but the quality is incredible. Manual search in forums and communities can reveal keyword opportunities that tools might miss.

People ask real questions in forums. They use real language. Not the sanitized, SEO-optimized language that shows up in keyword tools.

I spend time on:

Reddit (especially industry-specific subreddits)
Quora
Industry forums
Facebook groups
Discord servers

I’m not looking for keywords directly. I’m looking for problems people talk about repeatedly. This approach helps you attract more targeted traffic and relevant traffic by addressing real user concerns.

Here’s what I do:

Search for your main topic plus words like “help,” “problem,” “issue,” “struggling,” “confused.”

Look for questions that come up again and again. Different people, same problem.

Then I take those real-world problems and turn them into keyword opportunities.

I was working with a client who sells online course creation software. Spent a few hours in entrepreneur Facebook groups and subreddits.

Same question kept coming up: “How do I price my online course without scaring people away?”

Checked the keyword data. “How to price online courses” gets about 800 searches per month. Medium competition.

But the real opportunity was the emotional angle. People weren’t just asking about pricing. They were worried about scaring customers away.

So we created content around “how to price online courses without losing customers.” Much more specific. Lower competition. Higher emotional connection. Targeting these specific concerns can drive highly targeted traffic to your site.

That piece now ranks #3 and drives consistent leads because it addresses the real emotional concern behind the search.

Method 4: The Google Autocomplete Goldmine

Google’s autocomplete suggestions are based on real searches. Real people typing real queries.

Most people use this for basic keyword research. Type in a word, see what Google suggests.

I go deeper.

Start with your main keyword. Let’s say “email marketing.”

Type “email marketing” and see what comes up. Maybe “email marketing software,” “email marketing tips,” “email marketing campaigns.”

Now take each of those suggestions and go another level deep.

“Email marketing software” might suggest:

“Email marketing software for small business”
“Email marketing software free”
“Email marketing software comparison”

Keep going. “Email marketing software for small business” might suggest:

“Email marketing software for small business under $20”
“Email marketing software for small business with automation”

Each level gets more specific. More specific usually means less competition.

But here’s the trick most people miss: try different starting words for the same concept. This can help you discover other keywords that your competitors may not be targeting.

Instead of “email marketing,” try:

“Email campaigns”
“Email automation”
“Email newsletters”
“Email sequences”

Each starting point gives you different autocomplete suggestions. Different ways people think about the same problem.

I found some of my best keywords this way. Keywords that don’t show up in traditional tools because they’re too new or too specific.

Also, don’t forget to check the related searches at the bottom of the search results page. These related searches can reveal additional keyword ideas and topics that users are actively looking for.

Finally, analyze the search results themselves to see which keywords are underserved or where there are gaps you can fill.

Method 5: The Wikipedia Table of Contents Strategy

This one sounds weird, but trust me.

Wikipedia articles are comprehensive. They cover topics from every angle. And the table of contents shows you all the subtopics people care about. You can start with a seed keyword to explore related subtopics and generate multiple pages of content targeting different aspects of your main topic.

Find a Wikipedia page related to your industry. Look at the table of contents.

Each section header is potentially a keyword opportunity.

Take the Wikipedia page for “Digital Marketing.” The table of contents includes sections like:

Search engine optimization
Social media marketing
Content marketing
Email marketing

But it also includes more specific sections like:

Marketing automation
Affiliate marketing
Influencer marketing
Mobile marketing

Each of these could be a keyword. But more importantly, each has subsections. And those subsections are often even better keyword opportunities.

Under “Content Marketing,” you might find:

Blog marketing
Video marketing
Podcast marketing
White paper marketing

Turn these into “how to” or “best” keywords:

“How to use blog marketing to generate leads”
“Best video marketing strategies for B2B”
“White paper marketing examples that convert”

This is a keyword-based approach to content planning, allowing you to identify valuable low-competition terms and avoid keyword cannibalization by ensuring multiple pages target unique keywords.

Most of these will have much lower competition than the broad category terms.

I used this method for a client in the HR software space. The Wikipedia page for “Human Resource Management” had dozens of subsections I’d never thought of.

One was “Employee Onboarding.” That led me to keywords like:

“Employee onboarding checklist template”
“How to onboard remote employees effectively”
“Employee onboarding software for small companies”

Each gets 200-500 searches per month. Way easier to rank for than “HR software.”

Method 6: The Amazon and YouTube Suggestion Strategy

Amazon and YouTube have their own search engines. Their suggestions are based on what people actually search for on those platforms, reflecting real search terms.

This works especially well for “how to” and product-related keywords.

Go to YouTube. Start typing your main topic. See what comes up in the dropdown.

Those suggestions represent real search terms with high search volume on YouTube. People are actively looking for videos about those topics.

Now, here’s the opportunity: not every YouTube search has good written content ranking on Google.

I’ll find YouTube suggestions like “how to set up email automation in Mailchimp” or “how to create a sales funnel for coaching business.”

Then I check Google. Sometimes the top results are weak. Old content. Videos (which means there’s an opportunity for good written content). Or content that doesn’t actually answer the question well.

Amazon works the same way. People search for products, but they also search for solutions.

Type in your main topic in Amazon’s search bar. Look at the suggestions.

“Email marketing” might suggest “email marketing books,” “email marketing course,” “email marketing templates.”

Each suggestion represents demand. People looking for solutions.

Turn those into keyword opportunities by targeting search terms with high search volume:

“Best email marketing books for beginners”
“Free email marketing templates that convert”
“Email marketing course vs self-learning”

How to Evaluate and Prioritize Your Keywords

You’ve got a list. Now what?

Not all keywords are created equal. You need a system to decide which ones to target first. It’s important to define your target keywords for each page to avoid cannibalization and maximize relevance in search results.

Here’s my framework:

Business relevance (40% of decision). How closely does this keyword align with what you actually sell? A keyword might be easy to rank for, but if it doesn’t bring you customers, who cares?

Traffic potential (30% of decision). How many people search for this monthly? But don’t just look at the main keyword. Consider variations and related terms. Make sure the keyword has enough search volume to be worth targeting.

Competition level (20% of decision). How hard will it be to rank? Look at domain authority of current results, but also look at content quality. Look for low competition keywords and check for low keyword difficulty to find opportunities that are easier to rank for.

Conversion probability (10% of decision). How likely is someone searching this term to become a customer? Commercial intent keywords score higher here.

Use a keyword research tool or keyword tool to assess keyword difficulty and search volume. Keyword research tools can help you find low difficulty keywords, identify low competition keywords, and evaluate which target keywords are best for your site.

I score each keyword 1-10 in each category. Multiply by the percentages. Add them up.

But here’s what matters more than the math: can you create the best result for this search?

If someone searches “how to choose email marketing software for restaurants,” can you create content that’s genuinely more helpful than what’s currently ranking?

If yes, target it. If no, move on.

The best keyword in the world won’t help you if you can’t create content that deserves to rank.

Tools That Actually Matter

You don’t need expensive tools to find low-hanging fruit keywords. But some tools make it faster.

Free tools that work:

Google Search Console (vital for discovering low-hanging fruit SEO opportunities, tracking organic traffic, and identifying keywords with high impressions but low CTR)
Google Keyword Planner (basic but reliable data)
Ubersuggest (limited free searches but good for starting)
Answer the Public (great for question-based keywords)
Google Trends (good for seasonal and trending topics)

Paid tools worth considering:

Ahrefs (my personal favorite, but expensive)
SEMrush (good all-around tool)
KWFinder by Mangools (cheaper alternative, good for beginners)

But here’s the thing… I’ve found some of my best keywords using nothing but Google autocomplete and common sense.

The tool doesn’t find the keyword. You do.

The tool just gives you data to validate your ideas. When validating keyword ideas, targeting featured snippets is a key part of low hanging fruit SEO, as capturing these SERP features can quickly boost your organic traffic.

Creating Content That Ranks

Finding the keyword is half the battle. Creating content that ranks is the other half.

For low-hanging fruit keywords, you don’t need to write 5,000-word epics. You need to create the most helpful result for that specific search.

Start with search intent. What does someone searching this keyword actually want to accomplish?

Look at what’s currently ranking. What format are the top results using? Blog posts? Lists? Guides? Tools?

Identify gaps. What questions aren’t the current results answering? What information is missing or outdated?

Create something better. More comprehensive. More up-to-date. More actionable. Better organized. As part of your SEO efforts, make sure to optimize your title tags with relevant keywords and use internal links to connect related content—this will help your content rank higher and improve user navigation.

I ranked #1 for “how to find freelancers for small projects” with a 1,500-word post. Not because it was long, but because it was the most practical result.

All the other results were generic advice about freelancing in general. My post was specific. Step-by-step instructions. Specific platforms to use. Exact questions to ask. Templates to copy.

It answered the question better than anything else ranking.

That’s what matters.

Common Mistakes That Kill Your Results

I’ve seen people mess this up in the same ways over and over.

Targeting keywords they can’t rank for. Just because a keyword looks easy doesn’t mean you can rank for it. If your website has no authority and you’re targeting keywords in competitive niches, you’re wasting time.

Ignoring search intent. They see a keyword with good search volume and low competition. Jump on it. Create content. Wonder why it doesn’t convert. They didn’t think about what the searcher actually wanted.

Creating content for search engines instead of people. They stuff the keyword in everywhere. Use it in every other sentence. The content reads like garbage, so even if it ranks, people bounce immediately.

Not being specific enough. They go after “email marketing tips” instead of “email marketing tips for e-commerce stores.” The more specific keyword is easier to rank for and converts better.

Creating multiple pages targeting the same keyword. Having multiple pages focused on the same keyword can cause keyword cannibalization, which dilutes your SEO effectiveness and can hurt your rankings.

Giving up too quickly. SEO takes time. Even low-hanging fruit keywords can take 2-6 months to rank well. They publish content, don’t see results in two weeks, and move on to something else.

Not updating content. They create a piece, it ranks well, then they ignore it. Rankings drop because the content gets outdated. Competitors create better content. They lose the ranking they worked to get.

Scaling Your Low-Hanging Fruit Strategy

Once you’ve got the system down, you can scale it. As you scale, be sure to look for low hanging fruit opportunities—these are easy wins like keywords with low competition, technical fixes, or content gaps that can quickly boost your search rankings.

Create a content calendar around your keywords. I recommend targeting 2-4 keywords per month to start.

Don’t try to do 20 keywords at once. Better to create really good content for a few keywords than mediocre content for many.

Track your results. Which keywords are driving traffic? Which are converting? Double down on what’s working.

Look for patterns. If “how to” keywords are working well for you, find more “how to” opportunities. If comparison keywords convert well, prioritize those.

Build topic clusters. Once you rank for one keyword in a topic area, it’s easier to rank for related keywords. Google starts to see you as an authority on that topic.

I have one client who started with a single low-hanging fruit keyword about project management for creative agencies. It got traction. So we found 15 more related keywords. Now they dominate that entire topic area and get over 10,000 organic visitors per month.

The Long-Term Payoff

Here’s what most people don’t understand about low-hanging fruit keywords:

They compound.

Each keyword you rank for makes the next one easier. Google starts to trust your site more. You build topical authority. Your domain gets stronger.

Those “small” keywords add up. 20 keywords getting 200 visitors each is 4,000 visitors per month. 50 keywords getting 100 visitors each is 5,000 visitors per month.

And because these keywords are more specific, they often convert better than broad keywords. When you target keywords that have fewer websites competing for them, it’s easier to achieve higher rankings and see better conversions.

Someone searching “project management software” could be a student doing research. Someone searching “project management software for construction companies under 20 employees” is probably shopping.

The specific searches convert at 2-3x the rate of broad searches in my experience.

I’ve seen businesses build 6-figure revenues entirely on low-hanging fruit keywords. No paid ads. No big PR campaigns. Just consistent effort targeting the right opportunities.