6 Proven Tips to Find Low-Hanging Fruit Keywords for Quick SEO Wins

Did you know that 68% of all online experiences begin with a search engine?

Still, many websites struggle to get noticed, often buried under the weight of targeting highly competitive keywords.

For websites without significant authority, going after these high-volume terms can waste time and effort.

But here’s the good news: not all keywords are a battle.

There are plenty of low-competition, high-potential keywords out there that are easier to rank for.

In this article, you will find 6 tips on how to find low-hanging fruit keywords to enhance your online presence! Let’s start!

What are Low-Hanging Fruit Keywords?

Low-hanging fruit keywords are search terms that give you a great chance to rank well on search engine results pages (SERPs) with relatively little effort.

These keywords typically meet the following criteria:

• Low competition – Few other websites are targeting them.
• High relevance – Directly connected to your content or business.
• Moderate search volume – Enough people are searching for them, but they aren’t overly popular.
• Specific – Focused on niche topics or audience needs.
• Ranking potential – They can help you rank higher without too much work.

Low-hanging fruit keywords usually have a low difficulty score (ideally 30 or below). This makes them easier to rank for, often without complex strategies or extensive link-building.

For example, you run a digital marketing agency and want to target the keyword “SEO strategy.”

While it might seem like a good idea, this keyword could be tough to rank for due to high competition, as shown in the screenshot below:

As you can see from the information above, this keyword has a high difficulty score, which means we’ll need many high-quality, relevant backlinks to rank. 

However, plenty of keywords can add value to your business while being much easier to rank for.

By focusing on these keywords, you can create quality content and build a few relevant backlinks to see results faster. 

For example:

This keyword has a much lower difficulty score, meaning you have a better chance of ranking in the top 10 search results with fewer backlinks needed.

Why Are Low-Hanging Fruit Keywords Important?

Taking your time to find low-hanging keywords helps you:

• Leverage traffic growth over time – Low-volume keywords consistently drive traffic that accumulates significantly.
• Boost search engine rankings – These keywords are less competitive, helping your site rank higher with less effort.
• Maximize conversion rates – Long-tail phrases with high-intent keywords increase conversions.
• Secure potential for featured snippets – These detailed keywords make it easier to secure featured snippets, boosting visibility.
• Gain a competitive advantage – Focusing on low-hanging fruits gives you a shortcut to higher rankings faster than competitors.
• Enhance content strategy – Targeting these keywords enables you to create specific content that appeals to niche audiences.

Types of Low-Hanging Fruit Keywords

Identifying different low-hanging fruit keywords can help you significantly improve your SEO strategy.

Here's a breakdown of the main types:

1. Comercial keywords

Users use commercial intent keywords when they’re in the “consideration” stage of the marketing funnel.

This means they are actively researching products or services and are likely getting closer to purchasing.

For example, a keyword like “Best SaaS SEO tools” shows that the searcher is interested in finding the most effective Saas SEO options.

They probably already know they need a tool and are now looking for the best choice.

Similarly, commercial keywords can include brand names, such as “Ahrefs alternatives” or “Ahrefs vs Semrush.”

2. Question-Based Keywords

These keywords start with words like "how," "why," "what," or "when."

With the rise of voice search, more users are typing or speaking full questions into search engines.

Optimizing for these can help you attract visitors seeking quick answers or detailed explanations.

For example, if you're looking for information on keyword topics or SEO, your keyword could look something like this:

• "How do I find low-hanging keywords?"
• "What is the difference between short-tail and long-tail keywords?"
• "Why is keyword research important for SEO?"

3. Local Keywords

Local keywords include specific locations like countries, city names, neighborhoods, or regions.

These are especially useful for businesses targeting a local audience.

Optimizing for local keywords can help you rank higher for people searching for products or services in your area.

4. Branded Keywords

Branded keywords involve specific brand names, often paired with descriptive terms or questions.

These keywords come from users who have already researched and are comparing brands. Targeting branded keywords allows you to capture traffic from people searching for your brand or your competitors.

5. Transactional Keywords

Transactional keywords indicate strong purchase intent and include terms like "buy," "discount," "price," or "deal."

These keywords are used by people who are ready to make a purchase.

While they can be competitive, finding less obvious variations can lead to high conversions.

6 Tips on How to Find Low-Hanging Fruit Keywords

1. Use SEO Tools

One of the simplest ways to find low-hanging fruit keywords is using keyword research tools. These tools help you uncover keywords related to your main topic, showing their search volume, competition, and difficulty.

You can filter results by location, language, or search intent to find the best opportunities for your SEO strategy.

Here are some keyword research tools that can help you find these keywords:

• Google keyword planner – Taps into Google's extensive search data, providing keyword ideas based on your product, service, or website. It's especially useful for discovering niche keywords with low competition.‍
• Semrush – Offers a powerful keyword research platform, allowing you to filter for keywords with moderate search volume and lower competition. This makes spotting golden keyword opportunities easy.‍
• Ahrefs – Lets you analyze your competitors' websites to find the keywords they rank for. You can use this information to identify overlooked, low-hanging fruit keywords.

One of the best ways to use these tools is to target low-competition, long-tail keywords.

If a primary keyword is too broad, you'll often find a related, less competitive version that's easier to rank for.

2. Apply A-Z Modifiers in Search to Find Specific Long-Tail Keywords

Long-tail keywords are more specific than short-tail ones, but not all long-tails qualify as low-hanging fruit.

One strategy to effectively find these low-competition, high-reward keywords is to use A-Z modifiers in your search.

Start by choosing a broad keyword related to your niche, like “ecommerce business.”

Next, add letters of the alphabet one by one after your keyword in Google’s search bar.

This technique reveals a variety of long-tail keyword suggestions.

For example, typing “ecommerce business A” might show options like “ecommerce business accounting” or “ecommerce business advertising.”

Continue this process with other letters to uncover more specific queries like “how to start an ecommerce business with no money.”

These detailed, less competitive keywords often reflect users' exact questions, making them ideal low-hanging fruit that can drive qualified traffic to your site.

3. Analyze Competitors’ Content

Analyzing your competitors' content is a great way to uncover low-hanging fruit keywords.

See which primary keywords they rank for and identify keyword gaps you can fill with more detailed, in-depth content.

When reviewing their content, keep an eye on:

• The keywords they rank for.
• The topics they cover.
• The quality of their content.
• Are there any content gaps you can address?

Tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, and SERanking can help with this competitive keyword research. 

These tools reveal high-value keywords your competitors rank for, which you can use to improve your content strategy.

Another easy way to find keyword gaps between you and your competitors is using our template.

Here is how you can do it in just a few steps:

1. Input your company and competitor names in the table.
2. Extract a comprehensive list of keywords for which your competitors rank.
3. Make a list of the keywords your company currently ranks for.
4. For every keyword you enter into the “Keywords” sheet, the keywords will automatically be labeled as "Ranked" or "Not Ranked."
5. Choose the best low-hanging keywords for which you can create content that is relevant to your business.

4. Identify Keywords on the 2nd SERP Page

Keywords that rank on the 2nd page of Google results have a lot of potential.

Studies show that over 93% of users never venture beyond the first page of search results, so moving a keyword up just a few spots can lead to a major boost in visibility and traffic.

To identify these opportunities, focus on keywords between positions 11 and 20.

Since Google typically displays 10 results per page, these terms are just one step away from reaching the first page.

Remember that most clicks go to the top results, so it's best to avoid targeting keywords dominated by high-authority sites.

Instead, concentrate on keywords where you have a realistic chance to improve your rankings and attract more visitors.

5. Leverage Voice Search

Did you know that voice searches make up 20% of all mobile searches?

With the increasing use of smart speakers and voice assistants, voice search is becoming more common.

Unlike traditional searches, voice search queries are longer, conversational, and more natural.

By optimizing for voice search, you can capture low-hanging fruit keywords that better match how users speak and what they want.

You can use tools like Answer the Public, which suggests common questions and phrases related to your keyword.

Additionally, schema markup helps search engines better understand the context and structure of your content, making it easier for it to appear in voice search results.

6. Keep an Eye on Emerging Trends

Monitoring trends can help identify low-hanging keywords by allowing you to spot emerging search patterns and capitalize on rising topics before the competition does.

Tools like Google Trends and social media platforms help track trending search queries, giving insights into what is gaining popularity in your niche.

This approach enables you to target low-competition, high-volume keywords likely to generate traffic quickly.

Additionally, by observing seasonal trends or rising keywords, you can refine your strategy to stay ahead and adjust content based on your audience's evolving interests.

You can have Google Trends send you notifications for specific keywords.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to find low-hanging fruit keywords, you can start identifying the ones that can significantly boost your rankings and visibility.

Whether you are just starting or an established business, these hidden gems can be a game changer for your company.

If you'd like professional assistance, the Omnius team is ready to help.

Book a 30-minute call today to learn how to elevate your online presence!

FAQ

How to Find and Optimize Low-Hanging Keywords Using Google Search Console

To uncover low-hanging keywords with Google Search Console, go to the “Performance” tab. From there, filter results to show queries your site ranks for on the second page of search results. These are typically in positions 11–20.

Review these keywords for relevance and search volume, then optimize your existing content to push these keywords onto the first page for increased visibility and traffic.

How to Discover Low-Hanging Fruit Keywords for Free

You can find low-hanging fruit keywords for free using tools like Google Search Console, Google Analytics, and Google’s Keyword Planner.

Additionally, some third-party platforms offer free keyword research tools.

For instance, Ahrefs provides a free keyword generator that helps identify low-competition keywords without requiring a paid subscription.

This can be a great way to find valuable keyword opportunities.