How to Find Google Keywords With the Lowest and Highest Competition

Key Takeaways

• Compare search volume and the difficulty of the keyword.
• Search intent with checking before selecting a keyword.
• Use keyword modifiers to find more specific searches.
• Research rival pages and then attack tough keywords.
• Focus on relevant keywords that support your business goals.

What Are Low- and High-Competition Keywords?

Keywords with low competition are those with the lowest estimated difficulty score on SEO research tools. 

They may be easier to target when competing pages lack useful content or do not fully answer the search query.

The keywords with high competition in organic search are very competitive. Ranking pages can be authoritative, contain pertinent backlinks, and be detailed.

Keyword difficulty scores help estimate the challenge of ranking. However, Google does not use these third-party scores as ranking factors.

As an example, SEO link building services has a KD score of 6, whereas the linkbuilding has a score of 79. 

This makes the first keyword worth investigating for an earlier SEO opportunity. Real outcomes will be dependent on the site, content and competitor pages.

US Keywords With Lower Competition

There are keywords that have a combination of useful search volume and low difficulty. These words may be good initial points when designing content or service pages.

Keyword data for the US market. Search volumes are monthly estimates, and CPC is shown in US dollars.

What These Keywords Reveal

SEO link building services has 2,400 monthly searches and a KD score of 6. It may be a promising target for a relevant service page.

Link building services offers a larger potential audience, with 8,100 monthly searches and a KD score of 17.

Backlink building agency has a lower search volume but may attract people looking for an agency. This makes it worth considering for a page that directly explains agency services.

Low difficulty alone is not enough. The keyword must also match the page and the needs of the intended audience.

US Keywords With Higher Competition

Keywords with greater difficulty may take more work to rank for. They can still be valuable when they match your business and attract relevant searches.

Linkbuilding has a KD score of 79, making it the most difficult term in this comparison. Although it receives 2,900 monthly searches, established pages may make it harder to rank.

Backlink building has 4,400 searches per month and a KD score of 58. It can be a prospective endeavor in a more extended SEO strategy.

Link building agency has a lower KD score of 40 and 3,600 monthly searches. A dedicated agency page can be helpful to businesses offering these services.

These numbers are useful to compare opportunities, yet they do not presuppose rankings. The current Google results should always be checked before choosing the keyword to be targeted.

How Search Volume, KD, and CPC Work Together

Each keyword metric provides different information. When you see them in combination, it can assist you in making a better decision.

For example, link building agency has a CPC of $24.61, while link building services has a CPC of $12.25.

An increase in CPC could indicate the readiness of advertisers to pay for a search word. Nevertheless, it does not necessarily imply that the keyword is more difficult to rank in the organic promotion or will bring more sales.

When you are researching the cost of keywords on Google, differentiate between advertising costs and the difficulty of organic SEO. Ad placements and cost are determined by Google Ads using bids and other factors. The organic rankings are based on varying factors.

Use Keyword Modifiers to Find More Opportunities

The keyword modifiers provide some extra details to a search query. They can disclose what people desire and assist you in finding pertinent keyword concepts.

These phrases can help you discover buyer keywords and more specific search queries.

For example, someone searching for “link building price” may be comparing costs. Someone searching for “best link building agency” may be comparing providers before making a decision.

Try different modifiers related to your services. Then check their search volume, difficulty, and search results. Do not assume that a longer phrase will always have lower competition.

How to Find Keywords With Google Keyword Planner

Google Keyword Planner allows you to find ideas for keywords and see search and advertising statistics. It is a handy place to start keyword research.

Follow these steps:

1. Open Google Ads and go to Keyword Planner.
2. Select “Discover new keywords.”
3. Enter a topic or a relevant website.
4. Set the target location to the United States.
5. Review keyword ideas and available search statistics.
6. Save relevant terms for further research.

For example, start with link building services. Consider related terms like link building packages, backlink services and link building agency.

Then, look up those terms using an SEO research tool to approximate organic difficulty. The competition of Google Ads is based not on the perceived difficulty of organic ranking, but rather on advertiser competition.

Both of the sources provide you with a better understanding of search demand and opportunities in search engine optimization.

Analyze Competitor Keywords and Google Results

Keywords that are being ranked by other websites similar to the one you are doing can be discovered in competitor research. It can also assist in locating holes in what you have created.

Begin by finding a few websites that are competing with the same audience. Consider their organic keywords with your own rankings using an SEO research tool.

Search with manageable difficulty terms that are relevant. Open next the pages of rank to such searches.

See whether these pages provide the answer to the query. Find missing information, poor examples, or obsolete advice. 

Take these results to come up with more useful content instead of copying a competitor page.

Search intent to consider as well. A service search might require a landing page, whereas an inquiry into how something works might require a step-by-step guide.

Use Google Trends to Compare Search Interest

Google Trends assists you in comparing the relative levels of search interest over time. It may also indicate local tendencies and associated queries.

As an example, consider the comparison of the link building services and the backlink services in the United States. This can assist you in comprehending the evolution of interest in the two phrases.

Google Trends will assist you in:

• Comparing similar search terms.
• Identifying seasonal patterns.
• Exploring interest by region.
• Finding related and emerging searches.

It can also facilitate trending keyword research. But Google Trends does not offer the same monthly search volume estimates as Keyword Planner, and it does not quantify organic keyword difficulty.

Combine it with keyword research tools to have a better idea of search demand.

Check Google SERP Features and Website Rankings

The search engine results page (SERP) is the page that has the results and features displayed once one searches on Google. They can consist of AI Overviews, videos, reviews, local packs, People also ask, and related searches.

Test the SERP of each target keyword. The results can help you understand what type of content Google currently displays.

You can also search for relevant pages on your website using Google's site: operator:

site:example.com link building

Replace example.com with your domain. This will assist you to locate pages that Google has indexed, but it is not a full indexing report.

Google Search Console gives better information regarding the search queries of your site, impressions, clicks and indexing status. When it is possible to enhance a relevant existing page, do so when the situation is right rather than developing a rival page on the same subject.

How to Choose the Best Keywords

The top keyword may not necessarily be the one with the highest search volume or lowest competition. It must also suit your audience, content and business objectives.

Consider these examples:

• SEO link building services: 2,400 searches and KD 6.
• Link building services: 8,100 searches and KD 17.
• Linkbuilding: 2,900 searches and KD 79.

The first term has a low reported difficulty score. The second has more search demand with a relatively low score. The third may require a stronger, longer-term strategy.

Before choosing a keyword, ask yourself:

• Does it match the page's purpose?
• Does the search intent fit my audience?
• Can my website compete with the current results?
• Is the search demand worth pursuing?
• Can I provide a better answer than existing pages?

Prioritize relevant opportunities first, then plan for more competitive terms.

Common Keyword Research Mistakes

Avoid these common mistakes:

• Choosing keywords based only on search volume.
• Confusing advertising competition with organic difficulty.
• Trusting a KD score without checking Google.
• Ignoring search intent.
• Copying competitor content.
• Relying on outdated metrics.
• Adding keywords where they do not fit naturally.

Keyword research should help you decide what to publish and improve. It should not lead to repetitive content that adds little value for readers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

To locate Google keywords that have the least and the greatest amount of competition, search volume alone is not enough. Compare the difficulty of the keyword, search intent, the cost per click and the pages that are already ranked on Google.

The KD score of SEO link building services is 6, whereas linkbuilding has a score of 79. Link building services has an 8,100 monthly search volume with a KD of 17.

These comparisons demonstrate the importance of picking keywords.