SEO Keyword Research: Everything You Need to Know
Some days, it feels impossible to rank on Google. Almost everyone targets the same popular keywords, making it a tough battle on who gets the top spot. But what if we told you there’s a better way than going neck to neck with everyone over high-competition keywords?
We’re not here to talk about the usual, overcrowded keyword advice. We’re here to let you in on a little secret: and it has something to do with a few underrated strategies that will help you skip the competition! Find those low-competition yet high-value keywords that your audience is actually searching for, leading them right to your digital doorstep.
1. Use Google’s Alphabet Soup Method to Find Long-Tail Keywords
Most people already stop after trying one main idea into a keyword tool. But a simple yet often-missed part of SEO keyword research is utilizing Google itself! Find super specific but low-competition keywords by trying the Alphabet Soup trick on Google.
Simply start typing a broad topic, like “best seo services” then add a letter of the alphabet right after (e.g., “best seo services a,” “best seo services b”) and let the auto-complete suggestions do their magic! Here, you’ll likely find unique phrases that people are searching for. It gives you a huge list of long-tail keywords that can be easy to rank for.
2. Target Location-Specific Search Terms
High-value keywords often mean those that lead directly to a sale or new client. One powerful way to lower the competition on one of your major services is to localize and target a specific location. Instead of fighting over “social media services,” focus your keyword research on a smaller group.
Try using a phrase like “social media services philippines” to target a specific local market. This makes it a lot easier for your business to rank higher and get qualified customers.
3. Turn Underperforming Rankings into Easy Wins
Utilize Google Search Console (GSC) to find keywords that your site already appears for, but where your ranking is still a bit low (around position 11 to 20). These are keywords where Google already sees your page as relevant, but you’re not on the first page. Update and improve your content for all these specific keywords to help your page instantly move up. It’s an efficient strategy yet often overlooked because you’re fixing what is already half-broken, instead of starting from scratch.
4. Exploit Competitor Content Gaps
Trust us: even your biggest competitors miss a few topics. What you can do is use a proper SEO tool to run a “Content Gap Analysis” between your website and your top competitors. This tool is going to show you a list of keywords that they rank for, but you do not. Focus on the ones with low difficulty scores; these are “missing” keywords that can be pure gold for you! They show topics where there’s demand (a.k.a your competitor is getting traffic) but little high-quality content, allowing you to jump ahead quickly.
FAQs
What are “low-competition, high-value keywords”?
These are specific search phrases that a few other websites are targeting (low competition) but attract highly interested users who are likely to buy or convert (high value).
Should I stop using the usual keyword research methods?
No. This article only suggests underrated strategies to help you skip the competition by finding easier, high-value terms. It complements your regular SEO keyword research but it shouldn’t totally replace it.
If my page falls below position 15 for a keyword, what should I do?
You should update and improve your existing content on that page to better target that specific keyword. Google already finds the page somewhat relevant, so you have to make an effort to update it often to push it onto the first page quickly.
Book an SEO Strategy with Expert Keyword Research at CODM
Stop fighting for overcrowded keywords and start winning quality traffic. Book your exclusive SEO strategy session with the experts of Carl Ocab Digital Marketing! Contact us and let’s start leveraging expert-level keyword research for your business to see real results!
