Low Competition Keywords: How to Find Them (With a Simple SERP Checklist)

A practical, repeatable way to find low-competition keywords—without blindly trusting KD. Includes 3 real examples from Minepath.

Low competition keywords are one of the fastest ways to earn early traffic—because you’re not trying to out-muscle the biggest sites on day one.

But “low competition” isn’t a magic number. It’s a combination of how weak the current results are and how well your page can satisfy the search intent.

TL;DR

• Low competition keywords are queries where the current top results are beatable (weak pages, intent mismatch, or thin content), not just “low KD.”
• Use a simple filter: winnable SERP + clear intent + real demand (volume/trend) + commercial/activation potential.
• Validate quickly by scanning the top 10: small sites, forums, outdated posts, missing templates/examples = opportunity.
• Write the page that actually answers the query with specifics (steps, templates, examples), not generic filler.
• Minepath helps you spot these faster by combining demand signals + competitiveness + intent into one view.

What are low competition keywords?

A low competition keyword is a search query where you can realistically rank with:

• A new(er) domain, or a low-authority site
• A small number of backlinks (or even none)
• A page that’s genuinely better than what’s currently ranking

The keyword itself isn’t “easy” in isolation—the SERP is.

Why “keyword difficulty” alone is a trap

KD-style scores are useful as a hint, but they fail in two common cases:

• Intent mismatch: results rank because they’re “close enough,” not because they solve the query.
• Thin/dated results: the SERP is full of old listicles, forum threads, or template pages that don’t actually help.

If you rely only on KD, you’ll miss some of the best opportunities.

A simple 10-minute process to find low competition keywords

Here’s a repeatable workflow you can use every week.

Step 1) Start with a seed (your customer’s situation)

Pick a seed that reflects a real job-to-be-done:

• “contract template”
• “proposal template”
• “figma to webflow”
• “pricing page”
• “invoice”

Step 2) Expand with intent modifiers

Add modifiers that usually create more winnable SERPs:

• template, checklist, examples, best, free, for [role]
• how to, what is, vs, alternative(s)
• calculator, generator

These modifiers often indicate the searcher wants something concrete—something you can deliver better than a generic blog post.

Step 3) Filter for “winnable SERPs”

Pick the keywords where the top 10 results have obvious weaknesses.

Use the checklist below.

Step 4) Confirm demand (avoid dead keywords)

You don’t need huge volume, but you do need proof someone cares:

• Search volume isn’t zero
• Trend isn’t collapsing
• There’s a reason someone would act (download, buy, sign up, use a tool)

The SERP checklist (how to spot low competition fast)

Open the top results and look for these signals.

Winnability signals

• Forums and UGC ranking high (Reddit, Quora, niche communities)
• Small sites outranking big brands
• Outdated content (old screenshots, old tactics, old tools)
• Thin pages (short, generic, little practical detail)
• Missing artifacts (no template, no examples, no steps, no screenshots)

Intent mismatch signals

Ask: “Does this page actually answer what I would want if I searched this?”

If the query is “template,” but results are mostly definitions—there’s your opening.

“Not actually low competition” signals

• Dominated by the same top-tier sites (and they’re doing a good job)
• Results are deeply researched and packed with unique data
• The SERP is heavy with strong brand pages (and the query is product-led)

3 real low-competition keywords (from Minepath)

These are three keywords I bookmarked inside Minepath. I’m including the exact metrics as a real-world example of what “winnable + demand” can look like.

1) freelance contract template

• Volume: 1,300
• Difficulty: 5
• Intent: High
• Score: 69

Why it can be low competition:

• “Template” queries often have thin pages that don’t include a usable template.
• Many ranking pages hide the template behind popups or offer a vague “download.”

What to publish:

• A page with a copy/paste contract template (and a PDF/Doc download).
• A short section explaining common clauses + when to use each.

2) project proposal template

• Volume: 3,600
• Difficulty: 14
• Intent: Med
• Score: 66

Why it can be low competition:

• Many “proposal template” results are generic and don’t match a specific context (freelance vs agency vs internal).

What to publish:

• A template plus 3 examples (short, medium, long).
• A simple “how to fill this out” walkthrough.

3) figma to webflow

• Volume: 720
• Difficulty: 22
• Intent: High
• Score: 64

Why it can be low competition:

• The SERP often contains tool comparisons or vague “convert design to site” pages.
• A focused tutorial that actually ships a result can outrank fluff.

What to publish:

• A step-by-step guide with screenshots:
  • prep in Figma (naming, components, constraints)
  • export strategy (assets, SVGs)
  • build in Webflow (classes, layout, responsiveness)

Common mistakes (that waste weeks)

• Chasing “easy” keywords with no demand: you rank… and nothing happens.
• Ignoring intent: your content is “good,” but it’s not what the query asked for.
• Writing generic SEO paragraphs: the SERP rewards specificity.
• Picking keywords you can’t monetize: traffic is only useful if it connects to a product or offer.

A simple rule for trust-building content

If you want the post to build trust, make it obvious you’ve done the work:

• Show your checklist
• Show real examples
• Show your reasoning
• Keep the steps concrete

Want to find low competition keywords faster?

If you’re building a product, Minepath helps you find keyword opportunities that match:

• what people are searching for,
• what you’re good at making,
• and what’s actually winnable right now.

Try Minepath and bookmark a few “winnable” keywords—then write the page the SERP is missing.