Do you feel like climbing the SEO ranks is an impossible uphill battle with big competitors hogging the top spots? The secret to getting ahead lies in targeting low hanging fruit keywords.
These low hanging fruit keywords offer businesses of all sizes an opportunity to rank faster and reach the right audience without having to battle established competition.
This guide will show you what low hanging fruit keywords are, why they matter, and exactly how to find them. By the end, you’ll be equipped with actionable insights to optimize your website and boost organic traffic.
True to SEOptimer fashion, we also spoke to some founders and marketers from leading agencies to give their insights and opinions on how to find low hanging fruite keywords. You'll find their insights all throughout this blog post.
What are Low Hanging Fruit Keywords?
Low hanging fruit keywords are search terms that are relatively easy to rank for.
These keywords typically meet these three key criteria:
- Low competition (low keyword difficulty): Few websites are actively targeting them.
- High search intent: They address specific needs, often attracting highly engaged users.
- Decent search volume: While not as high as "head" keywords, they still drive meaningful traffic.
For example, if you're a running shoe company, the keyword “running shoes” will be too competitive.
However, narrowing it down to a keyword like “affordable marathon running shoes” gives you a better chance of ranking because it’s more specific and less contested.
By targeting such terms, you can attract a high-value audience while investing significantly less effort than what’s needed for high-volume, competitive keywords.
Benefits of Targeting Low Hanging Fruit Keywords
Why should you even bother paying attention to low hanging fruit keywords? Well, here are a few compelling reasons to add them into your SEO strategy.
1. Quick Wins
With lower competition, these keywords enable you to generate results faster. Businesses can see rankings improve within a relatively short period, providing a much-needed boost in visibility.
2. Cost Efficiency
Because these keywords are easier to rank for, they often require less investment in content, link-building, and paid ads compared to high-competition terms.
3. Build Credibility
Ranking for low hanging fruit keywords allows your website to earn small wins that add up over time. This helps build credibility and authority with search engines like Google.
4. Targeted Traffic
These keywords are often aligned with specific user intents (e.g., buying, learning, or comparing).
As a result, the traffic they generate is more likely to convert into sales or leads.
Jeremy Merchant from Mad Mango Marketing, a Florida-based agency, believes that the whole idea behind low hanging fruit keywords is that they need to actually bear "fruit".
There are a lot of low-hanging keywords out there that might be super easy to rank for, but will likely bear no fruit. The keyword needs to have intent and not be a strictly informational search.
- Jeremy Merchant, Partner and Co-Owner at Mad Mango Marketing
5. Lay the Foundation for Bigger Wins
Focusing on smaller, attainable keywords establishes a foundation of high-quality traffic and content. Over time, this makes it easier to rank for more competitive terms.
How to Find Low Hanging Fruit Keywords
Now that you understand what low hanging fruit keywords are and their value, here comes the fun part: finding these keywords.
Below, we’ll outline some easy methods to find these low hanging fruit keywords.
1. Use Google Search Console
Google Search Console (GSC) is a great starting point to uncover low hanging fruit opportunities.
In fact, almost all of the digital agency founders and marketers we spoke to, suggest that GSC is one of the best tools for finding these keywords.
I am a big fan of using Google Search Console to find keyword opportunities. It is giving you real data on what people are searching for and whether they are click through to your website.
- Andrew Spiers, Founder at Lens Digital
Here’s how to find them with GSC:
Log into your Google Search Console account.
Then, under the Performance tab click on Search results and enable the "Average position" metric.
Filter for queries with a rank position between 10 and 30 (keywords appearing on the second or third page of Google).
Focus on the keywords with high impressions but low clicks. These are indicators of untapped opportunities.
The pages ranking for these queries are often just outside the top search results and can rank higher with minimal optimization, such as improving meta descriptions, headings, or some internal linking.
Brenton Thomas from Twibi explains how he uses Google Search Console to find these keywords:
To find low-hanging fruit keywords, I start by analyzing Google Search Console data for pages already ranking on page 2 or low page 1 for relevant queries. In addition to filtering for keywords with good impressions but low CTR, I prioritize terms where a small tweak could boost rankings.
- Brenton Thomas, Founder at Twibi
2. Use SEOptimer’s Keyword Research Tool
Our Keyword Research Tool is a powerful resource for spotting low hanging fruit keywords.
Here’s why it’s a useful tool for any SEO campaign:
- Search Volume Insights: Get search volume metrics for your keywords, revealing opportunities with decent search demand.
- Keyword Difficulty Scores: Easily spot low-difficulty keywords that you can rank for without hefty investments.
- SERP Analysis: View real-time search results (SERPs) for any keyword and analyze your competition.
- Adjacent Keyword Opportunities: SEOptimer provides related keyword suggestions, helping you expand your strategy effectively.
For example, if your focus keyword is “vegan dessert recipes,” you might find adjacent, low-competition terms like “vegan chocolate cake recipes” or “low-calorie vegan desserts.”
So how do you actually find these keywords using our tool?
I’d begin by analyzing your top 5 competitors’ websites to see the keywords they are using and currently ranking for.
Head over to the Keyword Research Tool, and choose the “Search By URL” option.
So let’s imagine that we run a blog about growing your own succulents and indoor gardening.
I’ll copy the URL of one of the most popular blogs in this niche and paste it in our tool, as well as choose the relevant country we are targeting (in this case, the United States):
Once you click on the “Research” button, our tool will crawl the website and find all of the keywords that the competition is using and ranking for.
Scroll down and download the data for further analysis.
Then, open Google Sheets or Excel and import the data you just downloaded.
You will need to create a filter to remove all the “High” and “Medium” Competition keywords. And then sort the sheet with the CPC column from low to high.
The reason for this is, we want to find the keywords that have “Low” competition and the lowest CPC rate, indicating that not a lot of sites are bidding for those keywords in Google Ads.
I’d just start off with the top keywords in the list and build out the content for each of those keyword opportunities.
Using SEOptimer’s database of billions of keywords, you can refine your strategy and uncover valuable, untapped opportunities.
Analyzing your competitors’ pages and content is a great way to identify low hanging fruit keywords.
Mistakes to Avoid when Targeting Low-Hanging Fruit Keywords
1. Only Chasing Search Volume
Only focusing on keywords with high search volume might seem appealing, but it can lead to missed opportunities.
Low-hanging fruit keywords are often those with moderate or low search volumes but high relevance and intent for your audience.
If you only chase volume, you might overlook keywords that are easier to rank for and more likely to drive meaningful traffic and conversions.
2. Ignoring Content Quality and Intent
Targeting a keyword is pointless if your content doesn’t match the user’s intent.
Low-hanging fruit keywords often cater to niche or specific queries, and if your content doesn’t address those needs effectively, users won’t stay.
High-quality, well-researched content that aligns with search intent is essential to ensure your efforts result in engaged readers and higher rankings.
3. Not Refreshing or Updating Older Posts
Older posts targeting low-hanging fruit keywords can lose relevance over time.
If you neglect to update them with fresh content, new stats, or optimized formatting, they can drop in rankings. Regularly refreshing older content keeps it competitive and ensures it continues to attract traffic.
4. Over-Optimizing or Stuffing Keywords
Keyword stuffing or over-optimizing SEO content in an attempt to rank higher can backfire. It makes your content less readable and may result in penalties from search engines.
Instead, focus on naturally integrating your keywords while maintaining a conversational and user-friendly tone.
In SEO, quality matters more than quantity when it comes to keywords.
By avoiding these common pitfalls, you can maximize the potential of low-hanging fruit keywords and drive meaningful results for your site.
Types of Low Hanging Fruit Keywords
Understanding the various types of low hanging fruit keywords can help you diversify your strategy.
1. Location-Based Keywords
If your business operates locally, long-tail location-specific terms (e.g., “pizza delivery in Austin”) are highly valuable and relatively low competition.
2. Long-Tail Keywords
Keywords with four or more words (e.g., “best marathon running shoes for beginners”) naturally face lower competition compared to head keywords.
So when I'm looking for low-hanging fruit keywords, I often go for long tail keywords. These are more specific phrases that often have lower search volume but can drive highly targeted traffic with a better chance of ranking.
- Jessica Hitchen, SEO Content Executive at Quirky Digital
3. Question-Based Keywords
Users often search for specific queries (e.g., “How to clean leather running shoes?”), which presents a great opportunity to create informative content that ranks and clicks.
4. "Best of" and Comparative Keywords
Keywords like “Best coffee beans for cold brew” or “Nike vs Adidas running shoes” cater to consumers already in the market for a purchase, resulting in easier and better conversions.
FAQs
What makes low hanging fruit keywords easier to rank for?
Their lower competition and specific search intent make them less competitive, making it easier for smaller businesses or beginners to rank for them.
How do I track the performance of low hanging fruit keywords?
Use SEOptimer’s Rank Tracking Tool to monitor your rankings over time and analyze campaign performance.
Should I focus only on low hanging fruit keywords?
No, these keywords should complement your broader SEO strategy rather than replace it.
Aim for a mix of high- and low-competition terms for a balanced approach.
Can low-hanging fruit keywords drive meaningful traffic?
Yes, low-hanging fruit keywords can drive meaningful traffic, especially when clustered and scaled across your content strategy.
These keywords often have less competition, making it easier to rank on search engine results pages (SERPs).
When used effectively, they can attract targeted traffic that’s more likely to engage with your content, products, or services, boosting conversions and SEO performance.
Wrapping Up
Low hanging fruit keywords aren’t just a quick win; they’re a smart way to build traffic, reduce costs, and establish credibility in the highly competitive SEO landscape.
Whether you’re an SEO novice or a small business owner, these keywords provide a scalable and cost-efficient path to success. Leveraging the right tools can help uncover these opportunities with ease.
