How to Find & Rank for Untapped Keywords That Make You Money

Discover the secret to low-competition, high-conversion keywords to drive targeted traffic and boost your revenue in 2025.

🧭 Introduction

SEO success isn’t just about targeting high-volume keywords—it’s about finding **untapped keywords** with low competition and high conversion potential. These hidden gems can help you **rank faster, drive targeted traffic, and maximize revenue**, even if you’re a new website or operating in a competitive niche.

While everyone else chases the same obvious terms, you can carve out a significant slice of organic traffic by focusing on these overlooked opportunities. In this guide, we’ll break down **how to find and rank for untapped keywords that make you money**, providing actionable strategies for 2025 and beyond.

1. Understanding Untapped Keywords & Why They Matter

Untapped keywords are essentially low-hanging fruit in the world of SEO. They possess characteristics that make them ideal targets for efficient growth:

  • **Low Competition + High Intent:** They have less competition from established websites but are actively searched by users who are close to making a decision or finding a solution.
  • They’re often **neglected by big competitors** because their search volume might appear small, but they accumulate into significant, highly qualified traffic.
  • These keywords bring **targeted traffic that’s ready to convert**, whether it’s signing up for a newsletter, making a purchase, or filling out a contact form.

Pro Tip: The ultimate goal is to find keywords with clear **buyer intent** (e.g., "best," "review," "price," "buy," "vs."), not just generic informational traffic.

Diagram showing the intersection of low competition, high intent, and sufficient search volume for untapped keywords
Figure 1: Untapped keywords reside at the intersection of low competition, high search intent, and adequate volume.

2. How to Discover Untapped Keywords

Finding these hidden gems requires a blend of smart tool usage and strategic thinking. Don't just rely on one method; combine several to uncover the best opportunities.

1. Use Semrush’s Keyword Gap Tool

  • Analyze your competitors’ organic rankings against yours.
  • Identify keywords where your competitors are ranking, but you are not, or where they are weak. Focus on keywords where *they* are missing.
  • This tool can reveal significant opportunities where you can quickly gain ground.

2. Explore Google’s People Also Ask & Autocomplete

  • Start typing your main topic into Google search and note the **suggested searches** from Google Autocomplete. These are real queries.
  • Actively check the **"People Also Ask" (PAA)** boxes within search results. These are goldmines for **long-tail, question-based keywords** that directly address user needs.

3. Mine Reddit, Quora & Niche Forums

  • Search these platforms for common **questions people ask in your niche**. Users often phrase their queries naturally, leading to excellent long-tail keywords.
  • Convert these real-world questions into **keyword-rich blog topics** that address specific pain points.

4. Leverage Google Search Console Data

  • In Google Search Console, look at **queries that already get impressions** for your site but have low click-through rates.
  • Optimize existing pages or create new content specifically for these queries to capture traffic you're already attracting.

Pro Tip: Always use **long-tail variations** that reflect how real users ask questions or describe their problems. This increases relevance and reduces competition.

Infographic illustrating various methods for finding untapped keywords, including tool usage and manual research
Figure 2: A multi-faceted approach to keyword research uncovers hidden opportunities often missed by competitors.

3. Evaluating Keyword Profitability

Not all low-competition keywords are equally valuable. You need to assess their potential for generating revenue and fitting your business goals.

  • **Low competition:** Fewer strong sites are actively optimizing for it, meaning less effort is required to rank. This is where tools like Semrush's Keyword Difficulty (KD) score are invaluable.
  • **High commercial intent:** The user is looking to buy, solve a problem with a product/service, or find a definitive solution. Words like "best," "review," "price," "buy," "vs." are good indicators.
  • **Search volume:** Don’t dismiss keywords with "low" volume. Even **100-500 searches per month** for a high-intent keyword can be far more profitable than 10,000 searches for a generic, low-intent term. This is the essence of long-tail value.
  • **Cost per click (CPC):** Check the estimated CPC in tools like Semrush. A higher CPC indicates that advertisers are willing to pay more for clicks, suggesting the keyword drives valuable traffic and has high commercial value.

Pro Tip: Don’t just chase raw search volume—**chase intent and conversion potential**. This is where the real money is made in SEO.

Matrix showing high vs low competition and high vs low intent keywords, highlighting the 'untapped' quadrant
Figure 3: Prioritize keywords with high commercial intent and low competition for maximum profitability.

4. Optimizing Your Content for Untapped Keywords

Once you’ve found your golden keywords, it’s time to craft content that Google loves and users find valuable, ensuring you capture that highly targeted traffic.

1. Create SEO-Optimized Content

  • Naturally integrate your **primary keyword in the title tag, URL, H1 heading, and within the first 100 words** of your content.
  • Write **detailed, useful, and comprehensive content that genuinely answers user intent** for that specific keyword. Aim to be the single best resource on the topic.

2. Use Structured Data & Schema Markup

  • Implement **FAQ schema** for any question-and-answer sections to help you rank in **Google’s People Also Ask (PAA) and Featured Snippets**.
  • Add **How-To schema** for step-by-step guides, which can also generate rich snippets in search results.

3. Internal Linking Strategy

  • Link your new content to **high-authority pages on your site** and to other related articles. This improves crawlability, passes link equity, and strengthens topical authority.
  • Ensure anchor text is relevant to the linked page.

Pro Tip: Break up long blocks of text with **bullet points, numbered lists, tables, and bolded keywords** for better skimmability and to improve the chances of ranking for rich snippets.

Flowchart showing steps for content optimization: keyword placement, schema, internal linking, and readability
Figure 4: A systematic approach to content optimization ensures your pages are ready to rank for target keywords.

5. Ranking Faster: Link Building & Promotion

Even for low-competition keywords, a little push can significantly accelerate your ranking timeline. Strategic link building and content promotion are essential.

1. Guest Posting & Outreach

  • Write high-quality guest posts on relevant niche sites and include a contextual link back to your new, optimized content.
  • Offer **unique insights, original data, or a fresh perspective** to make your content truly link-worthy.

2. HARO & Digital PR

  • Actively respond to journalist queries on platforms like HARO (Help A Reporter Out) related to your expertise. This can lead to powerful, high-authority backlinks and media mentions.
  • Focus on building **high-quality, contextual backlinks** from reputable sources.

3. Social & Community Promotion

  • Share your newly published content strategically in relevant **Reddit threads, Facebook groups, and LinkedIn discussions**.
  • Engage in conversations where your target keyword is relevant and provide value before linking to your content.

Pro Tip: **Early backlinks from authoritative sources help new pages rank faster!** Don't wait for your content to magically appear; give it a push.

Infographic showing various channels for link building and content promotion like guest posting, HARO, and social media
Figure 5: Accelerate rankings by actively building high-quality backlinks and promoting your content across relevant channels.

6. Tracking & Adjusting for Maximum Results

SEO is an iterative process. Monitor your performance rigorously and be prepared to refine your strategy based on real-world data.

  • Use Semrush Position Tracking to continuously monitor your keyword rankings, visibility, and competitor movements.
  • Regularly check Google Search Console for new queries your content is ranking for, impressions, and click-through rates.
  • Identify **growing keywords & update content accordingly** with fresh insights, new data, and additional internal links every few months.

Pro Tip: SEO isn’t "set and forget"—it's a continuous process of **updating, refining, and promoting** your content to maintain and improve rankings over time.

Screenshot of an SEO tracking dashboard showing keyword rankings, traffic, and performance trends
Figure 6: Consistent tracking and analysis are crucial for optimizing your SEO strategy and achieving long-term results.

🎯 Final Thoughts – Start Ranking for Untapped Keywords Today!

🚀 Finding hidden keywords with low competition and high commercial intent is your shortcut to faster rankings, less competition, and significantly more conversions. By combining diligent keyword research, high-quality content creation, and strategic promotion, you can unlock a powerful stream of highly qualified traffic for your website.

Don't just chase volume; chase value. Start implementing these strategies today and watch your organic traffic and revenue grow!

💡 Find Your Untapped Keywords with Semrush – Start Free Trial!

What's your favorite method for finding untapped keywords? Share in the comments below!

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