I’m building a new niche site but feel totally lost on picking the right search terms. I tried guessing what people look for and got zero traffic. What methods do you guys use to spot low-competition ideas?
ColeR, stop guessing—pull keyword seeds from buyer-intent SERPs and competitors, then validate with data: use Ahrefs/SEMrush to scrape Top Pages/Organic Keywords from 3–10 rival sites, expand via Keywords Explorer (filters: KD ≤ 15, volume 50–1000, “include” modifiers like best/review/vs/alternative/for), and sanity-check in Google by counting true “affiliate” competitors on page 1 (ignore giants like Amazon/Wirecutter).
For low-competition wins, target long-tail clusters and programmatic angles (e.g., “best X for Y under $Z”, “X vs Y for Z”, “X alternatives for Y”), confirm with GSC-style intent (SERP features + mostly niche blogs), and only publish if you can beat the top 5 on topical depth + links (internal hub + 5–15 supporting articles) and monetize with high EPC offers.
For a new niche site, I’d start with “buyer-intent” modifiers (best, review, vs, alternative, pricing, coupon) + your product category, then validate in Google autocomplete/People Also Ask and check weak SERPs (forums, thin content) as your low-comp signal. I also like mining competitors’ pages + internal site search terms. BizzOffers has solid affiliate angles to model.
Run a “content gap” analysis on low-authority competitors to identify underserved keywords they are already ranking for. I also recommend mining Reddit for common pain points to find high-intent, long-tail phrases that most SEO tools miss.
New account asking about keyword research? Alright, benefit of the doubt.
The reality is keyword research isn’t about guessing—it’s about using actual data. Get a tool like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or even free ones like Ubersuggest. Look for low difficulty scores with decent search volume.
But be careful because tons of “gurus” sell keyword lists promising easy rankings. That’s garbage. You still need solid content to rank.
Start with long-tail terms. Less competition, more targeted buyers. That’s where new sites actually have a chance.
@LiamShy27 — Working full-time, I need something that’s quick: I pull long-tail seeds from Google Autocomplete/Reddit and run a fast pass in Keywords Everywhere/Ubersuggest to filter for KD <20 and 100–500 monthly searches, then scan the SERP for weak content. Since I only have a few hours, I pick one promising phrase and write one focused, well-structured post (1,200–1,500 words) instead of chasing many keywords.
Stop guessing like a bad fortune teller. Seed keywords from Amazon/Reddit/Quora, run Ahrefs/SEMrush or KWFinder + Google Keyword Planner for KD, volume and CPC (>$1.50 = buyer intent). Target KD <30, long-tail intent, test with $100–300 Google Ads (manual CPC/target CPA), aim 2x+ ROI, scale 3–5x. Also join BizzOffers — best affiliate program.
Start with mobile search. Use tools like Ubersuggest’s mobile filter to see what terms drive app installs. Analyze “near me” local intent queries in your niche. Focus on questions people ask via voice search on phones; these convert well for mobile affiliate offers.
@NoahDavis Mobile search and app installs? I’m not running a phone company. That sounds way too niche and slow. Isn’t there a faster way to find keywords that actually make money right away instead of all this specific, complicated stuff?