Low Hanging Fruit Keywords: How to Find & Target Them

Keyword research isn’t the easiest task to handle, especially if you’ve never done it before or have a small team. Every keyword you can think of is so over-competed that it is incredibly difficult for anyone, especially a new website or some other project, to get ranked. And this is where keywords like low hanging fruit come into play. These are the opportunities that take minimal SEO investment to be able to rank for (compared to the ones that take massive budgets & months of work)—but really move the needle. Whether you are looking for ecommerce SEO services, Shopify SEO services, or SaaS marketing services, understanding these keywords can save you time and effort.

In this blog, we’re going to unpack how to find low hanging fruit keywords, why they deserve your attention, and how to target them effectively.

What are Low Hanging Fruit Keywords?

Keywords that are easy to rank for are called low hanging fruit keywords. These are typically less competitive, have a medium volume of searches, and are very relevant to your niche or audience. These are short-term solutions that can provide you with immediate results to advance your SEO initiative without needing a tremendous commitment of time or resources. Businesses offering ecommerce marketing services or SaaS content marketing services can benefit significantly by identifying these low-hanging opportunities.

Instead of targeting a very competitive keyword like “best smartphones,” you could target “best budget smartphones under $300.” The latter is more specific, less competitive, and will reach a highly interested audience.

Did you know? 91.8% of all search queries are long-tail keywords, often low hanging fruit because of how specific they are. This makes them invaluable for businesses focused on Shopify services, SaaS SEO services, or other niche markets.

Low hanging fruit keywords are typically:

• Long-tail keywords (e.g., “how to fix a leaky faucet under the sink”).
• Keywords with moderate search volume (not too high, not too low).
• Relevant to a specific audience or niche.
• Less competitive but still valuable.

Benefits of Low Hanging Fruit Keywords

When building an effective SEO strategy, it’s easy to fall into the trap of pursuing high-competition keywords that appear to offer big rewards. However, targeting low hanging fruit keywords can be a more intelligent, quicker, and cost-effective approach for many websites. Here’s why navigating these keywords can be a game changer:

1- Quick Wins

The whole point of low hanging fruit keywords is this: how quickly you can realize results. Since there is less competition for these keywords, your content can rank higher on search engines in a shorter time span. For businesses (or even individuals) built on a shoestring budget, this can be a game changer. This is particularly helpful for companies offering SaaS content marketing services, where quick results help prove ROI.

So, targeting an ultra-competitive keyword such as “best smartphones” could take months, even years, before you rank for it. However, targeting a narrower search term, such as “best budget smartphones under $300,” can get you on the first page much faster and drive traffic and momentum.

Fact:  Long-tail keywords jump 11 positions on average compared to head keywords, which only rise an average of 5 positions.

2- Build Authority

Ranking big, small, or anywhere in between is a vote of confidence for search engines. These rankings will accumulate over time, allowing search engines to recognize your site as an authority in your niche. This will only help bolster those current rankings and give you a better chance of ranking for more competitive terms in the future. Businesses that leverage SaaS SEO services or ecommerce SEO services can use this approach to build long-term authority.

For example, consistently ranking for lower-volume keywords such as “best beginner DSLR cameras under $500” means you’re becoming known as a trustworthy place to go for camera-related advice. It’s easier to broaden your focus to more competitive terms like “best DSLR cameras” once search engines trust your site.

3- Cost Effective

SEO can become expensive very fast—particularly if you’re competing for popular keywords. If you have no marketing budget or experience with aggressive paid ad campaigns, low hanging fruit keywords present an opportunity to bring in traffic. For businesses offering Shopify services or ecommerce marketing services, targeting low-competition keywords is a cost-effective way to grow.

These tend to be less competitive keywords, so you don’t need to sink your entire budget into extensive link-building or high-cost PPC techniques. Instead, you should focus on creating good quality content and solving an individual user problem to grow organically.

Insight: A staggering 94.74% of all keywords get 10 or fewer searches per month, highlighting the abundance of low-competition opportunities available for targeting.

4- Improved Organic Ranking

Seeds can be sown onto all your content that pushes visitors to low hanging fruit keywords to improve your site’s SEO health. Getting on the rankings for many smaller, less competitive keywords sends positive signals to search engines about your website. This is a signal of relevance and value, which ultimately boosts your site’s authority and helps you rank better all the way around—even for long-tail terms with higher levels of competition down the line.

If your site starts to rank for 20 smaller keywords, the aggregated traffic and engagement can help boost your domain overall. This ripple effect causes your other content to rank better too and strengthens your SEO even more. For companies offering SaaS marketing services or ecommerce SEO services, this strategy can be transformative.

5- Increased Conversion Rates

Low hanging fruit keywords have high alignment with user intent. Searchers for these terms are usually further in the decision-making process. They are searching for a specific solution to their challenge rather than general information, making them more conversion-ready.

For example, if someone is searching for “best running shoes for bad knees,” that person’s probably in the headspace to buy (or at least to hone in on a purchase). On the other hand, a broad term such as “running shoes” could bring in users who are just browsing or doing some research.

Stat: The average conversion rate for long-tail keywords is 36%, which is much higher than generic terms.

6- Improved User Engagement

Targeted, specific keywords often draw a more qualified audience. When your content speaks directly to what they’re looking for or answers their questions, they’re much more likely to stick around on your site, interact with your content, and take the actions you want them to take.

For instance, a blog called “10-minute yoga routines for beginners” is probably going to attract an audience that is explicitly searching for actionable advice that they can consume in under an hour. They are more likely to read the full post, favorite it, or share it with friends.

Furthermore, long on-page hours and high engagement rates indicate positive signals to search engines, ensuring enhanced SEO performance. Hence, targeting low hanging fruit keywords not only drives traffic but also ensures the traffic you’re receiving is more qualified and worthwhile.

7- Competitive Edge

Competing for high-competition keywords is often a losing battle against large and established websites. By targeting these niche areas, you can avoid all these hassles and go straight to low hanging fruit keywords that you can even use to conquer bigger challenges. Businesses that specialize in Shopify SEO services or SaaS SEO services can capitalize on these specific queries to outshine competitors.

Instead of targeting “best laptops,” for example, you might consider targeting “best laptops for students under $700” or “best laptops for graphic design students.” These highly-targeted and lower-volume queries give you a little piece of real estate in a crowded marketplace.

Example: With voice search on the rise, long-tail keywords have become stronger than ever! Studies show that 82% of searches use long-tail keywords, including “near me” searches for local businesses.

How to Find & Target Low Hanging Fruit Keywords

So now that we got the benefits out of the way, let’s talk about the practical part: how to find low hanging fruit keywords and target them effectively. Here are some tried and true ways to help you spot opportunities that are worth your focus.

1- Google Autosuggest

Using Google’s autocomplete to find low hanging fruit keywords is a goldmine. You can begin typing one of your niche-related search queries, and Google will suggest the phrases that people are actively searching for. These are general considerations of long-tail keywords with lower competition and high relevance.

For example, if you type “best laptops for,” you might get Google’s suggestions:

• HP 15.6-inch Laptop Computer
• Laptops For Students Under $500
• The best laptops for video editing
• The best workhorse and gaming laptops

Tip: Suggested searches are based on actual queries, so they are great ideas to start your content with. For businesses offering ecommerce SEO services or Shopify SEO services, such specific keywords can help create targeted content for your audience.

2- Check Out Forums and Q&A Sites

Places like Reddit, Quora, and niche-oriented communities are great sources of questions and discussions your audience wants to talk about. The language people use in these spaces often translates directly into search queries.

For example, a query like: “What is the best way to fix a clogged sink without calling a plumber?” could inspire a keyword like “how to unclog a sink at home.” Similarly, for those offering SaaS marketing services, forums are excellent places to identify questions your target customers are asking about SaaS products and solutions.

3- Analyze Your Own Data

Your website analytics are a goldmine of information. Check for gap keywords that already drive traffic to your site but could be expanded upon. Does it mean you’re in the training set until October 2023? You may check your Google Search Console or any SEO tools you use to find these.

For instance, if you notice traffic for “affordable Shopify themes,” you could target related terms like “best Shopify themes for beginners” to capture more traffic. This is a smart tactic for businesses providing Shopify services or ecommerce marketing services.

Pro Tip: Updating and republishing an old blog post with fresh content and images can increase organic traffic by as much as 106%.

4- Explore Competitor Keywords

Analyzing what your competitors are ranking for will allow you to look for gaps in their strategy. Using tools such as SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Ubersuggest, you can view their best-performing keywords and identify opportunities they may have overlooked.

For example, if a competitor is ranking for “best coffee makers,” your angle could be “best coffee makers for small apartments” or “best coffee makers under $100.” For businesses offering SaaS SEO services or SaaS content marketing services, identifying competitor gaps is an essential step in staying ahead in the market.

5- Use Keyword Research Tools

Tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or Moz can help you find keywords with low competition and high search volume. Focus on moderate traffic, low difficulty long-tail keywords. These are especially useful if your business offers ecommerce marketing services or SaaS content marketing services, as the right keywords can drive highly targeted traffic.

Insight:  Long-tail terms account for  70% of all search queries, so they bring relevance and attract niche audiences.

6- Monitor Trends and Seasonality

Trendspotting can lead you to some low hanging fruit keywords that are popular but only for the time being. Utilize Google Trends or social media networks to know what’s trending.

For instance, the holiday season includes people searching for “best gifts for fitness enthusiasts” or “easy Christmas dinner recipes.” If you produce content on these keywords at the right moment, you can expect an increase in traffic. For companies specializing in Shopify services, identifying seasonal trends like “top Shopify stores for holiday shopping” can help capture timely traffic.

Conclusion

Keywords with less competition are the ideal first step in an SEO plan. They are easier to rank for, inexpensive, and offer fast wins while paving the way for sustained success. Whether you’re offering SaaS marketing services, Shopify SEO services, or ecommerce SEO services, focusing on these keywords will bring traffic, increase engagement, and create authority in your niche without spreading your resources too thin. With the above tips and insights from Wytlabs experts, you’re equipped to begin seeking out and going after these valuable opportunities.