Keyword research plays a huge role in growing your website’s traffic and visibility, especially when you’re trying to get ahead of the competition in a crowded digital space. For UAE businesses specifically, finding the right keywords can help attract local customers and drive targeted traffic to your site. If you haven’t already, take a look at our detailed guide on Keyword Research for UAE Businesses to get the foundational knowledge you need to make keyword strategies work for your market.
In this guide, we’re diving into how to identify low-competition keywords for quick wins—those hidden gems that can drive quality traffic to your site without requiring a huge SEO budget or a long wait for results. Whether you’re running an e-commerce store, a SaaS startup, or a local service-based business, this approach offers an awesome entry point into search rankings without battling it out with the big-name competitors—at least not yet.
Why Focus on Low-Competition Keywords?
Low-competition keywords are your secret weapon for fast SEO wins. These are search terms with a decent search volume but lower difficulty levels, meaning you stand a better chance of ranking for them quickly, even if your website is brand new or has low domain authority.
Here’s why they matter:
- Faster results: You can rank within weeks or even days instead of months.
- Targeted traffic: Even though search volume may be lower, the audience is highly specific and often ready to take action.
- Less competition: You won’t be going head-to-head with big brands for every click.
- Builds momentum: Ranking for quick wins boosts your site’s authority over time.
Start With Your Audience in Mind
Before diving into any tools, take a step back and think about who you're trying to reach. Understanding your ideal customer is key to figuring out what they’re searching for. Try to answer questions like:
- What problems are they facing?
- What questions do they ask before buying?
- What words or phrases would they actually type into Google?
Once you have a basic understanding, it’s a lot easier to plug the right phrases into keyword research tools and find real opportunities.
Use Keyword Research Tools to Your Advantage
Now it's time to get technical—but not too technical! The goal is to find phrases with reasonable search volume and low keyword difficulty. You can use tools like:
- Ahrefs: Use their “Keyword Explorer” to find low-difficulty options.
- Ubersuggest: A beginner-friendly tool showing volume, competition, and related keywords.
- Google Keyword Planner: Great for localised insights and intent-based keywords.
- AnswerThePublic: Discover question-based keywords and long-tail variants people are asking.
Key metrics to look for:
- Search Volume: Ideally between 100 – 1,000 for low competition keywords—good traffic, not too competitive.
- Keyword Difficulty (KD): Anything under 30 is considered low competition. The lower the better.
- CPC (Cost-per-click): If high, it could indicate buyer intent.
Explore Long-Tail Keyword Variations
Long-tail keywords are longer, more specific phrases that users type when they’re closer to making a decision. They usually have lower competition and higher conversion potential. For example:
- High competition: SEO
- Low competition + specific intent: SEO services for restaurants in Dubai
Brainstorm some base keywords relevant to your services and start stacking modifiers like:
- Location-based (e.g. “in Abu Dhabi”, “near me”)
- Service-specific (e.g. “affordable”, “custom”, “fast”)
- Buyer intent (e.g. “hire”, “buy”, “download”, “compare”)
Snoop on the Search Results (SERPs)
Once you’ve got a list of potential low-competition keywords, Google them! We call this “SERP analysis” and it’s one of the best reality checks you can do.
What to look for:
- Are the top results big-name players? If it’s full of Wikipedia, Amazon, or Forbes – maybe skip it.
- Do you see forums, Reddit threads, or small blogs? That usually means the keyword is open for the taking.
- Is the intent matching what you offer? If they’re informational and you need transactional, it’s mismatched.
Pro tip: Use Chrome’s incognito mode for unbiased search results.
Don’t Ignore “People Also Ask”
One overlooked goldmine for low-competition keywords? Google’s very own “People Also Ask” section. These are real questions your audience is typing in—and best of all, many of them have low keyword difficulty.
Here’s how to use it:
- Search one of your seed keywords
- Expand the “People Also Ask” questions
- Make a list and run them through your keyword tool
Then create targeted content answering those questions. You’ll be surprised how many of them rank quickly.
Group & Prioritize Keywords for Quick Creation
Once you’ve got your batch of low-competition keywords, group them by theme or topic. This makes it easier to create content that tackles multiple related phrases at once. You can now plan:
- Blog posts for informational keywords (e.g. “how to...”, “what is...”)
- Landing pages for service-based keywords (e.g. “best digital agency in Sharjah”)
- Product/service pages optimized by variant (e.g. “custom web design Dubai”)
Track, Test & Refine
Your keyword strategy isn’t “set and forget.” Once you’ve published content for your low-competition keywords, keep an eye on:
- Google Search Console – to track impressions and clicks
- Google Analytics – to see which pages actually engage and convert
- SEO tools – to monitor rankings over time and adjust
Double down on what’s working, and don’t be afraid to refresh content that isn’t performing as expected.
In Conclusion: Grab the Low-Hanging Fruit First
Going after high-volume, high-competition keywords is tempting—but realistically, those can take months (if not years) to rank for, especially if you're working with a smaller budget or a newer site. Identifying low-competition keywords for quick wins allows you to start seeing traffic sooner, build authority faster, and scale smarter.
Use the tools, ask the right questions, and trust the process. And don’t forget, proper low-competition keyword research starts with understanding your unique audience and business goals. For a deep dive tailored to your region, revisit our guide on Keyword Research for UAE Businesses. Your next SEO win is just a few smart keywords away.
