When looking at which keywords to target next, more is always better, right? Wrong.
There’s one simple trick that far too many internet marketers are ignoring. Stop trying to join the thousands of others trying to rank for popular searches, and target uncontested keywords.
Sometimes, a big piece of a small pie is better than none of a large one.
Why Uncontested Keywords Are Sometimes Better
If you can’t get to the first page of search results for a term, you might as well be nowhere. Statistics show that ranking 11th is not much better than ranking 11,000th.
For example, targeting a term with 100,000 monthly searches might seem like a good idea. But if it’s a competitive term, it could take months of work even to get to the 11th place on Google. Some research suggests you’ll only get around 1% of clicks for that term with the 11th position (about 1,000 clicks).
It’s not surprising so many people try to rank for “big” terms that have hundreds of thousands of searches each month.
After all, if you’ve done the math, you know that just a small percentage of that pie could earn you some good money.
But that’s ignoring simple cost-benefit analysis. Ranking for such a term could take thousands of man hours of work. And you’ll always be under threat from competitors.
Consider the amount of time, effort, and money required to rank for a popular, heavily-contested search term.
Your life can be so much easier if you go to the easy pickings of uncontested terms.
Saving Time and Money
Try targeting a term that “only” gets 5,000 searches a month but is far less competitive. If you do, you could get the number one ranking. And you could do so by expending a similar amount of time and effort that you would by targeting a more competitive term.
The first ranking on Google could garner around 34% of clicks for that search, or 1,750 clicks per month.
You could spend the time you saved by targeting multiple easy terms and building a portfolio that works for you.
Spreading your efforts and ranking for several easy terms rather than one big keyword is also more secure. You’ll be at less risk of getting bumped down the listings than if you put all your effort into just one keyword.
Targeting niche keywords makes even more sense when you consider those 1,750 visitors will be MORE targeted and more inclined to spend money.
They will be this way if they arrived at your site using “active” keywords such as “discount.” Many of those using broader terms will not be ready to spend money on your site.
Why Long-Tail Keywords Could Target Your Market for You
Picking long-tail keywords such as “[keyword] review” or “[keyword] discount” might seem counter-intuitive. Those search terms get even fewer searches, right?
Yes, but as I said, those are terms people use when they’re much closer to buying something. If you can provide online users with the discount they’re looking for, you should get the sale.
Long-tail keywords mean you get targeted traffic from people who want to spend money. And you get it from search terms that are easier to rank for than without the long-tail.
You’ve siphoned off the people who are just doing early research and simply aren’t interested in purchasing.
Keep in mind that some long-tail additions are better than others. Try to avoid people looking for freebies with terms like “free” or “download.”
And some long-tails actually make more sense than you might think. “[Keyword] scam” is one example. It might seem negative to include “scam.” But people search for this term when they’re just about to buy a product but want to make sure it’s legit.
Targeting long-tail keywords makes sense because those keywords have less competition. You won’t waste your efforts on people who are never going to buy your product.
Conclusion
Trying to rank for ultra-competitive keywords might be where the jackpot is. But doing so is an unrealistic and unachievable goal for many small internet marketers, especially those just starting out in the business.
You can see how targeting niche terms could be just the right answer for your business.
Keith Elton
Latest posts by Keith Elton (see all)
- How to Get More Traffic from Uncontested Keywords - April 6, 2017
“Uncontested keyword” Worth thinking and worth trying. Short and precise post but very helpful. Thanks for sharing!
Nancy Bryant would love you to read ..Portable Standing Desk
Wow! Short and precise! I was actually looking forward to a long juicy read.
Keyword research is constantly evolving just as Google’s algorithms and therefore SEO. At the moment, long tail is the way to go and uncontested long tail is the best way to make a ripple in the vast ocean called the internet.
For beginners: A Beginners Guide To On Page SEO: 11 Simple Hacks
http://www.technicalmindsweb.com/beginners-guide-on-page-seo-11-simple-hacks-boost-content-now/
Thanks for your insights about uncontested keywords! They are the hidden gems for ranking in Google search. Even though the search volume is lower, image how much traffic you would gain over time if you target those low-volume long tail keywords terms for each piece of content you produce!
Anyone who does not use the long tails is missing out on tons of traffic!
Thanks again
Lisa
Lisa would love you to read ..How to Boost Google Ranking with Long Tail Keywords
Hey Keith,
Right said, if you want to drive traffic then you have to focus on Long Tail keywords.
I am not an SEO expert, but I know a lot, and if an online business is just going to shout out then Long Tail Keywords are just GOLD for that.
But, it all doesn’t end with just Long Tail Keywords,
We also need to find those keywords with is a pretty hard word because most of the Long Tail Keywords are already targetted by other small business.
But, from your post, I learned few new stuff. Uncontested keywords; Just wow and a new thing to me.
Keep the Good Word up and Enjoy the day!
Regards;
Fahad Mirza
Fahad Mirza would love you to read ..Payoneer Sign Up | How to Register/Signup for Payoneer and Earn 25$ Bonus
Hey, Keith Elton.
Keyword research is an essential part of SEO and without we ca never get traffic to our blog. It’s very hard to rank any keyword on Google because the competition level is very high now. But, I know few ways to drive traffic to a blog without that SEO thing.
But, from your post, I learned few new stuff. Uncontested keywords; Just wow and a new thing to me.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.
Keep it up good work.
Best Wishes!
Paramjot Singh
~ My Blogger Guides
Paramjot Singh would love you to read ..Grammarly Cost: Premium Pricing [20% Discount April 2017]
I always suggest people to work with long tail keywords.
Some of my failing Niche Site has been successful with Long tail Keywords
Thanks for give this useful information.
Your post is informative and shareable for us. Basically, Keywords are very important part of SEO. So that I can create more traffic for my site.
first time i read something useful about uncontested keywords. thank you for sharing the article, keep it up.
Hi Keith,
Really great article..
Actually I am finding ways to get some traffic on my blog and find few good thing in this post..
What do you think keyword always play great role or something new algorithm may come up?
Just curiously ask 🙂
pankaj kamariya would love you to read ..Top 50 blogging tips to make your blog amazing
I am a newbie blogger and I find that it’s harder to rank. For now social media is bringing in extra traffic. However, I will definitely take your advice and search for long-tail keywords. Thanks for this article.
John Wallace would love you to read ..Web Hosting Vs Domain
I always suggest people to work with long tail keywords.
Some of my failing Niche Site has been successful with Long tail KWs.
Anyway thanks for the guide.
Uncontested Keywords? These days it is hard to see any keyword with a reasonable amount of search volume that is “uncontested”, unless you want to go for a keyword that you will rank for, but it will end up bringing 0 traffic.
I think the right phrase maybe ” keywords with less competition”.
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It’s getting very difficult to stand out from the crowd in today’s competitive markets. Your article is a classic example of why it is important to share information across the board. This was a great read. Thank you!
Impressive.. I have come to realize that ranking for short tail keyword might get one’s content and blog to disappear on search.. Long tail however has proven beyond reasonable doubt to have the ability to target the REAL AUDIENCE for our respective products
Many thanks for this article. We tried your approach on our Homebuyer Conveyancing website with some fantastic results.
Hi Keith, Long tail ranking keywords is the best way to get the results better in very short time 🙂
Hi Keith,
Thanks for your awesome article. It is very helpful for me. I am getting a lot of traffic with long-tail keywords, I will try with uncontested keywords
This is a very informative post. Keywords are very important part of SEO. I was glad to find the tips on how to use them better.
Joslyn Rochell would love you to read ..By: MarlinMedley
Really very informative Post for me because i am learning seo day by day. Keywords are very important part of SEO. I always target that competitive keywords from those i can get numerous traffic for my site. But after reading your article, i will also concentrate on uncontested keywords, So that i can create more traffic for my site.