Untapped keywords (also called low-competition or “low-hanging” keywords) are search terms with decent search volume but minimal competition from high-authority sites. These are ideal for “instant” ranking—meaning you can potentially climb to page 1 (or top positions) in weeks or months with optimized content, especially if your site has some domain authority. Ahrefs is perfect for this, as its Keyword Difficulty (KD) score (0–100) estimates how hard it is to rank: aim for KD under 20–30 for quick wins. Focus on long-tail keywords (3+ words) with 100–1,000 monthly searches.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to finding them in Ahrefs. You’ll need an Ahrefs account (start with their free tools if you’re new).
Use Keywords Explorer for Initial Brainstorming
This is Ahrefs’ core tool for seed keywords.
- Go to Keywords Explorer (ahrefs.com/keywords-explorer).
- Enter a broad seed keyword related to your niche (e.g., “email marketing” for a SaaS blog).
- Select your target country/language.
- Hit “Search.”
- In the results, filter for:
- Volume: 100+ (for traffic potential).
- KD: 0–20 (low competition).
- Traffic Potential (TP): High relative to KD (estimates total traffic from all related keywords).
- Sort by “Parent Topic” to group similar ideas, then export untapped ones (low KD, rising trend in the “Trend” graph).
Pro Tip: Use the “Questions” or “Matching Terms” tab for long-tail variants—e.g., “best email marketing tips for beginners”—which often have lower KD.
Step 2: Run a Content Gap Analysis
This uncovers keywords your competitors rank for but you don’t—prime for quick gains.
- Go to Site Explorer (ahrefs.com/site-explorer).
- Enter your domain in the top field.
- In the “Competing Domains” section, add 3–5 rivals (find them via “Organic Competitors” report).
- Click “Show keywords” > “Content Gap”.
- Filter results by:
- KD < 20.
- Volume > 50.
- “Missing” column (keywords competitors have but you don’t).
- Prioritize keywords where multiple competitors rank weakly (e.g., on page 2–3).
This method can yield 100+ ideas in minutes. For example, if competitors rank for “email marketing tips” but you don’t, target it with better content.
Step 3: Analyze Low-DR Competitors’ Top Pages
Target keywords where weak sites (low Domain Rating, DR) already rank—easier to outrank.
- In Site Explorer, enter a low-DR competitor’s URL (find them by searching your seed in Keywords Explorer > “SERP Overview” > filter for DR < 30).
- Go to “Organic Keywords” report.
- Filter by KD < 20 and Volume > 100.
- Look at their top pages (click “Top Pages”) for keyword clusters.
- Create content that’s more comprehensive to steal traffic fast.
Step 4: Check “Also Rank For” on Fresh Content
For truly instant potential, spy on new pages gaining traction.
- In Keywords Explorer, search your seed.
- Go to “SERP Overview”.
- Filter top results by “First Seen” (date page indexed) to find pages <6 months old with traffic.
- Click a page > “Also rank for” to see easy-win variants.
- If a DR-similar site ranks quickly, you can too.
Step 5: Validate and Track for Quick Ranking
- SERP Check: In Keywords Explorer, view “SERP Overview” for each keyword. If top results have low DR or thin content, it’s a green light.
- Free Tools Boost: Use Ahrefs’ free Keyword Generator (ahrefs.com/keyword-generator) for quick filters on untapped ideas.
- Track Progress: Add 10–20 keywords to Rank Tracker. Optimize a page (e.g., 2,000+ words, internal links), then monitor weekly.
- Bonus Sources: Scan forums (e.g., Reddit) or Google Suggest for ideas not in Ahrefs, then validate in Keywords Explorer.
Quick Wins Table
| Method | Best For | Expected Time to Rank | Example Filter in Ahrefs |
| Keywords Explorer | Broad ideas | 1–3 months | KD < 20, Volume 100–500 |
| Content Gap | Competitor steals | 2–4 weeks | Missing keywords, low KD |
| Low-DR Analysis | Easy outranks | 1–2 months | DR < 30 sites’ organics |
| Fresh Pages | Trending lows | <1 month | First seen <180 days |
Start with 5–10 keywords, publish pillar content, and build 1–2 links (e.g., via guest posts). Track in Google Search Console for real impressions. If your niche is saturated, combine with user-generated content ideas from Reddit or Quora for fresher angles. This approach has helped sites rank 10x faster by avoiding crowded terms.
