SEO with Ahrefs: Comprehensive Guide to Finding Easy-to-Rank Keywords

In the competitive world of SEO, discovering easy-to-rank keywords can significantly impact your website’s visibility and search rankings. Many beginners and even experienced marketers struggle with finding keywords that attract quality traffic without competing against industry giants. This guide will take you step-by-step through Ahrefs keyword research to identify valuable, low-competition keywords using SEO with Ahrefs. By the end, you’ll have a strong strategy to elevate your search rankings effectively.

Why Target Easy-to-Rank Keywords?

Understanding why easy-to-rank keywords are so valuable is crucial before diving into technical steps. High-volume keywords, while appealing, are often dominated by well-established brands with high domain authority, making it challenging to rank for them. If you’re running a newer website or have a niche business, competing for these keywords can be difficult and costly.

On the other hand, targeting easy-to-rank keywords—often referred to as long-tail keywords—can yield several key benefits:

• Lower Competition: By choosing keywords with lower search volume and competition, you’re more likely to achieve higher rankings without needing extensive backlinks or high authority.
• More Relevant Traffic: Long-tail keywords are generally more specific, attracting visitors who have a clearer intent and are further along in their buyer’s journey. For example, a user searching for “best eco-friendly gym bags” is more likely to make a purchase than someone just searching “gym bags.”
• Higher Conversion Rates: Because these keywords are more specific, they tend to convert at a higher rate. Instead of attracting a general audience, you’re reaching people actively searching for niche or product-specific information.

Targeting easy-to-rank keywords isn’t just about driving traffic; it’s about attracting the right audience who are more likely to engage with your content and convert.

Step 1: Start Your Ahrefs Keyword Research with a Seed Keyword

The journey to finding easy-to-rank keywords begins with a solid Ahrefs keyword research process. A seed keyword is a broad term related to your niche that will help generate relevant keyword ideas. Here’s how to start:

1. Open Ahrefs Keyword Explorer: In Ahrefs, go to the Keyword Explorer tool.
2. Enter a Seed Keyword: Type in a keyword relevant to your niche. For this guide, let’s use “gym bags.”
3. Choose Target Country: Select the target country (e.g., USA) to get location-specific data.

Once you run your search, Ahrefs will generate thousands of keyword suggestions related to your seed keyword. The vast list may seem overwhelming, but in the next step, you’ll filter it down to focus on easy-to-rank keywords for your site’s success.

Step 2: Filtering Keywords for Low-Competition Opportunities

To maximize your SEO with Ahrefs strategy, filter these keywords to identify low-competition, high-potential opportunities. Here are the recommended filters:

• Keyword Difficulty (KD): Set a range of 15 to 25. Keywords in this range are generally easier to rank for, especially if your website doesn’t have a high domain authority.
• Search Volume: Limit search volume to a maximum of 250 searches per month. Larger sites often ignore these lower-volume keywords, which makes them less competitive.
• Clicks per Search (CPS): Set CPS to a minimum of 1.1. A higher CPS ensures that users are more likely to click through to websites rather than getting all the information from Google’s featured snippets or answers.

Applying these filters will reduce the list to a more manageable selection of easy-to-rank keywords.

Example

If “gym bags” yields too many high-competition keywords, using terms like “best gym bags for beginners” or “waterproof gym bags for men” can help you identify terms that larger sites might overlook.

Step 3: Analyzing SERP Results for Each Easy-to-Rank Keyword

After filtering, the next step is to analyze SERP (Search Engine Results Page) data for each keyword. In Ahrefs Keyword Research, you can click the SERP button next to any keyword to view the current top-ranking pages for that search term.

When analyzing SERPs, keep an eye out for pages or websites with lower Domain Rating (DR). Specifically, focus on keywords with competitors that have a DR of less than 20 in the top 5 positions. This indicates a better chance for your page to rank well.

Key Considerations in SERP Analysis:

• Domain Rating (DR): Lower DR (under 20) among top-ranking pages is a sign that competition is weaker, increasing your chances of ranking.
• Content Quality: Review the content quality of the top pages. Are they comprehensive? Do they fully address the search query? If not, this presents an opportunity for you to create better, more thorough content.

For instance, if you’re examining the keyword “best gym bags,” and find a site with DR 17 at position 5, this indicates a good chance for your optimized content to outrank it.

Step 4: Using Ahrefs to Reverse-Engineer Competitor Keywords

Ahrefs keyword research goes beyond identifying individual keywords; you can also analyze competitor keywords to gain an advantage. Once you find competitors with low authority, use the Site Explorer tool to reverse-engineer their keyword strategy.

How to Find Competitors’ Keywords:

1. Open Site Explorer in Ahrefs: Enter the domain of a competitor ranking well for your target keywords.
2. Explore Organic Keywords: Head to the Organic Keywords section to view all the keywords that the competitor ranks for.
3. Apply Filters: Refine the list by setting Position between 1 and 5, Volume under 100, and Keyword Difficulty from 5 to 20 to uncover long-tail keywords that are less competitive.

By exporting this list, you can expand your collection of easy-to-rank keywords that competitors are already benefiting from.

Step 5: Content Creation Targeted at Easy-to-Rank Keywords

Once you have identified your target keywords, it’s time to focus on creating optimized content. Ranking for easy-to-rank keywords often requires thoughtful, specific content that addresses user needs. Here’s how to approach content creation with these keywords in mind:

Types of Content to Create:

• How-to Guides: For keywords like “how to clean a gym bag,” create a detailed guide that thoroughly answers users’ questions. Aim for long-form content (2,000 words or more) that covers all aspects of the topic.
• Best-of Lists: For keywords like “best gym bags for women,” develop a comparison-style post that highlights top products, their pros and cons, and expert recommendations. This type of post not only ranks well but can also drive conversions if you include affiliate links.

Optimization Tips:

• Integrate Long-Tail Keywords: Naturally incorporate long-tail keywords throughout the content, including in headings, image alt text, and meta descriptions.
• Internal Linking: Link to relevant pages within your website to create a coherent structure that Google can understand.
• Backlink Building: Backlinks from reputable sites are essential for increasing your page authority and ranking potential.

By focusing on content tailored around easy-to-rank keywords identified through SEO with Ahrefs, you can effectively increase your site’s chances of ranking.

Step 6: Ongoing SEO with Ahrefs and Content Optimization

SEO is a continuous process, and SEO with Ahrefs involves consistent monitoring, updating, and optimizing content. Here’s how to maintain and improve your keyword strategy:

• Competitor Analysis: Re-evaluate your competitors’ keywords periodically, especially after new content releases. Fresh keyword insights help keep your content relevant.
• Content Updates: Revisit existing posts periodically to incorporate new keywords, update information, and adjust to changing search trends.

This ongoing approach helps you maintain visibility, adapt to changing SEO dynamics, and capitalize on new easy-to-rank keywords.

Conclusion: Achieve Success with Easy-to-Rank Keywords and Ahrefs Keyword Research

Focusing on easy-to-rank keywords is a strategic move for steady growth, especially if your website is new or has a lower authority. SEO with Ahrefs provides a systematic way to uncover these keywords by using filters, analyzing SERPs, and studying competitor tactics. Each aspect of Ahrefs keyword research can reveal valuable keywords that enhance your rankings without putting you in direct competition with established players.

With consistent efforts, you can create content that not only attracts traffic but also drives conversions, helping you build authority within your niche. Whether you’re just starting or refining your SEO approach, SEO with Ahrefs is a powerful method for uncovering and capitalizing on easy-to-rank keywords. Let us know your experiences or questions in the comments, and happy ranking!