How to Find Low Competition Niches: Step-by-Step Guide
Finding low competition niches can make or break your success in blogging or affiliate marketing. If you choose a niche that’s too competitive, ranking on Google becomes an uphill battle. But if you pick a niche with high search volume and low competition, you get a better shot at driving traffic, earning affiliate commissions, and growing your online presence.
This guide will walk you through a step-by-step process to find low competition niches for affiliate marketing, blogging, or niche websites. We’ll cover research methods, keyword tools, and real-world examples to help you make an informed decision.
Choosing a niche is just the start—learn how to build and scale it in our Niche Website Building Guide.
Why Low Competition Niches Matter
If you’re starting a niche website, you need a topic where:
- There’s demand – People are searching for it on Google.
- It’s not overly competitive – Big sites haven’t taken over the niche.
- It’s monetizable – You can earn from ads, affiliate marketing, or products.
A high competition niche means you’ll be competing with authority websites with thousands of backlinks and massive budgets. That’s why finding the best niche with low competition gives you an edge.
Example:
- “Weight loss” is super competitive—ranking on page 1 is nearly impossible.
- “Weight loss for new moms” is less competitive but still gets searches.
- “Postpartum weight loss for C-section moms” is a low competition niche with strong intent.
Now, let’s get into the step-by-step process of finding these golden niches.
Step 1: Brainstorm Niche Website Ideas
Start by listing broad topics you’re interested in. You don’t need to be an expert—just interested enough to create content consistently.
Examples of broad niches:
- Health & wellness
- Finance
- Technology
- DIY & crafts
- Travel
- Parenting
- Hobbies
Once you have broad ideas, narrow them down into low competition niches.
Example breakdown:
Broad Niche | Narrowed Niche | Low Competition Niche |
Fitness | Home workouts | Senior chair workouts |
Finance | Side hustles | Side hustles for teachers |
Tech | Smart home devices | Smart home gadgets for pet owners |
Travel | Budget travel | Cheap travel destinations for students |
Pets | Dog training | Dog training for first-time owners |
This method helps you identify less competitive, more targeted niches with strong search intent.
Step 2: Use Google Auto-Suggest and Related Searches
Google’s Auto-Suggest and Related Searches show you what real users are searching for. Type your niche idea in Google and look at the suggested keywords.
Example:
- Type “keto diet” → You’ll see suggestions like “keto diet for beginners” or “keto diet for PCOS”.
- Search “best home workouts” → You might find “best home workouts for seniors”.
These long-tail keywords often represent low competition niches.
Google’s “People Also Ask” (PAA) section is another goldmine. If you search “best fitness tracker”, PAA might show:
- “Which fitness tracker is best for seniors?”
- “What’s the best budget fitness tracker?”
If these topics aren’t covered by major authority sites, they could be high search, low competition niches.
Step 3: Check Search Volume & Competition
Now that you have some niche ideas, check their search volume and competition using keyword tools like:
- Google Keyword Planner (free)
- Ubersuggest (limited free searches)
- Ahrefs / Semrush / KWFinder (paid but highly accurate)
What to Look For:
- Search volume: Aim for 1,000–10,000 searches/month (low to medium traffic).
- Keyword difficulty (KD): Under 30 is ideal for low competition niches.
- CPC (Cost-Per-Click): Higher CPC means higher profitability for ads and affiliate marketing.
Example:
Keyword | Search Volume | Keyword Difficulty (KD) | CPC ($) |
“Best hiking gear” | 25,000 | 60 (high) | 1.20 |
“Best hiking gear for beginners” | 3,500 | 28 (medium) | 2.50 |
“Best lightweight hiking gear for seniors” | 1,200 | 15 (low) | 3.80 |
The third keyword is a perfect low competition niche—reasonable search volume, low difficulty, and high CPC.
Step 4: Analyze the Competition
Before picking a niche, analyze the top-ranking websites for your keywords. If page 1 is dominated by:
- Big brands (Amazon, Healthline, NerdWallet)
- High Domain Authority (DA) sites (above 70)
- Tons of backlinks (over 100+)
Then it’s too competitive.
Use MozBar (free Chrome extension) to check DA scores. If you see DA 20-40 websites ranking, you have a chance to compete.
Step 5: Find Best Low Competition Niches for Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing works best when there’s a buying intent. The best low competition niches for affiliate marketing include:
Pro Tip: Look for niche-specific affiliate programs (not just Amazon) for higher commissions.
Step 6: Validate Demand Using Forums & Communities
Check Reddit, Quora, and Facebook Groups to see if people are actively discussing your niche.
Examples:
- Reddit r/FrugalLiving → “What are the best budget meal plans for families?”
- Quora → “What’s the best way to train a small dog?”
- Facebook Groups → Search “DIY solar panels” and see what questions people ask.
If real people are looking for answers, it means there’s demand but low competition.
Step 7: Test with a Small Website or YouTube Channel
Before fully committing, test your low competition niche by:
- Writing 5-10 blog posts targeting low-competition keywords.
- Starting a YouTube channel (videos rank fast for low-competition topics).
- Using Pinterest (great for DIY, health, and lifestyle niches).
If you start getting traffic, you’ve found a profitable niche.
Advanced Strategies for Finding Low Competition Niches
Now that you understand the basics of finding low competition niches, let’s go deeper into advanced keyword research, real-world case studies, and monetization strategies. These methods will help you validate a niche and ensure it has long-term earning potential.
Step 8: Use AI & Advanced Keyword Research Tools
To get ahead of the competition, use AI-powered and advanced keyword research techniques. Here’s how:
1. Find Hidden Keywords with Ahrefs & Semrush
Most keyword tools suggest high-competition keywords, but you can uncover hidden gems with low competition using these methods:
Ahrefs (Keyword Explorer)
- Enter a broad topic (e.g., “home workouts”).
- Set Keyword Difficulty (KD) < 20 and Search Volume > 500.
- Sort by Questions (e.g., “best home workouts without equipment”).
Semrush (Keyword Magic Tool)
- Enter a broad term and filter by Long-Tail Keywords.
- Find question-based keywords (these are usually less competitive).
- Check the SERP Analysis to ensure small websites rank in the top 10.
Step 9: Look for Seasonal & Evergreen Niches
Evergreen Niches (Always in Demand)
Evergreen niches are stable, meaning they generate traffic year-round.
Examples of evergreen low competition niches:
- Personal finance (e.g., “budgeting tips for college students”)
- Health & wellness (e.g., “home remedies for hair growth”)
- DIY & crafts (e.g., “easy woodworking projects for beginners”)
- Tech & gadgets (e.g., “best smart home devices under $100”)
Seasonal Niches (High Traffic Certain Months)
Seasonal niches spike in traffic during certain periods.
Examples of seasonal low competition niches:
- Halloween costume ideas for couples (spikes every October)
- Best Black Friday tech deals (peaks in November)
- Christmas DIY decorations (high search volume in December)
- Tax filing tips for freelancers (rises between January–April)
For a stable income, combine evergreen and seasonal content.
Step 10: Analyze Monetization Potential
Finding a low competition niche is great, but it’s useless if it doesn’t make money. Here are the best monetization options:
Best Ways to Monetize Low Competition Niches
Pro Tip: Affiliate marketing + display ads is the best combo for long-term passive income.
Step 11: Case Studies – Real Examples of Low Competition Niches
Here are real-world examples of successful niche sites in low competition niches:
Site: TinyHouseTalk.com (Tiny Homes Niche)
- Traffic: 500,000+ visits/month
- Monetization: Display ads, affiliate marketing (home appliances, furniture)
- Low Competition Angle: “Off-grid tiny home living”
Site: TheModestMan.com (Short Men’s Fashion)
- Traffic: 250,000+ visits/month
- Monetization: Affiliate links (clothing, accessories), sponsorships
- Low Competition Angle: “Fashion tips for short men”
Site: Sleepopolis.com (Mattress Reviews)
- Traffic: 1M+ visits/month
- Monetization: Affiliate links (Amazon, Casper, Purple)
- Low Competition Angle: “Best mattresses for side sleepers”
Key Takeaway: Focusing on a niche within a niche (e.g., “best mattresses for back pain” instead of “best mattresses”) can significantly reduce competition.
Step 12: Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Low Competition Niche
Mistake 1: Picking a niche with no search demand – Use tools like Ahrefs or Google Trends to confirm interest.
Mistake 2: Choosing an overly competitive niche – Avoid niches where big brands dominate Page 1.
Mistake 3: Ignoring monetization potential – A niche must have affiliate programs, ads, or product sales.
Mistake 4: Choosing a niche you’re not interested in – If you hate writing about a topic, you’ll burn out fast.
Mistake 5: Not validating competition – Check low DA sites ranking before committing to a niche.
Step 13: How to Take Action (Your Niche-Finding Checklist)
Quick Checklist to Find a Profitable Low Competition Niche:
- Brainstorm broad niche ideas
- Use Google Auto-Suggest & Related Searches
- Check search volume & keyword difficulty with Ahrefs or Semrush
- Analyze top-ranking websites (avoid niches dominated by big brands)
- Find high CPC & buyer intent keywords
- Research affiliate programs & monetization potential
- Validate demand with Reddit, Quora, and Facebook Groups
- Test with a small website or YouTube channel
Following these steps will help you find a profitable, low competition niche that can grow into a successful niche website.
Not all profitable niches guarantee success. Make sure to analyze competition levels using our Niche SEO Checklist.
Final Thoughts: Start Your Niche Website Today
Finding the best niche for blogging with low competition takes research, but the effort pays off. By following this step-by-step guide, you’ll discover high search, low competition niches that can generate consistent traffic and income.
What’s Next?
- Choose your niche and validate it with keyword research.
- Start a simple blog or YouTube channel to test demand.
- Focus on creating quality content and monetizing effectively.
Now it’s time to take action and build your niche website!