How to Find Low Hanging Fruit Keywords for SEO

Low hanging fruit keywords are one of the fastest ways to improve SEO performance because they focus on opportunities your website is already close to winning.

Instead of starting from zero with brand-new keywords, you look for search terms where Google is already showing your website, but the page is not ranking high enough to earn meaningful traffic yet.

These are usually keywords where your site is ranking on page one but near the bottom, or on page two or three with impressions but very few clicks.

The goal is simple: find keywords where a small improvement could lead to better rankings, more qualified traffic, and more leads.

What Are Low Hanging Fruit Keywords?

Low hanging fruit keywords are search terms your website already has some visibility for, but has not fully capitalized on yet.

For example, your website may already rank in position 11 for a keyword with hundreds of monthly impressions. That means Google understands your page is related to the topic, but the page is not strong enough yet to rank near the top.

That keyword may be a low hanging fruit opportunity because you are not starting from scratch. With the right improvements, the page may be able to move from page two to page one, or from the bottom of page one into a higher-click position.

Common examples include keywords where:

• Your page ranks between positions 8 and 20
• The keyword has impressions but low clicks
• The page is relevant but under-optimized
• The search intent is close but not fully answered
• The page could improve with better headings, content, internal links, or examples

These keywords matter because they can often produce faster SEO wins than creating entirely new content.

Low Hanging Fruit Keywords vs Low Competition Keywords

Low hanging fruit keywords and low competition keywords are related, but they are not the same thing.

Low competition keywords are keywords that may be easier to rank for because the search results are not as competitive.

Low hanging fruit keywords are keywords your website is already close to ranking for more effectively.

The difference matters.

Low competition keyword research helps you find new opportunities in the market. Low hanging fruit keyword research helps you find opportunities already sitting inside your existing website data.

For example, if you are building a new SEO content plan, you may start by looking for low competition keywords with high traffic potential. But if your website already has content and search data, low hanging fruit keywords can show you where to improve first.

Why Low Hanging Fruit Keywords Are Often the Fastest SEO Wins

Low hanging fruit keywords are valuable because Google has already made part of the connection.

If your website already appears for a keyword, that usually means the page has some relevance. It may not be the best result yet, but it is already in the conversation.

That gives you a better starting point than targeting a keyword where your site has no visibility at all.

For many businesses, improving existing content can be faster than publishing new content because the page may already have:

• Some rankings
• Some impressions
• Some authority
• Some internal links
• Some topical relevance
• Some historical performance data

This is why SEO should not only be about publishing more articles. Sometimes the bigger opportunity is improving what already exists.

Step 1: Start With Google Search Console

The best place to find low hanging fruit keywords is Google Search Console.

Keyword tools can help, but Google Search Console shows you real data from your own website. You can see which queries are already triggering impressions, which pages are showing up, and where your rankings are close but not strong enough yet.

To start, open Google Search Console and go to the Performance report.

Then review:

• Total clicks
• Total impressions
• Average click-through rate
• Average position
• Queries
• Pages

The most useful low hanging fruit opportunities usually show up when you combine impressions and position data.

Step 2: Filter for Keywords Ranking in Positions 8 to 20

A good starting point is to look for keywords ranking between positions 8 and 20.

These are keywords where your site may be near the bottom of page one or somewhere on page two.

Why does that range matter?

Because moving from position 40 to position 25 may not create a noticeable traffic increase. But moving from position 12 to position 6 can make a real difference.

That does not mean keywords outside this range are useless. But if you are looking for the fastest wins, positions 8 to 20 are often the best place to start.

When reviewing your data, look for keywords that have:

• Average position between 8 and 20
• Meaningful impressions
• Low click-through rate
• A clear connection to your services or content
• A page that could realistically be improved

This keeps your SEO work focused on opportunities that have a realistic chance of moving.

Step 3: Look for High Impressions but Low Clicks

Impressions show how often your site appeared in search results. Clicks show how often people actually visited your site from those results.

A keyword with high impressions but low clicks can point to a missed opportunity.

There are a few reasons this can happen:

• Your page is ranking too low
• Your title is not compelling enough
• Your meta description does not match the search intent
• The page does not directly answer the search query
• A featured snippet, map pack, or ad is taking attention away

Do not assume every high-impression keyword is worth chasing. Some keywords are broad and informational with little business value.

The best low hanging fruit keyword is not always the one with the most impressions. It is the keyword where a small improvement could lead to more qualified traffic, better rankings, and a clearer path to leads or revenue.

Step 4: Match Each Keyword to the Right Page

Once you find a promising keyword, check which page is ranking for it.

This matters because sometimes the wrong page is ranking.

For example, you may find that a blog post is ranking for a service-related keyword, or a service page is ranking for an informational keyword. That does not always mean something is wrong, but it does mean you need to understand the intent.

Ask yourself:

• Is this the best page on the site for this keyword?
• Does the page actually answer the query?
• Would a user be satisfied if they landed here?
• Should this keyword support an existing page or become a new page?
• Is there another page that should be ranking instead?

If the keyword matches the page, improve the page. If the keyword belongs somewhere else, you may need to create a better-targeted page or adjust your internal links.

Step 5: Check the Search Intent

Search intent is the reason behind the search.

Before changing a page, search the keyword yourself and look at what Google is currently ranking.

Ask:

• Are the top results blog posts?
• Are they service pages?
• Are they comparison pages?
• Are they calculators or tools?
• Are they local results?
• Are they product or category pages?

This tells you what type of page Google believes is the best fit for the keyword.

If the results are mostly educational articles, a sales-heavy service page may struggle. If the results are mostly local service pages, a general blog post may not be the right fit.

Do not force the keyword into the wrong page type. The easiest SEO wins usually come from improving alignment between the keyword, the page, and the search intent.

Step 6: Improve the Page Based on the Keyword

After you confirm the keyword and page match, improve the content.

This does not always mean rewriting the entire page. Sometimes small changes are enough.

Useful updates may include:

• Adding a section that directly answers the keyword
• Improving the page title
• Updating the H1 or H2 headings
• Adding examples
• Expanding thin sections
• Improving the intro so the page answers the question faster
• Adding FAQs
• Updating outdated information
• Adding stronger internal links
• Improving the call to action

The key is not to stuff the keyword into the page. The goal is to make the page more useful for the query.

If your page is already ranking, Google sees some relevance. Your job is to make that relevance clearer and more complete.

Step 7: Add Internal Links to Support the Page

Internal links are one of the easiest ways to support low hanging fruit keywords.

If you have a page ranking in position 10 to 20, adding relevant internal links from other pages can help Google understand that the page is important.

For example, if you have a blog post about keyword research, you may link to it from related articles about SEO cost, content strategy, or agency pricing.

Internal links should use natural anchor text. They should not feel forced.

Good anchor text examples include:

• low hanging fruit keywords
• SEO keyword opportunities
• keywords your website is already close to ranking for
• improving existing SEO rankings
• finding quick SEO wins

Internal linking is also helpful when connecting educational blog content back to service pages. For example, if a business owner is reading about keyword opportunities and realizes they need help executing the strategy, linking to your SEO services page gives them a natural next step.

Step 8: Update Titles and Meta Descriptions

Sometimes a page has impressions but low clicks because the title does not match what the searcher wants.

This is especially common when a page ranks for a keyword that was not the original target.

Look at the keyword and ask whether the title clearly addresses it.

For example, if a page is getting impressions for how much does SEO cost, but the title only says SEO Services, the title may not match the searcher’s question.

A better title may be more specific and useful.

The same applies to the meta description. It should explain what the page covers and why someone should click.

Do not overdo it. A title should still read naturally. But if your Search Console data shows that people are seeing your page and not clicking, the title and meta description are worth reviewing.

Step 9: Use Competitor Gaps to Find More Easy Wins

Google Search Console is the best starting point, but competitor research can help you find more opportunities.

Using tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, Moz, or similar SEO platforms, you can compare your website against competitors and look for keywords they rank for that you do not.

This can help you find topics you are missing.

But be careful. A competitor ranking for a keyword does not automatically mean you should target it.

Before adding it to your content plan, ask:

• Is the keyword relevant to your business?
• Does the searcher have real intent?
• Can you create a better page than what is ranking?
• Is the keyword realistic for your site authority?
• Would ranking for it support leads or revenue?

Competitor gaps are useful, but they should not replace strategy. The goal is not to copy competitors. The goal is to find opportunities they missed or did not fully answer.

Step 10: Prioritize Keywords by Business Value

Not every low hanging fruit keyword is worth working on first.

Some keywords may be easy to improve but bring the wrong traffic. Others may have fewer impressions but much stronger business intent.

Before updating pages, prioritize keywords based on:

• Current position
• Impressions
• Click-through rate
• Business value
• Search intent
• Page fit
• Conversion potential
• Internal linking opportunities

This is where SEO becomes more than just rankings. A keyword should support a business goal.

For example, a keyword about how much SEO costs in Pasadena may be more valuable for a local agency than a broad informational keyword with more traffic but no clear buying intent.

The best SEO strategy is not always about going after the biggest keywords. It is about choosing the keywords most likely to move the business forward.

Step 11: Know When a Keyword Is Not Worth Chasing

Low hanging fruit does not mean every opportunity is worth your time.

Some keywords are not worth chasing because they are too broad, too unrelated, or unlikely to produce meaningful results.

You may want to skip a keyword if:

• The search intent does not match your business
• The keyword attracts the wrong audience
• The page ranking for it is not a good fit
• The keyword has impressions but no real commercial value
• The SERP is dominated by features that reduce clicks
• The keyword would require a completely different page to satisfy intent

For example, if you run a digital marketing agency, a keyword like marketing jobs may have traffic, but it probably does not support your lead generation goals.

Low hanging fruit keywords should still be judged by business value, not just ranking potential.

Step 12: Track the Results After Updating

After you improve a page, give Google time to process the changes.

SEO updates usually do not create results overnight. In many cases, you may need to wait a few weeks before judging performance.

Track changes in:

• Average position
• Impressions
• Clicks
• Click-through rate
• Conversions
• Assisted leads

This is where SEO becomes more measurable. You are not guessing whether the update worked. You are comparing performance before and after the improvement.

If you are comparing SEO against paid advertising, this is also where it helps to understand the difference between SEO and PPC measurement. PPC often gives faster feedback, while SEO usually requires more time to evaluate properly.

Common Mistakes When Looking for Low Hanging Fruit Keywords

Only looking at search volume

Search volume can be useful, but it does not tell you whether the keyword is worth targeting. A lower-volume keyword with stronger intent can be more valuable than a broad keyword with more searches.

Ignoring the page that is already ranking

Do not just look at the keyword. Look at the page Google is showing. The right fix depends on whether the page actually matches the search intent.

Updating too many pages at once

If you change too many pages at the same time, it becomes harder to know what worked. Start with your best opportunities first.

Stuffing keywords into old content

Adding the keyword repeatedly is not a strategy. Improve the usefulness of the page.

Forgetting internal links

Sometimes a page is close to ranking but needs more internal support. Relevant internal links can help strengthen the page without requiring a full rewrite.

How Low Hanging Fruit Keywords Fit Into an SEO Strategy

Low hanging fruit keywords are not the whole SEO strategy. They are one part of it.

A strong SEO strategy usually includes:

• Improving existing pages
• Creating new content
• Building topical authority
• Fixing technical SEO issues
• Improving internal linking
• Tracking rankings and conversions
• Refreshing pages over time

Low hanging fruit keywords are especially useful because they help you find opportunities already inside your site.

They can also help control SEO costs because you are improving pages with existing visibility instead of only creating new content from scratch. That is one reason SEO pricing can vary so much across agencies, retainers, and scopes. If you are comparing options, it may help to review digital marketing agency pricing so you understand what different budgets usually include.

Final Thoughts

Low hanging fruit keywords are valuable because they show where your website is already close to gaining more traffic.

Instead of guessing what to publish next, you can use Google Search Console to find queries where your site already has impressions, rankings, and some relevance.

The best opportunities are usually keywords with decent impressions, rankings around positions 8 to 20, clear search intent, and a strong connection to your business.

From there, improve the page, add useful content, strengthen internal links, update the title and meta description, and track the results.

SEO does not always need to start with more content. Sometimes the fastest wins come from improving the pages you already have.

Need Help Finding SEO Opportunities?

Brand House helps small and medium-sized businesses identify SEO opportunities that are realistic, measurable, and connected to business growth. If your website already has rankings but is not generating enough traffic or leads, we can help you find the pages and keywords worth improving first.

Learn more about our SEO services.