How to Find Long Tail Keywords With Ahrefs

Finding those golden long tail keywords in Ahrefs is easier than you think! You can uncover hidden gems that your competitors are missing with just four simple strategies. These low-competition keywords will bring you the exact visitors you want.

Let’s start with Keywords Explorer. Head to the matching terms report. Filter for phrases with 4 or more words. Keep the difficulty under 20. This is where the magic happens! You’ll find keywords that are practically begging to be ranked for.

Next up? Spy on your competitors (legally, of course). Check their organic rankings. Look for positions 4 through 20. Focus on keywords with 100 to 1,000 monthly searches. Why these spots? Because they’re ranking but not dominating yet. That’s your opportunity right there!

Content gap analysis is your secret weapon. It shows keywords all your competitors rank for but you don’t. Think about it. If everyone else is ranking, shouldn’t you be there too? This method practically hands you a roadmap to success.

Don’t forget the advanced filters! Click on “Questions” to find what people are actually asking. Try “Newly Discovered” for fresh opportunities nobody else has spotted yet. Featured snippets? Yes, please! These filters transform your keyword research from guesswork into a precise science.

Each technique reveals keywords your audience is desperately searching for. Low competition means faster rankings. Targeted traffic means better conversions. It’s really that simple.

Using Keywords Explorer to Discover High-Value Long Tail Opportunities

Think of this tool as your secret treasure map. You’ll type in your main keyword first. Then head straight to the “Matching terms” report. Here’s where it gets exciting.

Set your filters to show phrases with 4+ words. Keep the keyword difficulty under 20. Trust me, this combination is pure gold for finding opportunities others miss.

Now comes the fun part.

Look at that search volume graph. You want to spot keywords with steady or climbing searches over the past year. Aim for phrases getting 100-1,000 searches monthly. These are your sweet spots – enough traffic to matter, but not so competitive you can’t rank.

But wait, there’s more to consider.

You need to understand what people actually want when they type these keywords. Pop open the SERP overview. Are they looking to buy something? Do they need information? Maybe they’re trying to find a specific website?

The answer is right there in the current top results.

Check what type of content already ranks. Blog posts? Product pages? How-to guides? This tells you exactly what Google thinks people want to see.

Don’t forget to use those intent filters. Pick commercial if you’re selling something. Choose informational if you’re teaching or explaining. Match your content to what searchers actually need, and you’ll win every time.

It’s really that simple. No magic tricks needed.

Mining Your Competitors’ Rankings for Untapped Long Tail Keywords

Fire up Ahrefs’ Site Explorer and pop in your competitor’s website. Head straight to the Organic Keywords report. Now here’s where it gets interesting. Filter for positions 4-20. Why? These are keywords they rank for but haven’t fully nailed yet. Perfect for you to swoop in.

Set your keyword difficulty to under 30. Trust me on this one. Then narrow search volume to 100-1000 monthly searches. You’re now looking at manageable long tail keywords that actually drive traffic.

But wait—there’s more to uncover.

Take those keywords and check which pages your competitors use to rank for them. You’ll start seeing patterns. Maybe they’re targeting specific questions your audience asks. Or solving problems you never knew existed.

Here’s a secret most people miss. Look at their backlinks too. Pages that attract quality links usually target valuable long tail phrases. It’s like finding treasure someone else marked on a map.

Ready for instant wins? Export any keywords containing words like “best,” “review,” or “how to.” These show buying intent. People searching these terms want solutions now.

This whole process takes maybe 30 minutes. But it hands you dozens of content ideas your competitors proved already work. Why reinvent the wheel when you can build a better one?

Stop guessing what might work. Start with what definitely does.

Leveraging Content Gap Analysis to Find Missing Long Tail Topics

Fire up Ahrefs’ Content Gap tool and plug in your site plus three top competitors. This is where things get exciting. Set your filters to show keywords with difficulty under 30 and at least 100 monthly searches. Suddenly, you’re looking at a goldmine of long tail keywords you’ve been missing out on.

Think about it. These are real opportunities sitting right there.

Now comes the smart part. Take those keywords and group them into topics that make sense together. Look for patterns. See which keywords bring the most traffic. Export the best ones.

Pay special attention to keywords where all three competitors rank in the top 10. But you? Nowhere to be found. That’s not just an opportunity—it’s practically a guarantee that you can rank too.

The best targets? Keywords where every single competitor shows strong performance. These aren’t random shots in the dark. They’re proven winners that already work for others in your space.

Start with these quick wins first. You’ll grab traffic that’s been slipping through your fingers this whole time. Your competitors have already done the hard work of proving these keywords convert.

Why leave money on the table when the path to ranking is already mapped out for you?

Advanced Filtering Techniques to Identify Low-Competition Keywords

Start with Ahrefs’ filters. Set Keyword Difficulty under 20. Then bump your search volume to at least 100. This sweet spot reveals keywords you can genuinely compete for without battling giants.

Here’s where it gets exciting.

Hit that “Questions” filter. Suddenly, you’re seeing what real people ask online. These conversational searches are gold mines. They’re specific, targeted, and often easier to rank for than you’d think.

Want to get ahead of everyone else? Stack your filters like a pro. Combine “Newly Discovered” with “SERP Features = Featured Snippet.” You’ll spot opportunities your competitors haven’t even noticed yet. It feels amazing when you rank for something nobody else saw coming.

The “Word Count” filter is your secret weapon. Set it to 4+ words. Now you’re looking at genuine long-tail keywords that match exactly what searchers type.

But wait – don’t just chase any keyword.

Compare Traffic Potential with KD scores. Some keywords look easy but bring zero traffic. Others seem harder but deliver massive results. Find that perfect balance.

Export everything. Group keywords by what people actually want when they search. Shopping? Learning? Comparing? Each group needs different content.

Here’s the truth: numbers alone won’t tell you everything. Check those SERPs yourself. Sometimes a “low competition” keyword has hidden challenges the tools miss.

This approach changed everything for me. Instead of fighting impossible battles, you’re finding opportunities perfectly matched to your site’s strength.