You just spent hours editing a video, carefully creating an eye-catching thumbnail, and hitting publish with high hopes. But days later, the views are stubbornly stuck at zero. It’s incredibly frustrating when your hard work goes unnoticed. The problem usually isn’t your content quality; it’s that you are targeting high competition keywords. Competing against giant channels for the same search terms means your video gets completely buried. In this guide, I will show you a simple, proven method to find easy-to-rank keywords so you can start getting the views your new channel deserves.
What Are Low Competition Keywords (And Why Do They Matter)?
A low competition keyword is a search phrase with decent viewer demand but very few creators making high-quality videos about it. Instead of fighting for a massive, saturated term, you target highly specific queries.
For example, targeting the generic keyword “gaming” is a huge mistake. The competition is overwhelmingly high. However, targeting “bgmi sensitivity settings for beginners” is an excellent strategy because it is hyper-specific and highly searchable.
Small channels simply cannot compete with big creators who have millions of subscribers. When a massive channel posts, YouTube automatically pushes their video to the top. By focusing heavily on low competition keywords, you guarantee faster ranking and early views. You are effectively finding gaps that the big creators ignored, allowing your channel to build real momentum. For a deeper dive into this foundational strategy, check out [YouTube SEO for Beginners: How I Got My First 10K Views Step-by-Step].
The Step-by-Step Method to Find Easy-to-Rank Keywords
Step 1: Use YouTube Search Suggest – The YouTube search bar is your best tool. When you type a basic keyword, YouTube drops down a list of suggestions. These are real, exact phrases that viewers are actively searching for right now on the platform.
Step 2: Check the Actual Competition – Search for your suggested keyword and analyze the first page of results. Look closely at who is currently winning those top spots to determine if there is room for your video.
Step 3: Build Long-Tail Keywords – Lower competition by adding specific modifiers to your main idea, creating long-tail keywords. Add phrases like “for beginners,” “2026,” or “step by step.” For example, ranking for “youtube seo” is impossible for a beginner. Altering that to “youtube seo for beginners 2026” drastically reduces competition while targeting viewers needing exact help.
Step 4: Use Basic Tools – Verify your findings with free tools like Ubersuggest or SEMrush. Keep it incredibly simple for example, if a keyword shows difficulty under 20, it’s a good starting point.
How to Confirm a Keyword is Easy
Finding a long-tail keyword is only half the battle; you must verify that the algorithm is willing to rank smaller creators for it. When you search your keyword, look at the top five videos and check these three crucial metrics:
- View count benchmark: Look at the views of the videos ranking on page one. Do they have millions of views, or are there videos with only a few thousand? If videos with under 10K views rank, it’s a low competition keyword and one thing to keep in mind is If search results are filled with Shorts, don’t upload long videos for that keyword
- Channel size check: Look at the subscriber count of the creators holding the top spots. If a channel with only 800 subscribers is ranking alongside the big guys, you have found a brilliant keyword.
- Age of videos: Check the publish dates. If the top-ranking videos are 3 to 5 years old, it means YouTube is desperate for fresh, updated content on that topic.
A Real-World Keyword Example
Let’s look at exactly how this works in practice for a gaming channel.
If you try to make a generic video titled “How to make a thumbnail,” you will be competing against thousands of massive creator advice channels with huge budgets. Instead, you dig into the search bar and find the long-tail phrase: “How to make a PUBG thumbnail on Photoshop.”
Why is this a fantastic low competition keyword?
It narrows the audience down strictly to mobile gaming creators and specifies the exact software being used. When you search this term, you might notice the top-ranking videos are over three years old or from channels with fewer than 2,000 subscribers. This is a massive green light. You can easily outrank them by creating a high-quality, up-to-date video. Finding one specific gap brings in consistent daily views.
Biggest Keyword Research Mistakes to Avoid
Even when using this method, new creators often fall into traps that stunt their growth.
The most frequent mistake is targeting broad keywords. It is tempting to go after phrases with millions of searches, hoping to grab a tiny fraction. But if you aren’t on page one, you get zero views.
Another error is completely ignoring competition analysis. Never assume a topic is easy; you must do the manual search to verify who currently holds the top spots.
Finally, avoid copying big creators blindly. A massive channel can post a generic vlog and get views purely based on their established audience and personality. Small channels must provide specific value. Read more about these pitfalls in [Why Your YouTube Shorts Are Not Getting Views? (7 Mistakes Killing Your Reach)].
Your Quick Keyword Checklist
Before you hit record on your next video, run your idea through this quick checklist:
- Use long-tail keywords: Ensure your title targets a very specific niche.
- Check the competition: Verify that small channels are successfully ranking for this term.
- Focus on small wins: Don’t aim for a million views; aim for steady search traffic.
- Find outdated videos: Look for old ranking videos you can easily improve upon.
Conclusion
Growing a small channel becomes dramatically easier when you stop fighting the algorithm. By researching exactly what your audience is looking for, you bypass the heavy hitters entirely. Remember, low competition keywords = the fastest way to grow. Start finding those hidden gaps and watch your channel momentum shift today.