Low-Hanging Fruit Keyword Optimization

Finding the right keywords is key to a successful search engine optimization (SEO) strategy. Low-hanging fruit keywords are particularly valuable because they’re low(er) effort and very high impact. Discover what LHF keywords are, how you can use SEO.com to find them, and what to do once you find them in this help article.

What are low-hanging fruit keywords?

Low-hanging fruit (LHF) keywords are search terms that your website is already ranking for- typically in positions 8-20. These ranking positions are traditionally bottom of the first page or page 2. 

Why are LHF Keywords Lower Effort Than New Keywords?

Think of your keywords like plants in a garden. Low hanging fruit keywords are like seedlings or young plants. Your optimizations will act as fertilizer to help them reach their full potential. 

Whereas if you go after new keywords, you’re planting new seeds and must wait for them to germinate. Plus, there’s no guarantee those new keywords will “sprout” given external conditions like competition or content quality.

Therefore, tending to your already established keywords can deliver quick traffic boosts, while requiring overall less effort. 

How to find low-hanging fruit keywords with SEO.com

1. Log in or sign up to access the dashboard
2. Navigate to Your SEO > Keyword Overview
3. Go to the Quick Report Views section and select Quick Wins. This feature automatically filters your keywords to display those that are currently ranking in positions 8-20. These are your low-hanging fruit opportunities!
4. To streamline your optimization efforts, you can filter the keywords by page. This allows you to focus on reoptimizing keywords for specific pages one at a time, making your optimization process more manageable and targeted.

What to Do with Low-Hanging Fruit Keywords

Now that you’ve identified your low-hanging fruit keywords, it’s time to integrate them into your website effectively. Here’s how to optimize your pages for these opportunities:

1. Review the Target Page: Start by navigating to the page associated with your low-hanging fruit keyword. Assess whether the keyword is effectively integrated. Look for areas where it might be missing, such as the title tag, headings, or the first 100 words of the content.
2. Optimize Keyword Placement: Use the identified opportunities to seamlessly integrate your target keyword into the page. Ensuring that your keyword appears naturally in critical areas can significantly enhance your page’s ability to rank better for that term.
3. Enhance Content Quality: If the content on the page feels thin or lacks depth, consider adding more valuable information. Expanding your content not only helps with keyword integration but also improves the overall user experience, which can positively impact rankings.
4. Explore New Content Opportunities: If the page is already well-optimized with keywords and substantial content, shift your focus to identifying new content opportunities. Use SEO.com’s keyword research tool to discover related topics or questions that your target audience is searching for. Creating new content around these low-hanging fruit keywords can help capture additional traffic.
5. Link Back to Core Content: Once you create new content, strategically link back to your core pages. This internal linking helps build up your site's authority on the topic and improves the overall SEO of your website.
6. Continuous Optimization: Remember that SEO is an ongoing strategy. Regularly check for new low-hanging fruit keywords and opportunities for optimization. Staying proactive in your efforts will help improve your rankings and overall SEO performance over time.

By systematically optimizing for low-hanging fruit keywords, you can drive more targeted traffic to your site and enhance your visibility in search engine results.