Are "Zero-Volume" Keywords a Waste of Time? My Top Tips!
Roxane PinaultYour SEO tool says nobody is searching for it. Here’s why you should target that keyword anyway.
If you've ever used an SEO tool, you've seen them: the "zero-volume" keywords. These are the search terms that tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs report as having 10, or even 0, monthly searches.
The conventional wisdom is to ignore them. Why would you spend time creating content for a keyword that nobody is searching for? It feels like a complete waste of effort.
But I'm going to tell you a secret that has been one of the most powerful tools in my own SEO strategy: I have seen pages rank, get clicks, and attract high-quality leads from keywords that were technically getting zero search views. The idea that these keywords are useless is one of the biggest myths in our industry.
The Short Answer:
No, zero-volume keywords are not a waste of time—they are a secret weapon. SEO tools are often wrong about search volume. Targeting these hyper-specific, low-competition keywords is one of the best ways for a small business to build topical authority and attract a small but highly motivated audience, without needing a massive backlink profile.
The Big Misconception: "Zero Volume" Doesn't Mean Zero Searches
Let's get one thing straight: when an SEO tool reports "0 volume," it does not mean that nobody on earth is searching for that term. It simply means the search volume is low enough that it doesn't register in their third-party data estimates.
These tools are fantastic, but they are not Google. They often miss:
- Hyper-specific, long-tail questions.
- New or emerging trends and search terms.
- The thousands of unique ways people combine words to ask a question.
Why I Intentionally Target Zero-Volume Keywords
Rather than seeing them as a waste of time, I see zero-volume keywords as a massive opportunity. Here's why they are a core part of my strategy.
1. It's How You Build Real Topical Authority
Instead of just keyword cannibalization, think about the opposite: topical comprehensiveness. To prove to Google that you are a true expert on a subject, you need to answer all the questions your audience has, not just the popular ones. By creating content for these very specific, niche queries, you are building the most complete resource in your field. This is how you create a content cluster that Google trusts.
Read more: Indexed but Invisible: Why Your Blog Post Isn't Ranking on Google (A Deep Dive)>
2. The Competition is Almost Non-Existent
While your bigger competitors are fighting over high-volume keywords, the zero-volume space is often wide open. This allows a new or small business to get a foothold, start ranking for something, and begin building momentum without needing a huge budget for backlinks.
3. The Traffic is Hyper-Qualified
Someone searching for "what is seo" is just Browse. Someone searching for "is it safe to change my seo page title after a google update" has a specific, urgent problem. That second query might be "zero-volume," but the one person who finds your article is an incredibly high-quality, high-intent lead.
My Philosophy: Think Audience Education First
Data matters, but you have to remember you're writing for a human on the other side of the screen. My strategy is to stop obsessing over search volume and start obsessing over my customer's journey. What are all the questions they might have, from the broad to the incredibly specific?
My goal is to create a resource so helpful and comprehensive that they never have to go back to Google to ask a follow-up question. When you adopt this "audience education first" mindset, you naturally start covering these valuable zero-volume topics, and you build a brand that people genuinely trust.
The Smartest Way to Compete
Don't let SEO tools scare you away from a great content idea. If a keyword is highly relevant to your audience and addresses a real pain point, it is worth creating content for, regardless of its reported search volume.
Targeting zero-volume keywords is the ultimate "David vs. Goliath" strategy. It allows you to outsmart your competition by being more helpful, more specific, and more comprehensive. It's not about chasing traffic; it's about building real authority, one thoughtful answer at a time.
Ready to Build Your Own Authority?
Building a comprehensive pillar and cluster strategy can feel like a massive project. If you're a small business owner who would rather have an expert partner to guide you through the process, I'm here to help.