Keyword Research · By scenario

Keyword Research for New Websites: Where to Start

A brand new site has no authority yet, so chasing big keywords is a losing game. Here is how to do keyword research for a new website, why low competition terms come first, and how to prioritise keywords so you win early and build from there.

Updated: July 2026
Written by: Andrew Odgers, Managing Director
Reading time: 8 minutes
The short answer

For a new website, start with realistic, low competition and long tail terms that match your services. Avoid high volume terms early, as established sites dominate them. Prioritise by balancing how winnable a term is against its value. Ranking varies widely, often months, so patience is part of the plan. Easy terms improve your chances of early wins but do not guarantee success.

Start where you can win

Where to begin, and why not to chase big terms

You do keyword research for a new website by starting with realistic, low competition and long tail terms that match your services, since a new site has no authority to win hard terms yet. Start where you can win; because authority takes time, easier terms come first for a new site, which is why low competition keywords matter here. High volume terms are usually dominated by established sites, so a new site rarely ranks for them early and effort is better spent on winnable terms. Big terms come later; because you cannot outrank authority overnight, chasing them wastes early effort, so lean on long tail keywords.

NW 01

Winnable first

Low competition, long tail.

NW 02

Big terms later

Authority comes with time.

NW 03

Be patient

Ranking takes months.

Prioritising, timelines and honesty

How to prioritise, how long it takes, and an honest limit

You prioritise keywords for a new website by balancing how winnable a term is against its value, starting with lower competition terms that still match what you sell or offer. Winnable and relevant first; because effort is limited, sequencing by ease and value makes the most of it, the heart of a new-site content strategy. Ranking varies widely, often months, since new sites need time to build content and authority before they rank well, so patience is part of the plan. Timelines are not fixed; because ranking takes time, early low competition wins keep momentum going. Starting with easy keywords improves your chances of early wins, but you still need quality content and consistency, so it is a smart start rather than a promise. It sets you up well; because success needs follow-through, easy terms are a foundation, not a guarantee.

SEO done properly, from £350 a month

Start ranking,
even brand new.

We find the winnable keywords a new site can actually rank for, so you build momentum early instead of losing months chasing terms out of reach.

Everything included in your plan:

Google Maps optimisation Full website management Local SEO campaign AI optimisation (GEO) Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn Quarterly audits Monthly reporting
£350 per month

One clear retainer. No setup fee.

Frequently asked

Keyword research for new websites

How do you do keyword research for a new website?
You start with realistic, low competition and long tail terms that match your services, since a new site has no authority to win hard terms yet. Start where you can win. Because authority takes time, easier terms come first for a new site.
Why not target high volume keywords straight away?
High volume terms are usually dominated by established sites, so a new site rarely ranks for them early and effort is better spent on winnable terms. Big terms come later. Because you cannot outrank authority overnight, chasing them wastes early effort.
How do you prioritise keywords for a new website?
You prioritise by balancing how winnable a term is against its value, starting with lower competition terms that still match what you sell or offer. Winnable and relevant first. Because effort is limited, sequencing by ease and value makes the most of it.
How long before a new site ranks?
It varies widely, often months, since new sites need time to build content and authority before they rank well, so patience is part of the plan. Timelines are not fixed. Because ranking takes time, early low competition wins keep momentum going.
Does starting with easy keywords guarantee success?
No, it improves your chances of early wins, but you still need quality content and consistency, so it is a smart start rather than a promise. It sets you up well. Because success needs follow-through, easy terms are a foundation, not a guarantee.