Zero Search Volume Keywords: SEO Resolutions for 2025

Late last year on a nondescript Thursday, I was minding my own business writing a few social posts when my colleague Sam Casey posted a mind-blowingly good article to our creative & web team’s Slack channel about our increasingly zero-click world and its implications for SEO. In the article, author Chantal Smink posed the question, “You are aware of the concept of Zero Search Volume Keywords, right?”

Reading that question had me thinking back to a couple of years ago when I was working with one of our more technical clients, collaborating with a SaaS SEO solution provider that conducted biweekly consulting calls. On one of our calls, the rep was steering us toward keywords with higher volumes and we kept reminding them that the searches for those keywords didn’t have the intent we wanted. 

We gravitated toward keywords that often had 10 or fewer monthly searches, and our client put it best: we may only have the opportunity to capture 10 sessions from that search, but if 10 people are searching for that term, then those are 10 users we really want. 

The idea of narrowing the funnel when creating web content for SEO has always given me FOMO. It feels like pushing in more chips with longer odds: risky, but with the possibility of greater reward. Couple that with the fact that the pressure feels greater than ever to deliver the holy grail of SQLs, and this girl is feeling a little less bold out of fear of making a wrong step in spending our clients’ precious marketing resources.

These thoughts bring me back to the question…

What are Zero Search Volume Keywords?

Zero search volume keywords are typically one of two things:

• New keywords that Google hasn’t had time to collect data on yet
• Highly specific, long-tail queries that don’t receive many searches (think “ferritic nitrocarburizing for ev components” instead of “automotive heat treating”)

As I dug into this topic, I learned that SEO tools like Semrush, Ahrefs, and Moz get data in part from the Google Adwords API, which is focused on Google Ads, not traffic as a whole. Nina Clapperton from She Knows SEO put it best:

“And since your keyword research tool is pulling from that data, they’re also technically focusing on Google Ads. It’s why they all include cost per click data, which is a Google Ads metric.

So these tools underreport the traffic of new terms or terms they don’t see as popular for ads, because that doesn’t serve the Google Ads intent.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t use keyword research tools. We all should. But we need to remember they’re not God. It’s why they’re a base for our strategy and not the whole strategy.”

At the time of this writing, it’s a brand new year, which makes it feel like a natural time to reflect on what we want to reinforce and change in the next cycle. In some ways, it means being more resolute in our convictions about what we know to be true about content strategy, and in others, it means trying something different.

Resolution 1: QPAFFCGMIM is Enough

I’m a sucker for ridiculous acronyms that aren’t any easier to remember than what they stand for, but usually, I love them in an ironic way. This one is different. This, my friends, is the real thing. I love QPAFFCGMIM because it perfectly sums up everything a persona should be. It stands for:

• Questions
• Problems
• Alternatives a user may be considering
• Frustrations
• Fears
• Concerns
• Goals
• Myths they may believe
• Interests
• Misunderstandings they may have

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come up with article ideas based on a persona’s QPAFFCGMIM that I struggle to validate with Semrush — it’s disheartening to discover that no search terms with decent volume apply to the awesome article I have in my head. 

Because SEO tools don’t paint the full picture of internet search (and the fact that as much as 15% of daily searches on Google are brand new), here’s this year’s resolution: I’m no longer allowing myself or my team to be discouraged from going after zero search volume keywords that align with users’ QPAFFCGMIM. 

Resolution 2: Creative Keyword Idea Generation

Will Semrush still be an important tool for us in 2025? Absolutely. 

Will we look in other places for target keywords and topic ideas? Also absolutely. 

Three things we’ve done in the past that we’ll test even more this year:

Method 1: Google Predictive Text Queries (Autocomplete)

When you start typing into Google’s search bar, the suggestions that appear aren’t random—they’re based on popular queries related to what you’re typing. These predictive text suggestions are a treasure trove for discovering long-tail keywords and hyper-specific topics that may not show up in traditional keyword research tools like Semrush.

☝️ here’s an example of how to use predictive text queries to generate comparison topic ideas 😎

If you’re DIY, here’s how to use predictive text queries:

• Type in your seed keyword and take note of the autocomplete suggestions. For example, entering “electric motor repair” might lead to suggestions like “electric motor repair tips for beginners” or “electric motor repair tools list.”
• Experiment with different prefixes like “how to,” “best,” “why does,” or “can I,” followed by your main keyword to uncover more nuanced ideas.

Method 2: Google’s People Also Ask

People Also Ask is a shortcut to QPAFFCGMIM, showing questions related to your search query that compile based on which answers you expand, making it a good resource for building content around specific problems and solutions.

If you’re DIY, here’s how to use it: 

• Search for a broad keyword related to your industry or services and look at the PAA questions. For instance, searching “roof coatings” might reveal questions like “How long do roof coatings last?” or “Are roof coatings waterproof?”
• Click on a question to expand it—Google will often load additional related questions, helping you dive deeper into a topic.
• Use these questions to structure your blog posts, turning each one into a heading or subheading to align your content with what users are searching for.

Method 3: Getting Our Scroll On (Our Troll On?)

Let’s be honest—forums like Reddit can be a mixed bag. For every thoughtful, detailed discussion, there’s a thread that’s… less than useful. But amidst the memes, off-topic rants, and hot takes, forums can be incredible sources of real, unfiltered insights straight from the people you’re trying to reach. These platforms reveal the actual questions, challenges, and even frustrations your audience faces, making them a valuable tool for discovering long-tail keywords and niche content ideas.

If you’re DIY, here’s a few tips to use it: 

• Search Reddit for your industry or niche by typing “site:reddit.com [your keyword]” into Google. For example, “site:reddit.com manufacturing marketing.”
• Browse relevant subreddits or threads and look for recurring themes, questions, or complaints. A thread titled “How to reduce roof cooling costs during summer?” might inspire a blog post titled “Top Ways to Reduce Summer Cooling Costs with Roof Coatings.”
• Pay attention to the language and phrases people use. Incorporating this conversational tone into your content can make it resonate more deeply with your audience.

No More SEO FOMO

Gaining knowledge about zero search volume keywords and adding some tools for using them to our arsenal is freeing — especially for our agency that serves niche businesses with budget constraints. I’m looking forward to seeing how leaning into this strategy can help us create even better content and drive even more relevant traffic for our clients in 2025. 

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