Why We Target Keywords No One Searches For (And Why You Should Too)

If you hire a typical SEO agency, they will show you a spreadsheet of keywords. They will sort them by "Monthly Search Volume," point to the ones with big numbers (10,000+ searches/month), and say: "We should rank for these."

It looks logical. More searches = more traffic = more money.

It is also completely wrong.

At Ten Ken Group, we actively target keywords that SEO tools claim have Zero Search Volume. We call this the "Sniper Strategy." Here is why chasing "Zero-Volume" keywords will bring you better leads than chasing the popular ones.

1. The "High Volume" Trap

High volume keywords are usually "Vanity Metrics."If you rank for a broad term like "Marketing Software," you get thousands of visitors. But who are they? Students doing homework. Competitors spying on you. People looking for free definitions.

You get a lot of noise, but very little signal. You pay for server costs, not new revenue.

2. The Psychology of the Long-Tail

When a user types a short phrase ("CRM Software"), they are browsing.When a user types a very specific, long, and weird phrase ("CRM software for dental offices with SMS integration"), they are buying.

SEO tools (like Semrush or Ahrefs) often report these specific phrases as having "0-10 searches per month." Most agencies ignore them because the data looks unimpressive.

We love them.Because those 10 people aren't browsers. They are buyers with a credit card in hand, looking for exactly what you sell. I would rather have 10 visitors who buy than 10,000 visitors who bounce.

3. The "Hidden" Traffic

Here is the secret SEO tools don't tell you: Their data is an estimate.Just because a tool says "0 Volume" doesn't mean zero people are searching. It just means the volume is too low for the tool’s algorithm to detect yet.

By creating content for these "Zero-Volume" terms, you effectively have zero competition. While your competitors are fighting a bloody war over the popular keywords, you are quietly owning the specific, high-intent questions that actually drive revenue.

Summary

Stop trying to be famous. Start trying to be helpful.Do not be afraid of keywords with low search volume. Be afraid of traffic that doesn't convert. At TenKen Group, we don't optimize for eyeballs; we optimize for wallets.