Zero Search Volume Keywords: Should You Ignore Them or Leverage Them?

Ever done keyword research and found the perfect service-related keyword, only for your tool to show a big fat zero for search volume? Yeah, I’ve been there. And if you’re in the Salesforce services space (or any B2B niche), you’ve probably seen it too.

Take something like “Salesforce CPQ customization services”—I know businesses search for it, consultants offer it, and clients ask about it. But most SEO tools? They’ll tell you there’s no search volume.

But here’s something most people don’t realize—15% of daily Google searches are brand new. That means Google sees millions of searches every day that it has never seen before. And yet, most keyword research tools rely on historical data, meaning they often miss emerging or niche queries.

Zero search volume keywords are terms that keyword tools report as having no monthly searches, but they can still attract traffic and conversions. Despite low reported searches, these keywords may have real user demand and ranking potential in niche markets.

Hello, I’m Tarun Bisen. In this blog, we’ll dive into the truth about zero volume keywords and why they might be more valuable than they seem. My goal is to equip you with actionable insights to refine your SEO strategy and uncover hidden opportunities your competitors might be missing.

Let me show you how.

What Exactly Are Zero Search Volume Keywords?

Zero search volume keywords are search terms that don’t show any estimated searches in keyword tools, but people still search for them. These are often long-tail, niche, or industry-specific queries.

Despite low or no reported volume, these keywords can bring highly relevant traffic. They help you target specific audiences, improve conversions, and build topical authority in your industry.

• They attract highly targeted leads searching for precise solutions.
• Less competition means an easier chance to rank.
• They align with customer pain points and intent.
• Google may still surface them in People Also Ask or related searches.

For example, “Salesforce implementation for healthcare startups” may show zero searches, but healthcare businesses actively look for specialized implementation services.

Types of Zero Volume Keywords and How to Find Them

Zero search volume keywords aren’t just random long-tail terms—there are specific types that smart SEOs use to uncover hidden opportunities. Here’s a breakdown of the key types and how to find them:

1. Google Autofill Keywords

When you start typing a query into Google’s search bar, it suggests related searches. These autofill suggestions come directly from real user queries, even if keyword tools show zero search volume. To find them, type in a seed keyword and note down the suggested phrases.

2. Forum Keywords

Industry-specific forums like Reddit, Quora, and niche community boards are goldmines for zero-volume keywords. People ask real questions here, often using the exact language they’d type into Google. Search for common pain points or recurring discussions to identify valuable keywords.

3. Golden Ratio Keywords

These are ultra-low-competition keywords that follow the Keyword Golden Ratio (KGR) formula:
KGR = Number of Google search results with the keyword in the title / Monthly search volume
If the ratio is under 0.25, the keyword is an easy-win ranking opportunity. Tools like Google search operators and keyword databases can help you calculate KGR.

For example, let’s calculate the Keyword Golden Ratio (KGR) for “Salesforce nonprofit implementation” using the formula:

Given:

• Allintitle results = 95
• Search volume = 20

KGR= 95/20 = 4.75 KGR

Since 4.75 is much higher than 0.25, this keyword is highly competitive and not an easy-win opportunity. Ideally, a good KGR keyword should be ≤ 0.25 to rank quickly with minimal effort.

To find better opportunities, look for longer-tail variations with lower search results or target similar low-volume keywords with a KGR under 0.25.

4. Google Search Console Keywords

Google Search Console (GSC) reveals search queries that bring impressions but aren’t visible in keyword research tools. Reviewing your GSC data can uncover long-tail keywords with potential traffic, even if traditional tools ignore them.

5. Unanswered Keywords

These are queries where no existing content fully answers the search intent. You can find them by analyzing gaps in competitor content or using tools like AlsoAsked.com to see what’s missing from SERPs.

6. People Also Ask (PAA)

Google’s “People Also Ask” section surfaces related questions based on user behavior. Expanding these suggestions reveals additional queries, many of which won’t appear in keyword tools.

7. LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) Keywords

LSI keywords are contextually related terms Google associates with your main keyword. You can find them by looking at bolded words in search results or using tools like LSIGraph.

8. FAQs

FAQ sections in competitor websites, product pages, or customer support queries often contain valuable zero-volume keywords. Answering these questions in your content improves relevancy and attracts niche searchers.

Here’s an example of FAQs related to Salesforce implementation services.

By strategically targeting these keywords, you can capture overlooked traffic and rank faster with less competition.

Why Do Some Keywords Show Zero Search Volume?

The problem isn’t that no one is searching for these terms—it’s that most SEO tools don’t show the full picture. The search volume numbers you see are estimates, often pulled from Google Ads’ Keyword Planner, which isn’t designed for organic SEO.

Here’s why certain service-based keywords might show zero when they actually have demand:

1. Google Aggregates Long-Tail Keywords into a Head Term

Google often lumps variations of a keyword under a single “parent” term.

For example:

• “Salesforce CPQ implementation services”
• “Salesforce CPQ integration services”
• “Best Salesforce CPQ partners”

These may all get grouped under a broader term like “Salesforce CPQ” the individual long-tail variations might show zero—even though they contribute to the total.

2. Google Censors Certain Keywords

Sometimes, Google doesn’t show search volume for certain keywords, even if people are searching for them. This often happens in specialized industries like B2B, finance, or legal services.

For example, if you offer Salesforce consulting, a keyword like “custom Salesforce setup for healthcare” might not show any search volume in keyword tools. But that doesn’t mean no one is searching for it—it just means Google isn’t revealing the data.

3. B2B Search Volume is Naturally Lower

If you’re offering Salesforce consulting, ERP solutions, or niche IT services, you’re in a specialized market. Unlike B2C keywords like “best running shoes” (with millions of searches), a term like “Salesforce integration for manufacturing companies” might only get searched a handful of times per month.

But guess what? That handful of searches can bring in highly qualified leads—people who are ready to buy.

When Should You Target Zero Search Volume Keywords?

I’m not saying every zero-volume keyword is worth your time. But smart SEOs know that some are hidden gems—you just need to know when to pursue them.

Here’s when zero doesn’t actually mean zero:

1. When It Matches Your Customer’s Pain Points

Think about the questions your clients ask in sales calls or during onboarding. These questions often contain long-tail, low-volume keywords.

For example:

• “Can Salesforce CPQ handle tiered pricing?”
• “Best Salesforce consultant for SaaS startups”
• “How to integrate Salesforce with SAP for order processing?”

Your potential customers are looking for answers, but these niche queries might not show up in keyword tools. If you write content around them, you can:

• Capture demand before competitors
• Build authority in your niche
• Attract highly relevant traffic

2. When Google Shows PAA, Related Searches, or Video Results

Even if a keyword has “zero” volume, check Google’s SERP (Search Engine Results Page):

• Do you see “People Also Ask” (PAA) questions?
• Are there suggested searches at the bottom of the page?
• Is Google showing YouTube results?

If yes, then people are searching for that term, and it’s worth optimizing for.

3. When Your Competitors Are Ignoring It

Most businesses chase high-volume keywords and ignore niche ones. That’s an opportunity.

For example, instead of competing for “Salesforce implementation services”, you could go after:

• “Salesforce implementation for healthcare providers”
• “Salesforce for real estate CRM setup”
• “Salesforce automation for insurance agencies”

These longer, more specific queries might have lower search volume, but they also have less competition—meaning you can rank faster and attract high-intent leads.

4. When It’s a High-Value Service Offering

Even if a keyword only gets 10-50 searches per month, if it leads to a $20,000+ consulting deal, it’s worth targeting.

A keyword like “custom Salesforce Lightning development” might not have thousands of searches, but every click could mean a high-ticket client.

How to Validate Zero Search Volume Keywords

Before you go all in, here’s how to check if a zero-volume keyword is actually valuable:

1. Use Google Search Console – If your site already ranks for similar terms, check if you’re getting impressions for that keyword.
2. Look at Competitor Content – If a competitor has a full page optimized for that term, they probably found value in it.
3. Ask Sales & Customer Support Teams – If clients are using that phrase in conversations, it’s a real search term—even if Google doesn’t report it.

Run a Small PPC Test – Set up a Google Ads campaign with exact-match targeting for that keyword. If it gets clicks, it has demand.