please help me - confusing in seo keyword research

[kingsley0617]

Hello, good day to you all.
I am currently working on the SEO for my project. It is a website where users can register and gain access to short-term residential proxies. Users earn credits by watching rewarded ads, and they can then use those credits to unlock proxy access.
The platform is already completed, and I am now searching for the right keywords to target on my landing page. I discovered that the most popular keywords in this niche are:

• "Free Residential Proxy List"
• "Free Residential Proxy Trial"

However, when I use Ahrefs to search for other similar keywords I would like to target, it often shows no search volume. I asked an AI tool about this, and I was told it is because people are not searching for those terms.

The keywords I want to target are very similar to the popular ones, but the popular ones are highly competitive and difficult to rank for. I became frustrated because I wasn’t sure what other keywords I should search for or use. I even considered targeting:

"Free Residential Proxy List - Unlock with Ads"
But I was told that doing this could hurt my SEO performance.
At this point, I honestly don’t know what the best approach is.

 

[solanarocks]

First of all the offer on the website should be good enough for word of mouth marketing. There is lot of repeat in proxy business and this is what you should target.

 

[kingsley0617]

First of all the offer on the website should be good enough for word of mouth marketing. There is lot of repeat in proxy business and this is what you should target.

i really dont fully get your point but for sure my website is actually offering that service

 

[1SEOWarrior]

However, when I use Ahrefs to search for other similar keywords I would like to target, it often shows no search volume

Firstly, no sv doesn't mean you dont have to target it. Sometimes those keywords are very fruitful.

In the context of competitive keywords you need to choose low hanging fruits or long tail keywords to create authority first. Then you can target good competitive keywords in future.

 

[kingsley0617]

Firstly, no sv doesn't mean you dont have to target it. Sometimes those keywords are very fruitful.

thanks for your contribution

 

[awaisskhan]

Don’t create custom long keywords like “Free Residential Proxy List – Unlock with Ads.” That won’t help SEO.

Instead:

Target the main keyword (even if competitive)

Find long-tail variations with intent (e.g., “free residential proxy for scraping”, “free rotating residential proxy trial”)

Build supporting blog content around use cases

Focus on topical authority, not just one landing page

Low volume ≠ bad. Intent matters more than Ahrefs numbers.

 

[Digital Crown Agency]

Hey kingsley0617, targeting zero volume keywords is actually a smart strategy for new sites because seo tools often vastly underestimate hyper specific search queries. Adding a modifier like unlock with ads to your title tag will not hurt your seo and can actually improve your click through rate by setting clear expectations. Focus on informational clusters like how to get free proxies for scraping to naturally funnel targeted traffic toward your reward system.

 

[Rufai]

Search for your target keyword on Google. Get the URL of the top ranking pages. Plug it into Ahrefs and check what other keywords they are ranking for.

 

[salsha07]

Hello, good day to you all.
I am currently working on the SEO for my project. It is a website where users can register and gain access to short-term residential proxies. Users earn credits by watching rewarded ads, and they can then use those credits to unlock proxy access.
The platform is already completed, and I am now searching for the right keywords to target on my landing page. I discovered that the most popular keywords in this niche are:

• "Free Residential Proxy List"
• "Free Residential Proxy Trial"

However, when I use Ahrefs to search for other similar keywords I would like to target, it often shows no search volume. I asked an AI tool about this, and I was told it is because people are not searching for those terms.

The keywords I want to target are very similar to the popular ones, but the popular ones are highly competitive and difficult to rank for. I became frustrated because I wasn’t sure what other keywords I should search for or use. I even considered targeting:

"Free Residential Proxy List - Unlock with Ads"
But I was told that doing this could hurt my SEO performance.
At this point, I honestly don’t know what the best approach is.

If similar keywords show zero volume, it doesn’t always mean no one searches them. It can also mean the demand is fragmented across variations or the tool data is too limited at low volume.

Instead of inventing slightly modified phrases, I’d focus on understanding the intent behind the main competitive terms and then build supporting pages around related use cases, comparisons, or specific scenarios. Often the opportunity is in narrowing the angle rather than slightly rewording the same head term.

 

[Hera Bete]

Focus on real keywords people search:

Target:

• Free Residential Proxy List
• Free Residential Proxy Trial
• Free Residential Proxies

Show your offer naturally:
Earn credits by watching ads to unlock proxies instantly.

Avoid making up keywords no one searches.

 

[kingsley0617]

Don’t create custom long keywords like “Free Residential Proxy List – Unlock with Ads.” That won’t help SEO.

Instead:

Target the main keyword (even if competitive)

Find long-tail variations with intent (e.g., “free residential proxy for scraping”, “free rotating residential proxy trial”)

Build supporting blog content around use cases

Focus on topical authority, not just one landing page

Low volume ≠ bad. Intent matters more than Ahrefs numbers.

thanks for your contribution if you still want to help me more i will appreciate it

Hey kingsley0617, targeting zero volume keywords is actually a smart strategy for new sites because seo tools often vastly underestimate hyper specific search queries. Adding a modifier like unlock with ads to your title tag will not hurt your seo and can actually improve your click through rate by setting clear expectations. Focus on informational clusters like how to get free proxies for scraping to naturally funnel targeted traffic toward your reward system.

this is helpful thanks alot but didnt understand your last explantion from Focus on informational clusters

Search for your target keyword on Google. Get the URL of the top ranking pages. Plug it into Ahrefs and check what other keywords they are ranking for.

this is helpful thanks

Focus on real keywords people search:

Target:

• Free Residential Proxy List
• Free Residential Proxy Trial
• Free Residential Proxies

Show your offer naturally:
Earn credits by watching ads to unlock proxies instantly.

Avoid making up keywords no one searches.

You’re a genius

 

[TechnoTycoon]

You are stuck between high-competition keywords and low volume variants. It is normal in niche SEO.
In my opinion, instead of forcing unnatural long phrases, focus on search intent clusters like proxy trial and unlock proxy service that people actually search for.

 

[Nuwa]

Keyword research feels confusing because people overcomplicate it but honestly it just comes down to understanding search intent first then finding keywords with realistic competition for your site level grouping them into topical clusters and creating focused content around one primary keyword with supporting variations instead of chasing high volume terms you have no authority to rank for yet

 

[rankmaster26]

For a new site, should I target low competition keywords or higher volume keywords first?

 

[Starblazer]

If you don't have a budget for backlinks or ads, then it's better to have a blog to target informational keywords and improve topical authority through internal links.

 

[Saru Agency]

Keyword tools often miss low-volume variations, so don’t rely only on the numbers. Focus on search intent and long-tail keywords you can realistically rank for first, then move toward competitive terms later.

 

[BradyX]

you’re thinking too keyword first, that’s the trap. “free residential proxy list” is competitive because it’s broad and high intent. but your model isnt a list… it’s earned access via ads. that’s a different angle.

i’d check SERP intent first. are top pages tools, blogs, affiliate lists? if yes, you won’t win with a generic landing page. instead, build pages around modifiers like free residential proxy without credit card, earn proxy access, rewarded ads proxy access, temporary residential proxy access. low volume in ahrefs doesnt mean no traffic, it often means long tail + fresh demand.

don’t stuff “unlock with ads” into title awkwardly. that kills CTR. structure site around use cases, scraping, sneaker bots, social media, then internally link to main page. rank intent clusters, not one big keyword.

 

[Hazel Chloe]

While I may be missing part of your point, I want to clarify that my website already offers this service.

 

[kingsley0617]

While I may be missing part of your point, I want to clarify that my website already offers this service.

whats your website let me see

 

[SMM Vero]

don’t invent keywords no one searches, that won’t help.

if Ahrefs shows 0 volume, it doesn’t always mean zero traffic, but you still need real demand.

instead of only chasing “free residential proxy list,” target use cases:

– free proxy for scraping
– residential proxy trial
– proxy for sneaker bots
– rotating residential proxy

build a few supporting pages around those and link them to your main landing page.

don’t try to win with one page on a super competitive term. build topical coverage and grow into it.