How to identify content gaps in Ahrefs

Are you trying to find keyword opportunities your competitors are ranking for but you’re not? Ahrefs’ Content Gap tool makes this easy. Follow these steps to uncover missed keywords and identify new content opportunities quickly and effectively.

1. Log in to Ahrefs and Access Site Explorer

Go to ahrefs.com and log in to your account.
From the top navigation menu, click on Site Explorer.
Enter your domain (e.g., yourwebsite.com) into the search bar.
Select Domain mode and click Search.

2. Open the Content Gap Tool

In the left-hand sidebar, scroll to the Organic search section.
Click on Content gap.
You’ll now see fields where you can compare your website against competitors.

3. Add Competitor Domains

In the field labelled “Show keywords that the below targets rank for”, enter up to 3–10 competitor domains.
Add one competitor per line.
Make sure you’re comparing domains in the same mode (e.g., Domain vs Domain).

Tip: Choose direct competitors targeting similar keywords and audiences.

4. Set Ranking Filters

In the field “But the following target doesn’t rank for”, ensure your domain is listed.
Choose whether you want keywords where you rank in the top 10, top 50, or not in the top 100.
Adjust the position filters depending on how competitive you want the keyword opportunities to be.

5. Click “Show Keywords”

Once competitors are added and filters are set, click the Show keywords button.
Ahrefs will generate a list of keywords your competitors rank for but your site does not.

6. Apply Additional Filters to Refine Results

Use the Keyword Difficulty (KD) filter to find low-competition opportunities.
Set a Search Volume minimum to focus on meaningful traffic potential.
Use the Include/Exclude filter to narrow results by topic or intent.
Sort by Volume, KD, or Traffic Potential depending on your goals.

7. Review and Export Keyword Opportunities

Scan the keyword list for relevant content ideas.
Look for recurring themes or topics your competitors cover.
Click Export in the top-right corner to download the keyword list as a CSV file.
Use this list to plan new blog posts, landing pages, or content updates.

What is Ahrefs

Ahrefs is a comprehensive SEO toolset designed to help businesses improve their visibility in search engines. It provides detailed insights into keywords, backlinks, competitors, and overall website performance. One of its most valuable features is Site Explorer, which allows you to analyse any domain’s organic search traffic and keyword rankings. Within Site Explorer, the Content Gap tool enables you to compare your website against competitors to identify keywords they rank for that you don’t. This makes it especially useful for content marketers, SEO professionals, and business owners looking to expand their organic reach. By using Ahrefs, you can make data-driven decisions about what content to create, update, or optimise, ensuring your strategy is aligned with real search demand rather than guesswork.

Benefits of using Ahrefs to identify content gaps

Using Ahrefs to find content gaps helps you uncover missed keyword opportunities, strengthen your SEO strategy, and prioritise content that drives measurable traffic growth.

1. Discover untapped keyword opportunities

The Content Gap tool reveals keywords your competitors rank for that your website currently doesn’t. This allows you to quickly identify topics you may have overlooked. Instead of guessing what to create next, you can base your content plan on proven keywords that are already generating traffic in your niche.

2. Improve your competitive positioning

By analysing multiple competitors at once, you gain a clearer picture of where your website stands in the market. Identifying shared keywords between competitors highlights industry-standard topics, while spotting gaps helps you close performance differences and compete more effectively in search results.

3. Build a data-driven content strategy

Ahrefs provides metrics such as search volume, keyword difficulty, and traffic potential. These insights help you prioritise content based on opportunity and effort. Rather than creating content at random, you can focus on pages that are more likely to drive relevant traffic and conversions.