The exact 7-step ga4 and search console workflow to find low-competition, high-converting keywords

I want to share with you the exact 7-step workflow I use with Google Analytics 4 (GA4) and Google Search Console to uncover low-competition, high-converting keywords. Over the years I've leaned into a data-first approach that blends behavioural signals from GA4 with real search demand and impressions from Search Console. The result: keywords that not only have realistic ranking potential but also drive conversions—newsletter signups, demo requests, purchases—whatever your business cares about.

Why combine GA4 and Search Console?

GA4 tells me what users do on my site after they arrive: which pages convert, which journeys lead to signups, and where drop-off happens. Search Console tells me how searchers discover the site: which queries bring impressions, their average position, and click-through behaviour. Separately both are useful. Together, they let me pick keywords that have search demand and align with pages that already prove they convert.

Tools I use (besides GA4 & Search Console)

To make the workflow efficient, I often complement the Google tools with a few paid or freemium resources. These are optional but helpful:

Step: Identify your high-converting pages in GA4

I begin inside GA4. I open the Engagement > Pages and screens report and filter to the last 90 days (or 180 if traffic is low). Then I add conversion events as secondary metrics—transactions, signups, leads submitted, or any custom event that represents value. I'm looking for pages with:

These pages are my "conversion anchors." Even if they currently receive little organic traffic, they demonstrate the page content converts when users arrive.

Step: Map those pages to queries in Search Console

Once I have a list of high-converting pages, I switch to Search Console and use the Performance > Pages filter. I paste each page URL and look at the queries that produced impressions for that URL over the past 16 months (or 3 months depending on seasonality). Here I want to discover:

Export the query data for each page. You’ll get impressions, clicks, CTR, and average position—these are the raw signals we need.

Step: Filter for low-competition signals

Now comes the first triage. I filter the exported query lists to surface queries that meet practical low-competition indicators:

These filters tend to highlight queries where our page is visible but not yet clicked or ranking high—ideal candidacies for optimization. Next I cross-check keyword difficulty with a tool like Ahrefs/SEMrush. I prefer KD scores in the low-to-medium range, but I prioritise that the SERP is made of weak pages (forums, thin directories, or poorly optimised blog posts).

Step: Evaluate intent and conversion fit

Not every technically low-competition query will convert. I always read the query through the lens of intent. Ask these questions:

If the page already converts on related intent (from GA4 signals), it's a high-probability target. If not, consider creating a new page specifically built to match that intent and funnel it to the conversion action.

Step: Competitor SERP audit (quick & exact)

For each promising query I perform a quick manual SERP audit:

If the top results are weak, even a modestly optimised page can climb into top 3. If they’re dominated by authoritative domains with comprehensive guides and product pages, the opportunity may be tougher, but not impossible if the query is hyper-specific.

Step: Create a tactical on-page optimisation plan

Once I decide to target a query, I craft an optimisation checklist tailored to the page:

I record the changes and the date I publish them. This allows precise before/after tracking in GA4 and Search Console.

Step: Measure, iterate, and escalate

After optimising, I monitor results closely for 4–12 weeks. Key metrics I track daily/weekly are:

If impressions and position rise but CTR lags, I A/B test titles and meta descriptions. If clicks rise but conversions don’t, I tweak the page funnel—clear CTAs, simplified forms, or better trust signals. For winners, I scale by creating supporting content, internal linking, and outreach to earn backlinks.

This workflow is simple but rigorous: find converting pages, mine Search Console for queries where you already have a foothold, validate competition, optimise smartly, and measure outcomes. Repeat monthly and you'll build a steady pipeline of low-competition, high-converting keywords that compound over time.