Goal: Find topics where existing content is outdated, incomplete, or poorly executed so you can create superior resources
Analyze top search results for quality gaps:
- Take your top 10 trending topics from Step 2
- Search each topic on Google and examine the first page results
- Open the top 5 articles for each topic and evaluate them using these criteria:
- Rate each article 1-10 for: completeness, recency, depth, visual quality, user experience
- Expected result: A quality scorecard showing weak spots in existing content
Identify outdated content opportunities:
- Look for articles published more than 2 years ago in your search results
- Check if they reference old tools, outdated statistics, or deprecated methods
- Note topics where the top results are from 2020 or earlier
- Search for topics with phrases like "2022 guide" or "updated for 2023" in older articles
- Use date filters to find older content that needs updating date filter search
- Expected result: 10+ topics where you can create "2024 updated" versions
Find incomplete coverage gaps:
- For each trending topic, create a list of subtopics it should cover
- Check if existing articles address all these subtopics comprehensively
- Look for articles that only scratch the surface or focus on just one aspect
- Note topics where existing content lacks practical examples or step-by-step instructions
- Expected result: Topics where you can create more comprehensive guides
Use free SEO tools for competitor gap analysis:
- Sign up for free accounts with SEO analysis platforms ubersuggest
- Enter your competitors' domains to see their top-ranking content
- Look for topics they rank for that you could cover better
- Identify keywords they're ranking for with low-quality or thin content
- Use free Ahrefs tools for additional analysis ahrefs free tools
- Expected result: A list of competitor topics you can outperform
Analyze "People Also Ask" sections:
- For each of your trending topics, search on Google and note all questions in the "People Also Ask" section
- Check if existing articles actually answer these questions thoroughly
- Look for questions that appear in PAA but aren't well-addressed in top results
- Create a list of unanswered or poorly-answered questions
- Expected result: 20+ specific questions that need better answers
Evaluate content format gaps:
- Check what content formats exist for your topics (articles, videos, infographics, tools)
- Look for topics that only have text articles but would benefit from visual guides
- Identify topics with only basic articles that need interactive elements or tools
- Search YouTube for video content gaps youtube search
- Check Pinterest for visual content opportunities pinterest search
- Note topics where existing content lacks actionable templates or checklists
- Expected result: Format opportunities where you can differentiate your content
If all content seems high-quality: Look at more specific, long-tail variations of your topics
If you can't find gaps: Check page 2-3 of search results - sometimes good topics have weak competition deeper in results
If topics seem too competitive: Focus on subtopics or specific use cases within broader topics
You'll know you're done when: You have a clear map of content opportunities where you can create superior resources
- You've evaluated 50+ existing articles across your trending topics
- You've identified 10+ topics with outdated content (2+ years old)
- You have a list of 15+ incomplete coverage gaps
- You've found competitor topics you can outperform
- You have 20+ unanswered questions from "People Also Ask" sections
- You've identified content format opportunities for differentiation
Ready for next step? Now you'll validate that these discovered topics have real audience demand and monetization potential before investing time in content creation.