Keyword difficulty is a term you’ll often hear when discussing search engine optimisation (SEO). Simply put, it’s a way to measure how hard it might be to rank for a specific keyword on search engine results pages (SERPs).
Think of it as a competitive gauge—how crowded is the field for a particular keyword, and what are your chances of standing out?
When a keyword has a high difficulty score, it usually means established websites with strong reputations are already dominating the rankings. On the other hand, a lower score points to less competition, giving smaller or newer sites a better shot at reaching the top of the results.
Understanding keyword difficulty is like having a roadmap for your SEO strategy. It helps you decide which battles are worth fighting—focusing on keywords that can bring in traffic but aren’t so competitive that they drain your time and resources.
It’s all about finding the perfect balance between ranking well and attracting the right audience without biting off more than you can swallow.
The Importance Of Keyword Difficulty In SEO
Keyword difficulty is crucial in shaping a smart and effective SEO strategy. Think of it as a guide that helps you decide which keywords are worth the energy and time.
Without considering keyword difficulty, you could end up chasing almost impossible terms to rank for, spending hours on content that never gets seen. That’s not only frustrating but also a waste of valuable resources.
On the flip side, if you focus solely on easy-to-rank keywords, you might find that they don’t bring enough visitors to your site to make a real impact. It’s all about finding the right balance—keywords that are achievable for your website and still attract meaningful traffic.
By factoring in keyword difficulty, you can prioritise the terms that give you the best chance of success. It allows you to create a focused SEO plan that doesn’t just aim for rankings but also helps bring in visitors who are more likely to engage with your site.
Understanding this metric ensures that you’re making decisions that maximise your reach and your return on effort.
How To Measure Keyword Difficulty
Measuring keyword difficulty is essential to making informed decisions in your SEO strategy.
It’s not about guesswork; it involves using specific tools and processes to evaluate how competitive a keyword is and your chances of ranking for it. Let’s break it down step-by-step:
1. Use A Keyword Research Tool
Start with tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Ubersuggest, built to analyse keyword difficulty.
These tools provide a score, usually on a scale of 0 to 100, showing how tough it might be to rank for a particular keyword. You’ll get additional metrics such as search volume, related keywords, competition analysis, and difficulty score.
These insights give you a comprehensive view, allowing you to assess whether a keyword is worth targeting. Picking the right tool and learning how to use it effectively is the first step in confidently measuring keyword difficulty.
2. Analyse Competitor Metrics
Once you have a keyword in mind, dive into the details of the top-ranking pages for that term.
Look at their domain authority (a measure of a site’s overall strength) and page authority (how strong the specific page is). Assess their backlink profiles—how many links point to these pages, and are they from reputable sources?
Take note of their content quality; is it detailed, relevant, and engaging? By comparing these metrics to your site, you can estimate whether you can compete for that keyword.
3. Evaluate Search Intent
Search intent refers to what users seek when they type in a keyword.
Are they searching for information, a product, or a service? Compare the top-ranking pages to the content you plan to create—does it match what people seem to want?
If your site’s content doesn’t align with the keyword’s intent, even a low-difficulty keyword may not deliver results. Ensuring you understand and meet search intent is critical for maximising your chances of ranking.
4. Cross-Check Against Your Strengths
It’s not just about the competition; it’s also about your website’s current capabilities.
Do you have a strong domain authority, or is your site still building its reputation? What about your backlink profile—do you have enough high-quality links to compete with others in your niche?
Be honest about your content’s quality and how well it meets user needs. Matching the keyword difficulty to your strengths will help you avoid overreaching and focus on achievable goals.
5. Prioritise Feasible Keywords
Finally, organise your keywords by difficulty and focus on those where you have a realistic chance of ranking.
Aim for a mix—low-difficulty keywords can bring in traffic quickly, while more challenging ones can provide long-term growth.
Remember that relevance is as essential as difficulty; a keyword that perfectly fits your audience’s needs is more valuable than one with a high search volume but little connection to your offerings. By prioritising wisely, you can create a roadmap for your SEO strategy that balances quick wins with sustainable growth.
Measuring keyword difficulty ensures that every keyword you target is a strategic choice.
How Is Keyword Difficulty Calculated?
Keyword difficulty is determined by several factors that SEO tools analyse to provide a clear picture of how competitive a keyword is. These tools rely on algorithms that weigh various elements of search engine competition. Here’s a closer look at what goes into these calculations:
1. Domain Authority (DA)
Domain Authority is a metric that reflects a website’s strength and trustworthiness.
High-DA websites—like major news outlets or industry leaders—are harder to outrank because they have built significant authority through high-quality content and robust backlink profiles.
For instance, if most top-ranking pages for a keyword belong to high-DA sites, the keyword difficulty will likely be higher. Tools Consider DA to show whether your website has a realistic chance of competing.
For newer or smaller sites, keywords with lower DA competition are typically more attainable.
2. Page Authority (PA)
Page Authority emphasises the performance of a specific page rather than the whole domain.
It measures how well a single page will likely rank for a keyword based on its content, structure, and backlinks. If the top-ranking pages for a keyword have high PA, it indicates intense competition, even if the domain itself isn’t exceptionally authoritative.
This distinction is important because a well-optimised page from a lower-DA site can still outperform poorly optimised pages from higher-DA sites. Understanding PA helps gauge whether your content can stand out for a particular term.
3. Backlink Profile
Backlinks are a key factor in keyword difficulty. The more high-quality links a competing page has, the harder it will be to outrank. Tools assess the number of backlinks and their quality, looking at whether they come from reputable and relevant sources.
A page with a strong backlink profile signals that search engines consider it valuable, making it a more formidable competitor. Evaluating backlinks gives insight into whether building your link profile could help level the playing field.
4. Content Quality
The quality of content on top-ranking pages is another major consideration.
Search engines prioritise relevant, detailed, and engaging content. Tools evaluate whether the existing content for a keyword answers user questions thoroughly and aligns with search intent.
The keyword difficulty will be higher if the top-ranking pages are well-optimised and packed with helpful information. This highlights the importance of creating superior content to compete effectively.
5. Search Volume
While not a direct part of keyword difficulty, search volume influences competitiveness.
Keywords with higher search volumes tend to attract more competitors, which increases the difficulty score. Tools factor in this indirect relationship to give a more holistic view of how tough it might be to rank for a keyword.
However, high-volume keywords are not always the best targets—they must align with your audience and capabilities.
Keyword Difficulty Score Meaning
Most tools, like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz, express keyword difficulty as a score, often on a scale from 0 to 100. This score provides a snapshot of how challenging it might be to rank for a keyword.
0–20 (Low Difficulty)
These keywords are typically the easiest to rank for, making them ideal for smaller websites or those just starting out.
They usually have less competition and may include niche topics or long-tail keywords. While they won’t consistently deliver massive traffic, they’re great for building momentum and establishing your online presence. Targeting low-difficulty keywords can help you gain early wins and build credibility with search engines. For newer sites, this range offers a realistic starting point.
21–50 (Moderate Difficulty)
Moderate-difficulty keywords require more effort to rank for, often involving well-optimised content and a few backlinks.
These keywords attract mid-level competition, including websites with decent authority but not overwhelming dominance. They’re a good choice for growing websites with SEO experience and resources.
Ranking for these terms can bring in meaningful traffic without being overly challenging. This range is often a sweet spot for businesses looking to balance effort and reward.
51–80 (High Difficulty)
Keywords in this range are highly competitive and require significant resources to rank well. You’ll need robust content, a strong backlink strategy, and an established domain with some authority to rank well.
Industry leaders or well-funded competitors often target these terms. If you’re considering high-difficulty keywords, ensure they align with long-term goals and have a strong potential return on investment.
For many businesses, these keywords are worth targeting only once their SEO foundations are solid.
81–100 (Very High Difficulty)
This category includes the most competitive keywords, usually dominated by major players in the industry.
Ranking for these terms is incredibly challenging and often requires years of SEO effort and substantial investment.
These keywords are broad and high-traffic but may not consistently deliver conversions due to their general nature.
Most websites cannot target these keywords directly unless they already have a strong presence. However, they can inspire related long-tail keywords that are more attainable.
Conclusion On What Is Keyword Difficulty
When it comes to choosing the right keyword, it’s not just about picking the most popular keywords but understanding where you have the best chance of success. You can strategically target terms that drive meaningful traffic and conversions by assessing competition, search intent, and your site’s capabilities.
However, navigating keyword difficulty and creating a winning SEO strategy can be complex, especially with the ever-changing digital landscape. That’s where the expertise of a professional SEO agency comes in.
At BestSEO, we specialise in crafting data-driven strategies tailored to your business goals. From keyword research, to technical SEO and link building, we ensure every step aligns with your target audience and search engine requirements.
Our track record of guaranteeing first-page rankings on Google Search within 90 days speaks to our expertise and dedication to our clients.
So take the guesswork out of SEO and see measurable results; visit our SEO Services page today to make more sales than you can ever imagine.
Frequently Asked Questions On What Is Keyword Difficulty
Is Keyword Difficulty The Same Across All SEO Tools?
No. Each tool uses different algorithms to calculate keyword difficulty, so the scores may vary.
Should You Always Target Low Keyword Difficulty Terms?
Not necessarily. While it’s true that low-difficulty keywords are easier to rank for, targeting a mix of difficulty levels ensures both quick wins and long-term success.
When Should You Ignore Keyword Difficulty Scores?
If the keyword aligns perfectly with your niche and audience or is highly relevant, it may be worth pursuing even if the difficulty is high.
Are Keyword Difficulty Scores Dynamic?
Yes. Keywords can change over time as new competitors optimise for the exact keywords or existing rankings evolve.
What Is A Good Keyword Difficulty Score For New Websites?
Scores below 30 are generally manageable for new websites with lower domain authority.
What’s The Difference Between Keyword Difficulty And Search Volume?
Keyword difficulty measures competition, while search volume indicates how often a term is searched.
How Does Backlink Quality Impact Keyword Difficulty?
Keywords targeted by pages with strong, high-quality backlinks are harder to compete with, increasing difficulty.
