Understanding Keyword Difficulty: How to Choose the Right Keywords for Better SEO Results
In the vast digital landscape, choosing the right keywords is essential for SEO success. But how do you know which keywords are realistic to target? That’s where keyword difficulty comes into play.
Keyword difficulty (KD) is a powerful metric that helps marketers, bloggers, and businesses determine how hard it will be to rank organically for a particular search term. Whether you’re launching a new website or refining your SEO strategy, understanding keyword difficulty is critical for prioritizing the right opportunities.
This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about keyword difficulty — what it is, how it’s calculated, how to interpret scores, and how to use it in your keyword research process.
What Is Keyword Difficulty?
Keyword difficulty refers to how competitive a keyword is in the search engine results pages (SERPs). It tells you how much effort — in terms of content quality, backlinks, and domain authority — it would take to rank on the first page of search results for a specific keyword.
The higher the difficulty score, the more challenging it is to rank. Conversely, lower scores suggest easier opportunities, especially for newer websites or pages with minimal backlinks.
For example:
- Keyword A (KD 40%) – Moderate difficulty, attainable with quality content.
- Keyword B (KD 80%) – Highly competitive, requiring significant authority and backlinks.
Why Is Keyword Difficulty Important?
Understanding keyword difficulty helps you:
- Set realistic SEO goals
- Prioritize easy-to-rank keywords
- Avoid wasting time targeting ultra-competitive terms
- Discover low-competition, high-opportunity keywords
- Balance long-tail and high-volume search phrases
Using KD strategically lets you build momentum, especially if your website is new or lacks strong authority.
How Is Keyword Difficulty Calculated?
Most advanced SEO tools calculate keyword difficulty using multiple parameters, including:
1. Backlink Profile of Ranking Pages
- The number of referring domains linking to the top-ranking pages for the keyword.
- A higher number of authoritative backlinks indicates greater difficulty.
2. Authority Score of Competing Domains
- Domain strength and trustworthiness play a crucial role.
- Ranking against top-tier websites (e.g., Wikipedia, major news sites) increases difficulty.
3. Follow vs. Nofollow Link Ratio
A higher number of “dofollow” links generally means a stronger page.
4. Keyword Attributes
- Word count, search intent, and branded vs. non-branded keywords.
- Shorter, broader terms tend to be more competitive.
5. Presence of SERP Features
Features like Featured Snippets, Top Stories, or Knowledge Panels add complexity.
6. Search Volume
While not directly linked to KD, higher volume often correlates with more competition.
7. Geographic Adjustments
- In smaller countries or regions, keyword competition may differ from global trends.
- Advanced algorithms weigh regional data for accuracy.
Keyword Difficulty vs. Competitive Density (PPC)
Don’t confuse keyword difficulty with competitive density (also known as competition score in PPC tools).
- Keyword Difficulty (KD%): How hard it is to rank organically.
- Competitive Density: How many advertisers are bidding on a keyword in paid search.
They are related but serve different purposes.
Keyword Difficulty Score Ranges (Explained)
Keyword difficulty is typically expressed as a percentage (0–100). Here’s how to interpret those scores:
Score Range Difficulty SEO Effort Required
0–14 | Very Easy | Rank quickly, even with low authority. Ideal for new sites. |
15–29 | Easy | Slight competition. Great for long-tail keyword targeting. |
30–49 | Moderate | Needs well-optimized content and decent site structure. |
50–69 | Difficult | Requires high-quality content + backlinks. |
70–84 | Hard | Competing against strong domains. Strategic link-building needed. |
85–100 | Very Hard | Major brands dominate. Needs strong SEO authority & budget. |
How to Use Keyword Difficulty in Your SEO Strategy
1. Target Low and Mid-Level KD Scores First
- Focus on 0–49% keywords if you’re starting out or targeting long-tail opportunities.
- These keywords are more likely to bring traffic with less SEO investment.
2. Use KD to Prioritize SEO Campaigns
- When building content clusters or silos, sort your keyword list by KD.
- Plan your content calendar around easier wins and gradually ramp up.
3. Avoid High-KD Terms Unless You Have Authority
For terms with KD over 70%, only go after them if your domain is established and has backlinks.
4. Balance KD with Search Intent and Volume
- A keyword may be easy to rank for but irrelevant to your business.
- Always align keyword choice with user intent and business goals.
Real-World Example: Keyword Difficulty in Action
Imagine you run a site about digital art. You’re considering these two keywords:
- “NFTs” (KD 88%) – Extremely competitive, dominated by news sites and platforms.
- “How to invest in NFTs” (KD 35%) – Less competitive and more aligned with actionable intent.
Targeting the second keyword makes more sense for a blog post or lead magnet if your goal is to attract beginner investors.
How to Find Keyword Difficulty (Without Mentioning Tools)
While several SEO tools offer keyword difficulty scores, you can manually estimate KD by checking:
- How many referring domains are linking to the top 10 results?
- Are top results coming from high-authority domains (e.g., Wikipedia, Amazon)?
- Are there lots of ads, featured snippets, or other SERP features?
- Do exact-match keywords appear in titles and meta descriptions?
You can also use tools like Google Search Console to evaluate existing performance and discover easier keyword opportunities.
Bonus: Keyword Difficulty and Long-Tail Keywords
Long-tail keywords (e.g., “best email marketing tool for nonprofits”) often have:
- Lower KD%
- Higher conversion intent
- Specific search queries
- Easier competition
These are ideal for content marketing, especially in niche industries.
FAQs About Keyword Difficulty
Q1. What is a good keyword difficulty score to target?
For new websites or content, aim for keywords under 30–40 KD. These offer better chances to rank without needing heavy backlinks or domain authority.
Q2. Can you rank for high-difficulty keywords without backlinks?
It’s possible but unlikely. High-KD keywords usually require a combination of strong content, internal linking, and authority-building via backlinks.
Q3. How often does keyword difficulty change?
KD scores can change as search results evolve — e.g., if a new competitor ranks or Google updates its algorithm. Re-evaluate KD periodically for your target keywords.
Q4. Do long-tail keywords always have low difficulty?
Not always, but they generally have lower competition compared to short-tail terms. However, their intent and specificity make them excellent targets.
Q5. Does KD affect paid search campaigns?
No. KD applies to organic SEO. Paid campaigns are affected by competitive density and bidding competition.
Final Thoughts
Keyword difficulty is a vital metric that helps you make informed SEO decisions. Whether you’re building content from scratch or optimizing existing pages, understanding KD empowers you to:
- Choose realistic keyword targets
- Create efficient content plans
- Avoid wasting time chasing impossible rankings
By focusing on low-to-medium difficulty keywords, especially in the beginning, you set your SEO strategy on a solid foundation. Over time, as your authority and backlinks grow, you can gradually tackle more competitive keywords.
Start smart, scale strategically — and let keyword difficulty guide your SEO success.