Imagine pouring hours into creating a well-researched piece of content, only to see it lost in the depths of search results. The truth is, ranking high on Google isn’t just about valuable information or clever writing—it often hinges on targeting the right keywords. For many, the hardest part isn’t coming up with ideas, but figuring out which keywords are actually within reach.
Keyword difficulty is the deciding factor that can either accelerate your website’s growth or leave your best efforts unseen. Understanding what keyword difficulty really means, how to interpret scores from popular SEO tools, and how this insight can be woven into your SEO approach turns a frustrating guessing game into a process guided by strategy. Getting a handle on these concepts and applying them thoughtfully can take some analysis, but it’s a skill worth mastering for anyone aiming to improve their search rankings.
Chasing high-traffic keywords without understanding keyword difficulty is like setting sail without a compass—you might move fast, but you’re more likely to get lost than reach your destination.
Reference:
What Is Keyword Difficulty? (& How to Measure It)
Introduction
Setting the Stage
You’ve invested substantial time perfecting keyword lists, crafting content, and optimizing on-page elements—only to discover your pages still aren’t cracking the first page of Google. This is a challenge even experienced SEO teams face, as keyword targeting does not guarantee results without a critical piece of the strategy: understanding keyword difficulty.
Many marketers fixate on search volume and relevance, but underestimate how competitive their chosen keywords are. For instance, HubSpot found that 90% of marketers rated keyword research as their most important SEO strategy, yet keyword difficulty was often neglected until campaigns stalled or rankings plateaued. Ignoring this factor can lead to wasted resources on terms your site can’t realistically win—no matter how much content you produce.
This guide introduces a straightforward way to tackle keyword difficulty, regardless of your expertise. Whether you’re running SEO for a startup or optimizing hundreds of product pages for a national retailer like Best Buy, understanding and adapting keyword difficulty metrics can dramatically improve your strategy.
What to Expect
You’ll learn practical, step-by-step approaches—drawing on examples from leading SEO tools like Ahrefs and Semrush, as well as real campaigns such as Backlinko’s success using low-difficulty long-tail keywords to achieve hundreds of thousands of organic visits.
Expect actionable takeaways suitable for all skill levels, plus clear, concrete methods for using keyword difficulty in your day-to-day SEO planning. By the end of this guide, you’ll know how to accurately assess which keywords you can truly rank for and what to prioritize for faster wins.
1. Understanding Keyword Difficulty in SEO
Defining Keyword Difficulty
Keyword difficulty (KD) measures how challenging it is to rank for a particular search term on the first page of search engine results. Digital marketers and SEOs use KD as a core metric when deciding which keywords to target because it provides a realistic view of the competition they’re up against. Most prominent keyword research tools, including Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Moz, now display KD scores as a standard feature.
According to What is keyword difficulty & how to use it for SEO [2024], KD gives valuable insight into whether a keyword is worth pursuing based on your website’s current strength.
What is keyword difficulty?
At its core, keyword difficulty quantifies the expected difficulty of ranking for a given keyword, typically on a scale from 0 to 100. A score closer to 100 indicates fierce competition, requiring robust content and strong site authority. For example, ranking for the keyword “credit cards” would be considerably more difficult (high KD) than a long-tail query like “best travel credit cards for students in Texas.”
Why is keyword difficulty important for SEO success?
Evaluating KD ensures marketers invest in realistic opportunities that can drive organic traffic. Targeting only high-KD keywords might mean going up against large publications such as NerdWallet or Forbes—often a losing battle for smaller businesses. Alternatively, focusing on low to medium KD keywords allows newer sites to build visibility, authority, and incremental rankings quickly.
HubSpot, for instance, rapidly expanded its blog traffic by targeting lower-difficulty, niche phrases before tackling the most competitive industry terms.
Key factors that influence keyword difficulty
KD isn’t just about how many people are bidding for the top spot. Several elements come into play, such as:
- Competition: The number and quality of existing pages ranking for the keyword. If the SERP is dominated by authoritative sites, difficulty is higher.
- Authority: Metrics like domain rating or backlink profiles. For example, Google’s top results for “life insurance quotes” usually feature brands with thousands of referring domains.
- Content Quality: The depth, accuracy, and freshness of current top-ranking pages. If existing results offer in-depth guides and frequent updates, overtaking them will be tougher.
In practice, combining KD with intent, search volume, and business relevance helps brands prioritize which keywords deserve their resources.
2. How Keyword Difficulty is Calculated and Scored
Breaking Down the Numbers
Understanding keyword difficulty is crucial for building a strategy that targets realistic yet valuable search queries. Keyword difficulty checkers assess how challenging it is to rank organically for a specific keyword, relying on several quantifiable metrics. These metrics help marketers and SEOs gauge which phrases are achievable within their niche and resources.
Common Metrics Used by Keyword Difficulty Checkers
Most keyword difficulty tools analyze factors such as the number and quality of backlinks pointing to the top-ranking pages. For instance, Ahrefs determines keyword difficulty largely by calculating the average number of referring domains needed to rank in the top 10 for a keyword. In practice, “SEO agency” has a difficulty score of 76 in Ahrefs, driven by the fact that the top pages have hundreds of referring domains.
Other popular tools factor in domain authority or domain rating of top-ranking sites, SERP composition (i.e., whether results include trusted brands or forums like Reddit and Quora), and even content comprehensiveness. For example, SEMrush also weighs the strength of existing competitors alongside other signals, making it important to compare results from multiple tools.
How to Interpret Keyword Difficulty Scores
Keyword difficulty scores typically range from 0 to 100, with higher numbers indicating stiffer competition. A keyword with a score of 30 in Moz, for example, suggests moderate competition, making it a better target for newer websites with limited authority. Conversely, a score above 70 implies substantial investment in backlink acquisition and content quality will be required.
Actionable insights come from assessing the score alongside potential search volume. For example, the keyword “project management software” holds a high difficulty rating (over 80 in Ahrefs), alerting startups to focus on longer-tail variations or less saturated niches for quicker wins.
Limitations and Variations Among Different Keyword Difficulty Tools
No two keyword difficulty scores are exactly alike, even for the same term. This variation stems from the proprietary algorithms and weighting systems each tool uses. Moz, Ahrefs, and SEMrush all measure different aspects of page strength and link data, sometimes leading to divergent scores. For example, “best CRM software” can score 72 in Moz and 85 in SEMrush due to the latter’s emphasis on authority and branded presence in the SERPs.
Given these limitations, experts at Backlinko recommend using multiple keyword tools to triangulate a more accurate understanding of competition before finalizing a content plan.
Reference:
What Is Keyword Difficulty? (& How to Measure It)
3. Choosing and Using the Right Keyword Difficulty Checker
Understanding keyword difficulty is crucial for shaping a successful SEO strategy, as it informs how tough it may be to rank for specific search terms. Selecting an appropriate keyword difficulty checker—and knowing how to use it—can make a significant difference for businesses aiming to improve their organic presence. The right tool offers accurate data, integrates with your workflow, and is cost-effective, but the landscape of SEO tools can feel overwhelming.
Tools and Best Practices
Top keyword difficulty checker tools: features and comparisons (SEMrush, Ahrefs, Moz, etc.)
Industry favorites like SEMrush, Ahrefs, and Moz offer robust keyword difficulty checkers, each with unique strengths. For example, Ahrefs calculates keyword difficulty by analyzing the backlink profiles of the top-ranking pages, usually on a scale from 0 to 100. SEMrush includes SERP analysis and incorporates traffic potential in its assessments, while Moz factors in Page Authority and Domain Authority.
For small businesses, Moz’s free keyword difficulty tool allows for 10 queries per month, which can be a smart starting point. In contrast, SEMrush’s comprehensive features, such as keyword intent analysis and integration with content marketing tools, suit larger teams.
How to evaluate a keyword difficulty checker for your needs (cost, data accuracy, integration)
When evaluating keyword difficulty tools, consider the size of your campaign and your budget. For instance, Ahrefs starts at $99/month, but its extensive backlink database justifies the investment for agencies working on multiple client sites.
Assess data accuracy by cross-referencing sample keyword scores with real search results. If your team already uses Google Analytics, look for a checker that offers easy integration or exports—SEMrush’s API compatibility is a strong point for automating tasks within larger organizations.
Tips for accurate keyword difficulty analysis (double-checking, cross-referencing, context review)
Even top-tier tools can produce varying results due to different calculation methods, so it’s wise to double-check crucial keywords on more than one platform. Cross-referencing data from Ahrefs and Moz, for example, often reveals subtle differences in their domain authority ratings for the same keywords.
Always take context into account—ranking for a “low-difficulty” keyword in a local market can be much easier than tackling the same term nationally. As highlighted in recent best practices from What is keyword difficulty & how to use it for SEO [2024], reviewing the actual search results page is essential to spot SERP features that may affect organic visibility, such as featured snippets or local packs.
Reference:
Free Keyword Difficulty Checker
4. Practical Ways to Use Keyword Difficulty in Your SEO Strategy
Applying Keyword Difficulty Data
Understanding keyword difficulty (KD) is essential for crafting an effective SEO plan. Rather than chasing only high-volume keywords, smart marketers weigh both competitiveness and potential reward. Keyword difficulty metrics—available in tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Moz—help you assess how challenging it will be to rank for a specific keyword, guiding more targeted strategy decisions.
Finding Keyword Opportunities by Balancing Difficulty and Search Volume
The sweet spot for most businesses lies where search volume is high enough to drive meaningful traffic but KD is low enough for realistic ranking. For instance, HubSpot built authority on marketing topics by first targeting mid-volume, low-KD keywords like “lead nurturing strategies” (2,400 monthly searches, KD 28 in Ahrefs) before moving to more competitive phrases like “content marketing.”
This approach accelerates organic growth without getting stuck competing with giants for “best CRM” right out of the gate.
How to Prioritize Keywords Based on Difficulty Score for Short- and Long-Term Ranking Goals
Effective keyword roadmaps aren’t just about what you can rank for now—they also anticipate future wins as your site grows. Short-term wins often focus on low-KD keywords where a brand already has partial authority. Long-term strategies layer in tougher targets as your backlink profile and domain strength improve.
For example, Salesforce initially ranked for specific, least competitive phrases like “sales pipeline management tips,” before systematically going after major keywords, such as “CRM software,” as their site authority soared.
Case Examples of Smart Keyword Selection Using Keyword Difficulty Data
Consider Backlinko, which scaled its SEO blog traffic by targeting highly practical “how to” search queries with manageable KD—like “how to build links,” with a KD of 34 and a steady 1,300 monthly searches—before tackling industry-defining terms. This staged approach led to steady ranking improvements and significant organic growth.
Local businesses can also leverage KD data. An appliance repair company in Dallas used SEMrush to find “dryer repair Dallas” (KD 22, 590 searches/month) and ranked within three months, driving a 40% uptick in local leads, before eyeing broader, higher-KD terms as their SEO authority improved.
Reference:
What Is Keyword Difficulty? (And How to Measure It for SEO)
5. Optimizing Your Content Based on Keyword Difficulty Insights
Actionable Content Strategies
Understanding keyword difficulty is essential not just for ranking, but for tailoring your content approach to maximize visibility and efficiency. Knowing which keywords are hard to win—and which ones present easier opportunities—lets you choose the right content format and targeting strategy for your site’s goals.
Matching Your Content Type to the Keyword Difficulty
Aligning content type with keyword difficulty can improve your chances of ranking. Highly competitive keywords like “CRM software” often demand comprehensive guides or in-depth reviews because search intent is informational and searchers expect authoritative resources. HubSpot, for example, ranks consistently for tough marketing software terms by publishing detailed comparisons and how-to articles, instead of simple product pages.
For medium-difficulty keywords, a focused blog post or a case study can be effective. When Zendesk targeted keywords in the customer support niche, they created well-researched articles addressing specific industry pain points, which helped them outrank competitors for mid-tier terms.
Using Long-Tail Keywords for Easier Wins
Tapping into long-tail keywords offers quicker SEO traction, especially for newer sites or resource-limited teams. Instead of targeting the broad keyword “SEO tools” (KD: 80+), Ahrefs built a library of posts on phrases like “free keyword research tools for bloggers” (KD: below 20), leading to rapid growth in their organic reach. Their blog’s traffic doubled in under a year by repeatedly pursuing these less competitive queries.
While not every long-tail effort brings viral results, consistent targeting of lower KD phrases builds domain authority over time, opening doors to more difficult keywords later.
Tracking and Refining with Keyword Difficulty Trends
Monitoring keyword performance and recalibrating your content strategy is crucial for ongoing success. Tools like SEMrush and Moz allow you to track fluctuations in keyword rankings and difficulty scores. For example, Buffer regularly analyzes their blog’s keyword movements to pinpoint when a once-easy keyword becomes more competitive, adapting their approach accordingly.
Staying agile by reviewing keyword trends monthly ensures you don’t waste resources on lost causes—and reveals new gaps worth pursuing as competition changes.
Reference:
Advanced Tips and Strategies for Keyword Research
Conclusion
Wrapping Up
Recap of Keyword Difficulty and Its Role in SEO
Understanding keyword difficulty is central to effective SEO strategy. This metric estimates how challenging it will be to rank for specific search terms based on the competitive landscape, link profiles, and authority of top-ranking pages. Analyzing keyword difficulty enables marketers to prioritize efforts, allocate resources more efficiently, and set realistic ranking goals.
For example, Ahrefs assigns a keyword difficulty score across a scale from 0 to 100. A keyword like “CRM software” typically scores above 80, demanding significant link building and high domain authority, while “CRM tools for landscaping businesses” may score under 20, presenting a viable opportunity for niche players and local businesses.
Key Strategies for Leveraging Keyword Difficulty Scores
Effective use of keyword difficulty data involves finding a balance between low- and high-competition keywords. Targeting long-tail variations with moderate difficulty while building authority to tackle tougher terms is a proven method. HubSpot, for example, often starts new blogs by focusing on keywords with difficulty scores under 30 to quickly gain traction and build topical relevance.
This approach ensures early visibility in search results, while ongoing authority-building efforts enable gradual targeting of more competitive search terms aligned with business growth goals.
The Importance of Regular Keyword Analysis
SEO is dynamic; keyword rankings and difficulty can shift as competitors update content, Google tweaks its algorithms, and new trends emerge. Regularly evaluating keyword difficulty keeps your strategy nimble and ensures you don’t miss evolving opportunities. SEMrush offers tools to track these changes, helping brands adjust their content pipeline accordingly.
For instance, when Canva noticed growing searches for “infographic maker,” their content marketing team swiftly built landing pages and how-to guides targeting these mid-difficulty keywords—leading to a notable uptick in organic traffic within a few months.
Final Thoughts: Moving from Theory to Action
Applying these insights in real campaigns demands consistency and a willingness to adapt. Instead of treating keyword difficulty as a static score, successful teams treat it as a guide for iterative content planning and execution. Prioritizing actionable keywords and regularly revisiting metrics keeps campaigns both strategic and efficient.
Brands that turn keyword analysis from a one-time task into an ongoing process—such as Moz, which conducts quarterly reviews—are better positioned to sustain SEO growth and outperform their competition over time.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
For businesses new to SEO, understanding keyword difficulty and how it impacts ranking efforts is crucial. Here are detailed answers to the most common questions marketers and website owners have, each backed by practical examples and real-world context.
What is a good keyword difficulty score to target for a new website?
New websites typically lack domain authority, making it challenging to compete for keywords with high difficulty scores. It’s often recommended to target keywords with a difficulty score between 10-30. For example, Ahrefs rates keyword difficulty on a 100-point scale, and digital marketing agency Backlinko highlights that new blogs often see traction faster with low to mid-tier competition.
Samantha Lee, founder of a niche fitness blog, started ranking for terms like “at-home resistance workouts for beginners” (KD 18) within four months, resulting in a 200% increase in monthly organic traffic.
How accurate are keyword difficulty checkers, and can I trust their results?
Most industry tools such as SEMrush, Ahrefs, and Moz use proprietary algorithms, factoring in data like backlink profiles and site authority. These scores offer valuable guidance but should not be treated as gospel. Real-world ranking can vary based on content quality, user intent, and Google’s evolving algorithm.
An SEO audit by Siege Media found variance in KD scores up to 20 points between tools for the keyword “ecommerce SEO strategy.” Use KD scores as a relative benchmark alongside competitor and SERP analysis.
Why do different SEO tools report different keyword difficulty scores?
Tools rely on different data sources, web crawlers, and weight unique ranking factors, leading to variability in scores. For instance, Moz places stronger emphasis on domain authority, while Ahrefs analyzes backlink requirements for the top 10 SERP spots. This results in different KD values for the same keyword.
SEMrush data showed KD 62 for “online bookkeeping services,” while Ahrefs rated it at 49. Comparing multiple tools and understanding their methods is best for well-rounded keyword research.
When should I prioritize low-difficulty vs. high-difficulty keywords?
Low-difficulty keywords are ideal for new or niche sites looking to gain early visibility and build authority. A San Diego realtor, for instance, initially targeted “first-time homebuyer grants San Diego” (KD 15) before chasing broader “San Diego real estate” (KD 60) as rankings improved.
High-difficulty keywords may be appropriate for established brands with strong backlink profiles. Nike, for example, can target competitive terms like “running shoes” due to its authority and resources.
How often should I check keyword difficulty for my content or niche?
Keyword competitiveness is dynamic, shifting as industries change and competitors enter the market. Most SEO consultants recommend auditing your keyword strategy quarterly. For fast-changing niches like tech, monthly reviews are prudent.
Neil Patel’s team at NP Digital reviews KD data every month for high-competition verticals like finance. This vigilance ensures content targets remain relevant.
Can I improve my rankings for high-difficulty keywords, and if so, how?
Yes, but success requires sustained effort. Building high-quality backlinks, optimizing for search intent, and publishing comprehensive content are essential steps. Brian Dean’s Backlinko site ranked for “SEO techniques” (KD 67) after years of strategic link-building and in-depth guides.
Brands like HubSpot invest in research-driven pillar content and leverage extensive backlink networks to climb the ranks for tough keywords over time.