Keyword Difficulty (KD) is a metric that estimates how hard it would be to rank on the first page of search engine results for a specific keyword. It’s typically scored on a scale from 0 to 100 — the higher the number, the tougher the competition.
This metric takes into account factors like:
- How many websites are already ranking
- The authority of those websites
- The quality and depth of existing content
- The number of backlinks those pages have
Understanding KD helps you pick your SEO battles wisely. If your site is newer or has a lower domain authority, you’ll often get better results targeting low-to-medium difficulty keywords before going after the big ones.
Example:
You’re writing content for a startup offering time-tracking software. You check two keywords:
- “Time tracking software” — KD: 78 (very competitive)
- “Time tracking software for freelancers” — KD: 32 (more achievable)
Instead of trying to compete with giants like Toggl or Hubstaff right away, you create niche content for the lower-difficulty keyword to start building traffic and credibility.