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.

Other terms

Keyword Volume

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Keyword Mapping

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Keyword Clustering

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