Find The Right SEO Service For Your Business

We cover the full spectrum of SEO services from local SEO to international SEO. Choose the SEO service right for you and call us today for a free confidential chat about your digital marketing.

SEO

SEO Services →

Digital Marketing Service →

Digital PR Service →

Ecommerce SEO →

Organic SEO Services →

Image Optimisation →

URL Structure Optimisation →

Internal Linking →

Page Speed Optimisation →

User Experience Optimisation →

Free SEO Audit

Find out why your website isn't ranking on the top of Google and what actionable steps you can take, with our free no obligation SEO audit.

Free SEO Audit →

What Is Keyword Difficulty?

By Paul - SEO Consultant

What is Keyword Difficulty? Understanding Keyword Difficulty

Keyword difficulty is a key metric in search engine optimisation (SEO). It measures how hard it is to rank for a specific keyword in search engine results pages (SERPs). Understanding this concept helps develop an effective SEO strategy, guiding you to choose keywords that provide the best return on investment.

Key Aspects of Keyword Difficulty

Competition Level

  • High Competition Keywords: These are short-tail keywords with high search volumes. Many websites compete for these, making them tough to rank for.
  • Low Competition Keywords: These are long-tail keywords, more specific, with lower search volumes but higher conversion rates. They are easier to rank for due to less competition.

Domain Authority (DA)

Websites with higher domain authority find it easier to rank for tough keywords. Factors influencing domain authority include the quality and quantity of backlinks, the site’s age, and its overall SEO health.

Content Quality and Relevance

High-quality, relevant content that addresses user search intent can significantly impact keyword difficulty. Search engines prioritise content that provides value, answers questions, and engages users.

Backlink Profile

The number and quality of backlinks pointing to a page are crucial factors. Pages with a strong backlink profile from reputable sources are more likely to rank higher, impacting the perceived difficulty of a keyword.

On-Page SEO

Factors such as keyword usage, meta tags, header tags, and overall content structure play a role in determining how easily a page can rank for a keyword.

Measuring Keyword Difficulty

Several tools offer keyword difficulty metrics, each using its proprietary algorithm to provide a score or percentage indicating the challenge of ranking for a specific keyword:

  • Ahrefs: Uses a scale from 0 to 100, primarily based on the number and quality of backlinks to the top-ranking pages for a given keyword.
  • Moz: Uses a 0 to 100 scale, evaluating the page and domain authority of top-ranking pages to determine difficulty.
  • SEMrush: Provides a keyword difficulty percentage, assessing factors like referring domains, page authority, and the strength of top-ranking pages.
  • Ubersuggest: Combines factors like domain score, backlink data, and content quality to offer a keyword difficulty score.
  • Google Keyword Planner: While it doesn’t provide a specific difficulty score, it categorises competition as Low, Medium, or High, indicating the level of advertiser bidding competition.

Why Keyword Difficulty Matters

Strategic Keyword Targeting

Focus on keywords more likely to yield results. For new or smaller websites, targeting lower-difficulty keywords can provide quicker wins and build momentum.

Resource Allocation

SEO requires time, effort, and resources. Knowing which keywords are tough helps allocate resources effectively, focusing on achievable targets and gradually tackling more competitive keywords as your site grows in authority.

Competitive Analysis

Identify which competitors rank for high-difficulty keywords. This helps refine your own SEO tactics and identify improvement opportunities.

Content Strategy

High-difficulty keywords often require high-quality, in-depth content to compete. Understanding keyword difficulty shapes your content strategy, ensuring you create valuable content that meets user intent and can rank well.

SEO Goals and Metrics

Setting realistic SEO goals involves understanding what is achievable. Keyword difficulty helps set realistic expectations and track progress over time.

What is keyword difficulty?
Tags:

First Place SEO, International House, 4 Maddox St, London W1S 1QP

02071128794

First Place SEO Agency London

How to Find Keywords for Local SEO - First Place SEO
Jun 23 2025

How to Find Keywords for Local SEO

Learn how to find high-impact local SEO keywords for UK businesses using tools like Semrush, Keyword Planner, and competitor analysis techniques.

How Much Does Local SEO Cost - First Place SEO
Jun 19 2025

How Much Does Local SEO Cost in the UK?

Explore local SEO pricing in the UK, what services you get at each level, and how to choose the right package for your business with full transparency.

how to dominate local seo - First Place SEO
Jun 16 2025

How To Dominate Local SEO

Boost your local visibility with proven strategies to improve rankings, earn trust, and attract more customers in your area with First Place SEO.

How do you improve your chances of ranking in the Local SEO 3-Pack - First Place SEO (2)
Jun 12 2025

How do you improve your chances of ranking in the Local SEO 3-Pack

Learn what the Local SEO 3-Pack is, how it works, and how to rank in it. Improve visibility, get more calls, and grow your local business with expert SEO tips.

What local seo companies may not be telling you - First Place SEO
Jun 09 2025

What Local SEO Companies May Not Be Telling You

Find out what your local SEO agency might not be doing. Learn what matters for rankings, leads, and visibility with First Place SEO’s honest insights.

Which UK Local Directories are best for seo - First Place SEO
Jun 05 2025

Which UK Local Directories Are The Best For SEO?

Learn which UK business directories matter most for SEO in 2025. Discover citation sites, schema tips, review platforms, and how First Place SEO can help improve your...
What Is a Local SEO Company - First Place SEO
Jun 02 2025

What Is a Local SEO Company?

Learn how a local SEO company helps UK businesses boost visibility in local search. Discover expert tips on Google Business Profile, citations, reviews, and local...
what is enterprise local seo - First Place SEO
May 29 2025

What Is Enterprise Local SEO?

Learn how Enterprise Local SEO helps multi-location businesses grow with scalable tactics, Google Business Profile management, review strategies, and local ranking...
How to Create Content for Local Landing Pages for SEO - First Place SEO
May 26 2025

How to Create Content for Local Landing Pages for SEO

Learn how to create optimised local landing page content that ranks and converts. Get tips on structure, SEO strategy, conversion tactics and more.

10 Powerful Ways to Increase Local SEO - First Place SEO
May 23 2025

10 Powerful Ways to Increase Local SEO

Learn how to improve your local SEO in 2025 with proven tips for UK businesses. Boost your rankings with keywords, reviews, schema markup, and map visibility.

Request a call back about your SEO

Fill out our enquiry form and we will be in touch.

Consent To Contact You Regarding Your Enquiry