What is Keyword Difficulty? - Definition & Meaning Simplified

Keyword Difficulty

Keyword difficulty is a metric provided by SEO software tools (ranging from 0 to 100) that estimates how hard it will be to rank on the first page of Google for a specific search term. It is primarily calculated by analyzing the backlink profiles and Domain Authority of the websites currently ranking in the top 10 positions. If a keyword has a difficulty score of 85, you are competing against massive, highly trusted brands. Keyword difficulty data should be used to engineer precise, ROI-focused strategies, identifying the exact content and link-building capital required to overthrow incumbents and capture their market share.

Keyword Difficulty Simplified

Keyword difficulty is a score that tells you how tough the competition is for a specific search term. A low score means it will be relatively easy to get to the top of Google, while a high score means you are fighting against massive companies with huge marketing budgets.