A metric estimating how hard it is to rank for a specific keyword based on competition and authority.
Why Keyword Difficulty Matters
Keyword Difficulty is a crucial metric for a successful SEO strategy because it helps you prioritize your efforts. A website with a low domain authority should not try to rank for a high-difficulty keyword, as it will be a waste of time and resources. A better strategy is to find a set of low-difficulty keywords that you can rank for quickly. This can help you build your organic traffic, your domain authority, and your brand reputation. As you grow, you can then start to target more difficult keywords. It’s about a strategic approach to growth.
Across Different CMS Platforms
The management of Keyword Difficulty is a content strategy that can be applied to any CMS.
WordPress
WordPress users can use a keyword research tool to find keywords with a low KD. A good SEO plugin like Yoast SEO or Rank Math can help you optimize your content to rank for a specific keyword.
Shopify
On Shopify, keyword difficulty is an essential metric for your product descriptions and blog posts. You can use a keyword research tool to find a keyword with a low KD and a high search volume.
Wix
Wix has a streamlined, user-friendly system, but you can still optimize for a low KD. The platform’s built-in SEO tools make it easy to manage your titles, meta descriptions, and on-page content.
Webflow
Webflow gives you granular control over your website’s design and code, which is perfect for a sophisticated keyword targeting strategy. You can use it to create a perfectly structured page that is optimized for a specific keyword with a low KD.
Custom CMS
With a custom CMS, you have the most control but also the most responsibility. You can build a system that automatically tracks and analyzes your keyword performance and provides your content creators with data-driven insights.
Across Different Industries
The way you use Keyword Difficulty will depend on your industry and your goals.
E-commerce
E-commerce sites can use Keyword Difficulty to find a keyword for a specific product or a product category. A product that is a niche can have a low KD, which is a great opportunity to rank.
Local Businesses
Local businesses can use Keyword Difficulty to find keywords that are relevant to their location. A local business can have a low KD for a long-tail keyword that is relevant to its location.
SaaS Companies
SaaS companies can use Keyword Difficulty to find keywords for their marketing pages and blog content. A SaaS company can have a low KD for a long-tail keyword that is relevant to a specific feature.
Blogs
Blogs can use Keyword Difficulty to find keywords for their articles. A blog can have a low KD for a long-tail keyword that is a niche topic.
Do’s and Don’ts of Keyword Difficulty
Do’s
- Do use a keyword research tool that provides a KD score. This is the best way to prioritize your efforts.
- Do use a low KD to find new content opportunities. A low KD can be a sign of a great opportunity to rank.
- Do use a mix of keywords. A good keyword portfolio includes a mix of low, medium, and high KD keywords.
Don’ts
- Don’t ignore KD. A failure to consider KD can lead to a waste of time and resources.
- Don’t use keyword stuffing. This is a dated tactic that can harm your SEO.
- Don’t focus on a single keyword. This is a risky and outdated approach.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Failing to consider KD: This is the most common mistake. It can lead to a waste of time and resources.
- Ignoring a user’s intent: A keyword should be used with a user’s intent in mind.
- Focusing on short-tail keywords alone: Long-tail keywords are often easier to rank for and can be a great source of organic traffic.
FAQs
How is Keyword Difficulty calculated?
Keyword Difficulty is calculated by analyzing a variety of factors, including the domain authority of the top-ranking pages, the number of backlinks they have, and the overall competition for the keyword.
What is a good Keyword Difficulty score?
A good Keyword Difficulty score depends on your website’s domain authority. A website with a low domain authority should aim for a KD score of 30 or less. A website with a high domain authority can aim for a higher KD score.
What is the difference between Keyword Difficulty and search volume?
Search volume is the number of times a keyword is searched per month. Keyword Difficulty is the difficulty of ranking for that keyword. A keyword can have a high search volume and a low KD, or a low search volume and a high KD.
Does Keyword Difficulty affect my SEO?
Yes, Keyword Difficulty affects your SEO. It helps you prioritize your efforts and to find a keyword that you can rank for. A failure to consider KD can lead to a waste of time and resources.
What tools can I use to find Keyword Difficulty?
You can use a number of tools to find Keyword Difficulty, including SEMrush, Ahrefs, and Moz. These tools provide a KD score for a keyword.
