Every business wants to rank on page one of Google. But how hard is that, really? That’s where the term “keyword difficulty” gets tossed around. It sounds pretty straightforward, but the truth is, most people misunderstand what it actually means. Some see a low score and assume easy rankings. Others avoid high scores without understanding the full context.
Here’s what you need to know: keyword difficulty isn’t the magic number that decides your SEO fate. It’s a signal — one of many SEO signals — that should inform your content and transactional keyword strategy, not control it. Let’s clear up the confusion.
What Is Keyword Difficulty?
In plain English, keyword difficulty tells you how hard it might be to get a keyword ranking on the first page of search results. Most SEO tools assign a score from 0 to 100. The higher the number, the harder it usually is to rank.
These scores come from analyzing the strength of the pages that already rank for that keyword. That includes their backlink profiles, domain authority, and sometimes the quality of their content. For example, if all the top ten pages ranking for a term have tons of high-quality backlinks, the keyword will show up as “high difficulty.”
But this number isn’t universal. Tools like Ahrefs can calculate difficulty differently. One might tell you a keyword is moderately tough, while another shows it as extremely competitive. That’s why it helps to treat keyword difficulty as a general direction, not a decision-maker.
Keyword difficulty SEO scores are useful, but only if you understand what they really measure. And more importantly, what they leave out.
Why Keyword Difficulty Isn’t the Whole Story
Plenty of marketers obsess over keyword difficulty, but here’s the deal: it doesn’t tell the full story. Just because a keyword is “low difficulty” doesn’t mean you can rank without effort. And just because it’s “high” doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go after it.
Keyword difficulty scores usually ignore user intent, which is a huge part of ranking. If you don’t match what the searcher is looking for, you won’t rank — even if competition is low. They also skip over things like how clickable a result is. For example, if a keyword has tons of featured snippets, map packs, and ads, organic results get pushed way down. That’s bad news for your click-through rate.
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Some of the best keywords for conversions don’t show up as low-difficulty. They may be mid-range or even high because competitors already see their value.
If you want to write content that actually gets you seen, check out our guide on writing website content that ranks in 2025.
How Keyword Difficulty Is Calculated
Understanding how keyword difficulty scores are created helps you use them more effectively. These scores are based on a few core metrics:
- Backlink profiles: The more high-quality backlinks a top-ranking page has, the more difficult the keyword appears.
- Domain authority: Sites with a long track record and strong reputations boost the score.
- Content quality and relevance: Some tools factor in how well the page covers the topic.
- Page-level SEO signals: Things like internal linking, keyword usage, and page speed may also play a role.
Let’s say you search for “SEO keyword analysis.” You might see sites like Ahrefs ranking on page one. These are authoritative domains with hundreds of thousands of backlinks. So most tools will give that keyword a very high difficulty score.
But remember, every tool has its own method. Ubersuggest might say that the keyword is an 80. Ahrefs could rate it a 35. These variations come from different algorithms and datasets.
If you’re comparing keywords across tools, use them to spot trends, not exact numbers.
What High Keyword Difficulty Really Tells You
Seeing a high difficulty score can feel discouraging, especially if your site is newer. But it doesn’t mean you should skip it. It just means you’ll need a stronger plan to compete.
High difficulty often signals:
- High-quality content is already ranking
- Top competitors have strong backlink profiles
- The topic is highly valuable and well-established
You’re up against businesses that have invested in their content and SEO for years. It won’t be quick, but it can still be worth the effort.
This is especially true for local businesses. You might be competing with national sites, but Google still shows local results for many queries. That’s where you can win.
Not sure how to win those local searches? Here’s our Local SEO Checklist for 2025 to guide you.
What Low Keyword Difficulty Doesn’t Mean
It’s tempting to chase all the low-difficulty keywords you can find. But they don’t guarantee anything.
A low score doesn’t mean:
- You’ll rank with poor content
- No one else is targeting it
- It’s a good fit for your audience
- It will actually drive leads or sales
Low difficulty keywords often have low search volume or poor buyer intent. Even if you rank, the traffic may not convert.
Worse, some low-difficulty keywords don’t make sense for your business. Ranking for the wrong keywords won’t help your bottom line.
If your business isn’t showing up in local results, it might not be the keywords. Check out our guide on why your business isn’t showing up in local search.
SEO Competition vs. Keyword Difficulty
These two terms get confused a lot, but they aren’t the same.
Keyword difficulty is a score created by SEO tools. It’s based mostly on backlinks and domain authority.
SEO competition is the real-world environment you’re entering. It includes:
- Paid ads pushing organic results down
- Local pack/map listings
- Featured snippets
- Video results, image results, and more
So a keyword might show a low difficulty score, but if the SERP is packed with distractions, you may never get clicks. That’s true competition.
Want to understand local SEO competition better? Read about the difference between Google Business Profile and Yelp.
When You Should Ignore Keyword Difficulty Scores
There are plenty of times when keyword difficulty shouldn’t influence your decision.
- You have a niche product or service: Long-tail, specific queries often have little competition.
- You’re targeting geo-specific terms: Local intent lowers actual competition.
- You’re creating helpful content for your current customers: Rankings aren’t the goal, helpfulness is.
Let’s say you want to rank for “best coffee shop in St. Paul open late.” The score might be low, but it’s incredibly valuable for local intent.
Want help ranking in local searches? Our guide on ranking your business on Google Maps has everything you need.
How to Actually Use Keyword Difficulty in Strategy
So, how do you actually use keyword difficulty in a way that helps?
- Combine it with other data: Look at search volume, intent, CTR, and the current SERP.
- Group your keywords: Target some easy ones for quick wins, and work medium-difficulty ones into a long-term plan.
- Study the competition manually: Look at the actual content ranking, not just the score.
- Watch for content gaps: See what the current top pages are missing and do it better.
- Use it to plan your content roadmap: The higher the difficulty, the more time and resources you should budget.
If you’re not sure what signals Google is really watching, read our deep dive on website SEO signals Google looks for.
Common Mistakes People Make with Keyword Difficulty
There are a few traps businesses fall into:
- Only going after low-difficulty keywords with zero commercial intent
- Ignoring high-difficulty keywords that are worth long-term investment
- Trusting a single tool without cross-referencing
- Thinking keyword difficulty is all that matters
- Writing thin content just to match a keyword
Avoid those, and you’ll already be ahead of most competitors.
Want to get better at reading keyword data? Learn how to read Google Search Console like a pro.
FAQs About Keyword Difficulty in SEO
What does keyword difficulty mean in SEO?
It’s a metric that estimates how hard it is to rank on the first page for a keyword based on existing competition.
How is keyword difficulty calculated?
Most tools factor in backlinks, domain authority, and page-level strength of the top-ranking pages.
Is keyword difficulty always accurate?
It’s helpful, but not exact. It misses key factors like intent, SERP features, and technical SEO.
What is a good keyword difficulty score to aim for?
For new sites, aim for under 30. For more established sites, mix in scores between 30 and 60.
Can I rank for high-difficulty keywords with a new site?
Yes, but it takes time and consistent SEO work. It’s a long-term effort.
Why do tools show different difficulty scores?
Each tool has its own algorithm and dataset. They weigh backlinks, authority, and relevance differently.
Should I avoid high-difficulty keywords?
Not if they match your goals. Some are worth the investment because of high traffic or conversion potential.
How is SEO competition different from keyword difficulty?
Competition includes the entire search results page, including ads and local packs. Keyword difficulty is just an estimate.
Are there free tools that show keyword difficulty?
Yes. Ubersuggest, Moz (limited), and Google Keyword Planner offer basic metrics. For better data, consider paid tools.
Get Help With Keyword Strategy
Trying to figure out which keywords are worth your time? Content Author helps businesses make smart, data-backed SEO decisions. Let’s build your content strategy with clarity. Talk to us about your SEO goals.
