Search and keywords · Intermediate

Keyword difficulty

Keyword difficulty is a third-party estimate, usually on a 0 to 100 scale, of how hard it would be to rank on the first page for a keyword, mostly based on the authority of the pages already ranking.

By Thryv StudioUpdated

Level
Intermediate
Scale
Typically 0 to 100 (varies by tool)
Based on
Links and authority of current top results

What is keyword difficulty?

SEO tools score keywords by how strong the current top results are, mainly how many links point to them. A high score means established, well-linked pages hold the first page.

It isn't a Google metric, and each tool calculates it differently, so scores aren't comparable between tools.

How to use it

  1. Use it to shortlist realistic targets, especially for newer sites.
  2. Look at the actual SERP: a high score can hide weak, outdated pages you can beat.
  3. Consider intent and relevance too; a "hard" keyword that's perfectly on target may be worth a long campaign.

Frequently asked questions

Can a new site rank for difficult keywords?

Usually not at first. Start with specific, lower-competition searches and build authority toward the harder ones.

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