GlossaryMetrics
Keyword difficulty
Also called: KD
Keyword difficulty is a tool's estimate of how hard it would be to rank on page one for a term. Each tool calculates it differently.
Keyword difficulty is a score, usually from 0 to 100, that estimates how hard it would be to rank for a given search term. Tools calculate it differently. Many look at the strength of the pages currently ranking, particularly their backlinks.
It's useful for sorting a long list of ideas. A term with a score of 10 is likely to be easier than one with a score of 70. But the number isn't a promise, and it ignores your own site's strength, how good your content is and whether you match the intent. Two tools often disagree on the same term.
Practical point: don't chase only easy keywords. Pick terms that are relevant to your business and winnable, then look at the actual results. If the first page is full of strong brands and the pages are very thorough, you'll need a better angle. Use difficulty to prioritize, not to decide on its own.
Links you can check.
Every link we place comes with a receipt. The free link plan shows the pages worth pushing and what the links would cost.