Keyword Difficulty (KD)

Keyword Difficulty (KD) is an SEO metric that estimates how challenging it will be to rank in the top organic search results for a specific keyword. It is a competitive score (typically on a scale from 0 to 100) that accounts for various factors, including the domain authority of competing websites, the quality of their content, and their backlink profiles. Understanding Keyword Difficulty is essential for strategic prioritization; it helps marketers identify 'low-hanging fruit' (keywords with high volume but low competition) and set realistic goals for their SEO campaigns. A high KD score indicates that the SERP is dominated by authoritative brands with strong link profiles, requiring significant resources and time to outrank them.