SEMrush keyword difficulty is a useful function for a key metric in creating a suitable keyword strategy. Finding the sweet spot will put your website in contention with suitable competitors. Learning this skill will help you choose a fitting playing field and increase your chances of ranking higher.
SEMrush keyword difficulty is a metric designed to help users assess the level of competition associated with specific keywords. It is an essential feature for anyone looking to optimize their website’s SEO strategy and improve its organic search rankings.
The keyword difficulty (KD) score provided by SEMrush is expressed as a percentage on a scale from 0% to 100%. The higher the percentage, the tougher it is to rank with said keywords.
For SEO professionals, content creators, and website owners, the KD score is a valuable tool for prioritizing their efforts.
Keywords with a lower difficulty score might present more realistic opportunities to improve search engine rankings and drive organic traffic. On the other hand, targeting keywords with high difficulty scores might require a more strategic approach to surpass established competitors.
SEMrush also offers another metric called competitive density. It resembles keyword difficulty in terms of displaying how hard it is to target a keyword. However, competitive density refers to paid-per-click (PPC) or paid search, while KD is about organic search.
As one of the premier functions, SEMrush keyword difficulty is integrated into the widely used Keyword Overview tool. To access the function, you can follow these steps:
Aside from the Keyword Difficulty score, SEMrush will also provide you with additional related data and insights. You will be able to see both local and international search volume, trend, intent, and other relevant information.
Keyword Overview is not the only function where you can find keyword difficulty. This metric is displayed in multiple keyword-related reports across SEMrush. Here are the other tools where you can learn the difficulty of your keywords:
The detailed formula for SEMrush keyword difficulty is kept under wraps. However, SEMrush has shared the three steps taken to calculate this metric:
Step 1: Analyze SERPs
Looking into the top results on the SERPs is first on the agenda. Since keyword difficulty is about the ability to outrank other pages, it is essential to see how good they are.
SEMrush will calculate the median value of these aspects and incorporate them into their formula:
They use median values to provide a more comprehensive look at the bigger picture of a SERP. Some SERPs may have incredibly strong No. 1 results, but the rest are achievable for you. This will allow you to throw your hat in the ring and compete for one of the top spots.
Step 2: Analyze keywords
Next up are the keywords themselves. SEMrush will look into metrics like search volume, word count, and some other aspects.
Each of the metric has its own significance to the overall formula with the top 5 being:
Step 3: Take countries into consideration
Lastly, SEMrush will consider the country or region for the final result. This helps avoid inflating or deflating the KD score for less populated locations.
Now that you have understood how to calculate KD, you can learn how to interpret and utilize it. SEMrush keyword difficulty is a 0 to 100 score, and it is divided into six ranges:
The six tiers will help you interpret the numbers, and here is how you can put them into good use:
When it comes to assessing keyword difficulty, there are several tools available in addition to SEMrush. Each tool may have its own approach and methodology for calculating keyword difficulty.
Moz: Moz offers a keyword difficulty metric that ranges from 0 to 100. It calculates keyword difficulty by considering factors such as page authority, domain authority, and the number of linking root domains. While both SEMrush and Moz provide a similar function, their formulas are different, which leads to varying results.
Ahrefs: Ahrefs also provides a keyword difficulty score ranging from 0 to 100. Their calculation takes into account the number of referring domains and the strength of those domains. Ahrefs places a strong emphasis on backlink analysis to determine keyword difficulty. This approach may differ from SEMrush, which considers a broader range of factors beyond backlinks.
Google Keyword Planner: Google’s Keyword Planner, a part of Google Ads, provides keyword data, including search volume and competition. However, it does not offer a specific keyword difficulty metric. Instead, it provides an insight into the competition level by indicating whether a keyword has low, medium, or high competition. Also, Google’s competition metric is focused on paid search competition rather than organic search competition.
It is important to note that each tool uses its own algorithms and factors to calculate keyword difficulty. Therefore, the keyword difficulty scores will vary between tools. You can use multiple tools and cross-reference their results to get a comprehensive understanding.
SEMrush Keyword Difficulty is a valuable metric that aids in prioritizing keyword targeting based on competitiveness. By backlinks, domain authority, and search volume, SEMrush presents a highly reliable metric for users to make informed decisions.
When combined with other insights, keyword difficulty enhances keyword research strategies and increases the likelihood of achieving organic visibility. Leveraging this metric contributes to the overall success of your online presence.
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