Keyword Difficulty: How to Find Easy Keywords to Rank
You've probably heard that some keywords are "hard" and some are "easy." But what does that actually mean? And how do you find keywords you can realistically rank for?
That's what keyword difficulty (KD) is all about. In this guide, you'll learn how to measure it and find keywords that are actually rankable.
What is Keyword Difficulty?
Keyword difficulty (also called SEO difficulty or competition) is a score that estimates how hard it would be to rank on page one of Google for a specific keyword. It's usually measured on a scale of 0-100:
| KD Score | Difficulty | Who Can Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 0-14 | Very Easy | Brand new sites |
| 15-29 | Easy | New sites with some content |
| 30-49 | Medium | Sites with 6+ months of content |
| 50-69 | Hard | Sites with authority and backlinks |
| 70-84 | Very Hard | Established sites only |
| 85-100 | Extremely Hard | Top-tier authority sites |
Why Keyword Difficulty Matters
Imagine spending 10 hours writing a perfect article on "SEO tools" (KD: 92). It won't rank for years — if ever. Meanwhile, "free word counter tool for bloggers" (KD: 8) might rank within weeks.
Understanding KD helps you:
- Avoid wasting time on impossible keywords
- Find quick wins to build momentum
- Plan a realistic content strategy
- Grow authority progressively
- See results within months, not years
How Keyword Difficulty is Calculated
Different tools use different formulas, but most consider:
- Backlink profiles of top 10 ranking pages
- Domain authority of ranking sites
- Content quality of competitors
- Search intent match
- SERP features (featured snippets, ads)
- Content length of top results
Free Tools to Check KD
- Ubersuggest — 3 free searches/day with KD score
- Ahrefs Free Keyword Generator — KD data in free version
- Google Keyword Planner — Competition rating (Low/Medium/High)
- Moz Keyword Explorer — 10 free searches/month
- Keyword Surfer Chrome Extension — Free KD estimates
Manual Keyword Difficulty Check
Don't have access to tools? You can manually assess KD:
1. Check Top 10 Results
Search your keyword on Google. Look at the top 10 results:
- Big brands (Wikipedia, Forbes, Amazon)? → Very hard
- Small blogs with weak design? → Easier
- Old articles from 2015? → Easy to outrank with fresh content
- Thin content? → Easy to beat
2. Check Content Quality
- Are top results comprehensive or thin?
- Do they answer the question fully?
- Do they have updated info?
- Are they mobile-friendly?
If you can write something better, the keyword might be easier than KD suggests.
3. Check Domain Authority
Use the MozBar Chrome extension. It shows DA (Domain Authority) for each result:
- DA 70+ → Hard
- DA 40-70 → Medium
- DA under 40 → Easier
4. Look for Forums and Quora
If top results include Reddit, Quora, or forums — the keyword is usually easy. Google shows those when quality content is missing.
Best KD Range for Different Site Ages
| Site Age | Target KD |
|---|---|
| 0-3 months (brand new) | 0-15 |
| 3-6 months | 15-25 |
| 6-12 months | 25-40 |
| 1-2 years | 40-55 |
| 2+ years with authority | 55-70 |
Strategy: Start Easy, Climb Up
Here's the smartest long-term strategy:
Phase 1 (Months 1-3): Low-Hanging Fruit
- Target KD 0-15 keywords
- Long-tail, specific phrases
- Write 20-30 articles
- Goal: Get indexed and start ranking
Phase 2 (Months 4-6): Building Momentum
- Target KD 15-30 keywords
- More competitive variations
- Update and expand older content
- Goal: Page 1 rankings
Phase 3 (Months 7-12): Climbing Higher
- Target KD 30-50 keywords
- Build backlinks actively
- Create pillar content
- Goal: Top 3 positions
Phase 4 (Year 2+): Competing with the Best
- Target KD 50+ keywords
- Heavy backlink outreach
- Brand building
- Goal: Featured snippets and position 1
Long-Tail Keywords = Naturally Easy
Long-tail keywords are almost always easier than short-tail. Compare:
- "coffee" — KD 92, 823,000 searches/month
- "best coffee for French press" — KD 22, 2,400 searches/month
- "best coffee for French press under $50" — KD 8, 320 searches/month
The last two are much easier and often convert better. Add 20-50 of these together and you've got a solid traffic base.
🚀 Ready to optimize? Use our free Meta Title Generator and Slug Generator to create optimized content for your chosen keywords.
Common KD Mistakes
- Only targeting high-volume keywords
- Ignoring KD and writing whatever you want
- Targeting keywords too hard for your site's age
- Not using topic clusters
- Not tracking rankings over time
- Giving up too early
Final Thoughts
Keyword difficulty is the difference between a frustrating SEO journey and a rewarding one. Start with easy keywords, rank them, then progressively target harder ones as your authority grows.
Don't rush. A site that ranks for 100 easy keywords will beat a site that ranks for 0 hard keywords — every single time.