Keyword Difficulty

Definition

Keyword difficulty is a score, usually 0 to 100, that estimates how hard it would be to rank on page one for a given term based on the strength of the sites already ranking. It helps you choose realistic targets.

In depth

Keyword difficulty looks at who's already filling the SERP for a phrase — how much domain authority those sites carry and how strong their pages are — and turns it into a rough score. A high number means established, hard-to-beat competitors; a low number means there's room for a newer or smaller site to break in. Good keyword research weighs that score before you commit effort.

For a local contractor, difficulty is your map for spending effort wisely. Broad terms like 'remodeling contractor' are crowded with national directories and big franchises. But specific, local phrases often score low because few competitors have built a dedicated page — that's where you can rank and win real organic traffic.

The common mistake is chasing the highest-volume keywords regardless of difficulty, then wondering why nothing ranks. Volume without a realistic shot is wasted work. We weigh difficulty against local intent to find the sweet spot — terms hard enough to be worth real money, soft enough that you can actually own them.

Worked example

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