# Keyword Difficulty

> A metric estimating how hard it is to rank for a specific keyword.

Source: https://anotherseoguru.com/en/glossary/keyword-difficulty

Keyword difficulty (KD) is a score that estimates how challenging it would be to rank on the first page of search results for a given keyword. It's typically based on the authority and backlink profiles of currently ranking pages.

## Example

KD 10 = Easy (new sites can rank), KD 50 = Moderate, KD 80+ = Very hard (requires high authority)

## How to apply it

For new sites, target KD under 30. Build authority over time to compete for harder keywords. Always verify by manually checking who's currently ranking.

> **Pro tip:** Don't rely solely on KD scores. Manually analyze the SERP - sometimes 'high difficulty' keywords have weak competitors you can beat with better content.

## Related terms

- [Search Volume](https://anotherseoguru.com/en/glossary/search-volume)
- [Domain Authority (DA)](https://anotherseoguru.com/en/glossary/domain-authority)