Does Keyword Difficulty Matter?

It's a question that's plagued content creators since the inception of keyword-based SEO: does keyword difficulty matter? After all, if you pour hours into researching and writing a blog post or website page and no one, if anyone, finds it, was it really worth the effort? We take an in-depth look here, exploring the compelling reasons why keyword difficulty can be a game-changer in SEO success.

What is Keyword Difficulty?

First, let's start with the basics. Keyword difficulty is a metric, typically expressed as a score from 0-100%, that defines how hard (or easy) it is to rank for a specific keyword, phrase or topic. Let's say you're a furniture store in Los Angeles. Naturally, you'd want to rank for one of the most popular keywords related to your store, furniture store Los Angeles. But the keyword difficulty for this exact phrase is 85%. Why? Two reasons: 1) it's a very popular keyword, and 2) tons of authority furniture stores in Los Angeles are already ranking for it. In other words, the barrier to entry is high and only the most well-crafted SEO strategies have any chance of success.

Why Does Keyword Difficulty Matter?

When it comes to SEO, nothing is more important than content. If you're creating content without considering keyword difficulty, you're likely wasting valuable resources. On the other hand, a deliberate strategy that takes keyword difficulty into account can yield incredibly positive results. Here are just a few of the primary advantages of targeting keywords with a low to medium difficulty score:

1. Boost Visibility

By targeting keywords that are more attainable, you can more easily carve out a niche in SERPs and boost your website's visibility. This strategy can pay big dividends in terms of website traffic.

2. Generate Clicks & Leads

A well-crafted SEO strategy tailored to low to medium-difficulty keywords is sure to generate more leads and clicks. All it takes is some good composition that's both informative and engaging.

3. Create Massive Value

It's not about simply producing as much content as possible. Quality, not quantity, is often the most important metricand targeting keywords with the appropriate difficulty can pay off in terms of value.

Strategies for Targeting Keywords with Low to Medium Difficulty

Now that you've gained a better understanding of why keyword difficulty can be a game-changer when it comes to SEO success, you're probably wondering how to identify and target these keywords. Here are some tried-and-true strategies:

1. Optimize for Long-Tail Keywords

Long-tail keywords are often easier to rank for because they're more precise. The shorter the keyword phrase, the more difficult it will be to rank.

2. Test in Real-Time

Don't choose a keyword simply by looking at some sort of metric or score. Test it in real-time to understand both relevance and difficulty.

3. Analyze Rival Rankings

If you can't seem to get a keyword with low to medium difficulty to rank, take a look at the websites that are already ranking for it. Figure out what works and emulate the same tactics in your website.

4. Target Relevant Topics

Finally, recognize that relevance is the primary success factor. Target topics that are timely and of value to your target audienceeven if the difficulty is high.

Closing Remarks

Ultimately, keyword difficulty does matter when it comes to SEO success. By focusing on low to medium difficulty keywords, you can more easily carve out space in SERPs and boost your visibility. However, don't sacrifice relevance. Quality content that's informative and engaging is always the most important metric.