Understanding Keyword Difficulty: How to Target Low-Hanging Fruits for Better Results

What Is Keyword Difficulty?

Keyword difficulty (KD) is a metric that measures how hard it is to rank for a specific keyword in search engine results. This difficulty depends on factors like the competitiveness of the keyword, the authority of competing websites, and the quality of existing content targeting that keyword.

Understanding KD helps you prioritize keywords that are easier to rank for, especially if your website is new or has lower domain authority. These "low-hanging fruits" can yield quicker wins and help establish your online presence.

How Is Keyword Difficulty Calculated?

SEO tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Moz use proprietary algorithms to calculate KD. While each tool may differ slightly, most consider these factors:

Domain Authority (DA): The strength of websites already ranking for the keyword.
Backlinks: The number and quality of backlinks pointing to the ranking pages.
Content Quality: The relevance and depth of content on top-ranking pages.
Search Volume: Higher competition often correlates with higher search volume.

KD scores are typically presented on a scale of 0 to 100, where:

0-30: Low difficulty (easy to rank).
31-70: Medium difficulty (moderately competitive).
71-100: High difficulty (hard to rank).

Why Target Low-Hanging Fruits?

Low-hanging fruits are keywords with:

Low competition but decent search volume.
High relevance to your business or niche.

Targeting these keywords provides several benefits:

Faster Results: Easier to rank for, leading to quicker traffic growth.
Improved ROI: Requires less effort and resources compared to high-difficulty keywords.
Enhanced Credibility: Builds your website’s authority gradually, enabling you to compete for harder keywords later.

How to Identify Low-Hanging Fruits

1. Use Keyword Research Tools

Tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, Ubersuggest, and Google Keyword Planner can help you find low-difficulty keywords.

Filter keywords by KD score (e.g., 0-30).
Look for long-tail keywords (phrases with 3+ words) as they often have lower competition.

2. Analyze Search Volume

While targeting low-difficulty keywords, ensure they have a decent monthly search volume. A keyword with high relevance but low traffic may not deliver substantial results.

3. Examine Search Intent

Ensure the keyword aligns with the user’s search intent:

Informational: Users want answers or knowledge (e.g., “how to bake bread”).
Navigational: Users seek a specific website or page (e.g., “Facebook login”).
Transactional: Users are ready to take action (e.g., “buy running shoes online”).

Target keywords with intent that matches your goals (e.g., conversions, traffic, or brand awareness).

4. Leverage Competitor Analysis

Check what keywords your competitors rank for, particularly those with lower domain authority than yours. Tools like Ahrefs’ Content Gap or SEMrush’s Keyword Gap can reveal untapped opportunities.

5. Evaluate Existing Content Opportunities

Look for keywords where your current pages rank on the second or third page of Google. Optimize these pages to boost their rankings to the first page.

Tips for Targeting Low-Difficulty Keywords

1. Optimize Content for Keywords

Include the target keyword in the title, meta description, headings, and throughout the content naturally.
Add synonyms and related terms to make the content more comprehensive.

2. Create High-Quality Content

Low-difficulty keywords often lack in-depth or authoritative content. Stand out by:

Providing detailed, well-researched content.
Using visuals like images, infographics, and videos to enhance engagement.
Answering related questions users might have.

3. Focus on Local SEO

For small businesses, targeting location-specific keywords (e.g., “plumber in Chicago”) is a great way to find low-competition opportunities.

4. Build Internal Links

Link to your new content from existing pages to help search engines discover and rank it faster.

5. Monitor and Adjust

Track your keyword rankings and traffic using tools like Google Analytics and Search Console. Refine your strategy based on performance.

Examples of Low-Hanging Fruits

High-Difficulty Keyword:

“Fitness tips” (KD: 80)

High competition from large health websites.

Low-Difficulty Alternative:

“Fitness tips for beginners at home” (KD: 25)

More specific, less competition, and highly relevant to a niche audience.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Neglecting Search Intent: Targeting a keyword without understanding what users are looking for.
Overlooking Long-Tail Keywords: Focusing only on high-volume keywords misses valuable opportunities.
Ignoring Content Quality: Ranking for a low-difficulty keyword won’t drive results if your content doesn’t satisfy user needs.

Conclusion

Targeting low-hanging fruits by focusing on low-difficulty keywords is a smart way to enhance your SEO efforts, especially if you’re starting or working with limited resources. By combining keyword research with quality content and user intent, you can achieve measurable results and lay a solid foundation for tackling more competitive keywords in the future.

Start small, stay consistent, and watch your organic traffic grow over time!