How to calculate keyword difficulty
What factors should be considered when calculating keyword difficulty? How can businesses benefit from calculating keyword difficulty scores?
To calculate keyword difficulty, you need to consider various factors that determine how challenging it will be to rank for a specific keyword in search engine results. The keyword difficulty score helps businesses in their marketing and SEO efforts by providing insights into the competitiveness of keywords.
To begin, gather the necessary data for your analysis, including the keyword you want to evaluate and the top-ranking pages for that keyword. Here is a step-by-step guide to calculating keyword difficulty:
Search Volume: Determine the average monthly search volume for the keyword. This metric indicates the popularity and potential traffic the keyword can generate.
Competition Analysis: Analyze the top-ranking pages for the keyword. Look for factors such as domain authority, page authority, and backlink profiles of these pages. This information will give you an understanding of the competition level.
Page Relevance: Evaluate the relevance of your webpage to the keyword. Assess how well your content matches the user intent behind the search query. This factor influences your ability to rank higher for the keyword.
SERP Features: Examine the search engine results page (SERP) for the keyword. Identify any special features like featured snippets, knowledge panels, or local pack results. These features can impact the visibility and click-through rate of your webpage.
Once you have gathered the necessary data, you can calculate the keyword difficulty score using the following formula:
Keyword Difficulty = (Competition Score + Relevance Score + SERP Features Score) / Search Volume
To better understand the formula, let's define the terms:
- Competition Score: A measure of the competitiveness of the keyword based on factors like domain authority, page authority, and backlink profiles of top-ranking pages.
- Relevance Score: An assessment of how well your webpage aligns with the keyword and user intent.
- SERP Features Score: A consideration of any special features on the SERP that can affect your webpage's visibility and click-through rate.
- Search Volume: The average number of times the keyword is searched for in a given period, indicating its popularity and potential traffic.
By calculating the keyword difficulty score, businesses can prioritize their SEO efforts, focusing on keywords with lower difficulty scores that offer a higher chance of ranking well in search engine results.
FAQ
How do you calculate keyword difficulty?
To calculate keyword difficulty, gather data on the keyword's search volume, analyze the competition of top-ranking pages, evaluate the relevance of your webpage to the keyword, and examine any special features on the search engine results page (SERP). Use the formula: Keyword Difficulty = (Competition Score + Relevance Score + SERP Features Score) / Search Volume.
What is competition analysis?
Competition analysis involves assessing factors such as domain authority, page authority, and backlink profiles of the top-ranking pages for a keyword. This analysis helps determine the level of competition you will face in trying to rank for that keyword.
Why is page relevance important in keyword difficulty calculation?
Page relevance is important because it measures how well your webpage aligns with the keyword and user intent. The more relevant your content is to the keyword, the higher your chances of ranking well for that keyword.
How do SERP features affect keyword difficulty?
SERP features like featured snippets, knowledge panels, or local pack results can impact the visibility and click-through rate of your webpage. If these features are present for a keyword, it may increase the difficulty of ranking well for that keyword.
What is search volume and why is it important?
Search volume refers to the average number of times a keyword is searched for in a given period. It indicates the popularity and potential traffic the keyword can generate. Understanding search volume helps businesses prioritize their SEO efforts and focus on keywords that offer a higher chance of ranking well.
