Why do some pages rank quickly while others struggle? Keyword Difficulty (KD) determines ranking challenges, but SEO tools often over-rely on backlinks. Manual keyword difficulty calculation offers a more accurate approach, considering SERP features, user intent, and content quality.
This manual method helps SEO professionals target achievable, high-impact keywords for better rankings. Read this guide to discover the formula for manual KD calculation and learn why you should calculate KD manually instead of relying on automated tools.
What Is Keyword Difficulty?
Keyword Difficulty (KD) is an SEO metric that measures how hard it is to rank on the first page of Google for a specific keyword.
If a keyword has low difficulty, fewer websites compete for it, making it easier to rank. If it is difficult, many strong websites already rank for it, making competing harder.
KD is usually based on factors like the number of competing pages, the quality of those pages, and their backlinks. Tools like KIVA, Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Moz give a KD score to help you decide which keywords to target.
In short, lower KD = easier to rank, higher KD = harder to rank.
How To Perform Manual Keyword Difficulty Calculation (A Step-by-Step Guide)
Keyword Difficulty (KD) tells you how hard it is to rank for a specific keyword on search engines like Google. It helps businesses and marketers choose the right keywords for their SEO strategies.
This step-by-step breakdown of manual Keyword Difficulty calculation ensures a practical and data-driven approach to calculating Keyword Difficulty manually.
1. Analyze Competition Strength
- Extract the top 10 ranking pages.
- Find the median Referring Domains linking to those pages.
- Find the median Authority Score of ranking domains.
- Compute Competition Strength as the average of these two values.
2. Evaluate SERP Features Impact
- Identify SERP features (Featured Snippet, Local Pack, People Also Ask, Knowledge Panel, etc.).
- Assign weights to each based on its impact on visibility (e.g., Featured Snippets may reduce organic CTR).
- Sum up the total SERP Feature Impact score.
- If there are no SERP features, apply a penalty to reflect an open SERP.
3. Assess Relevance Score
- Assign a subjective score (1-100) based on how well the keyword matches user intent and your webpage’s alignment.
4. Normalize Search Volume
- Since search volume can range widely, apply a logarithmic scale to prevent very high-volume keywords from appearing too easy or too difficult.
Keyword Difficulty Formula
You can calculate keyword difficulty using this formula:
[ ( Competition Strength + SERP Features Impact ) × Relevance Score ]
Search Volume Weight
Where:
- 💪Competition Strength = (Median Referring Domains + Median Authority Score) ÷ 2
- 🔍SERP Features Impact = (Total SERP Feature Influence – No SERP Features Penalty)
- 🎯Relevance Score = Subjective score (1-100) based on page alignment with user intent
- 📉Search Volume Weight = Logarithmic scaling to prevent high-volume terms from skewing results
Example Calculation
Let’s say you want to rank for the keyword “Best running shoes for beginners” and you’ve gathered the following data:
Step 1: Extract the Top 10 Ranking Pages
We need to extract the top 10 pages ranking for our chosen keyword from Google. This can be done manually using Google Search or using an SEO tool like Ahrefs, Moz, or SEMrush.
| Rank | URL | Referring Domains | Domain Authority Score |
| 1 | https://www.verywellfit.com/best-running-shoes-for-beginners-7504389 | 50 | 70 |
| 2 | https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/reviews/best-running-shoes-for-beginners | 40 | 65 |
| 3 | https://believeintherun.com/shoe-reviews/best-running-shoes-for-heavy-runners/ | 55 | 75 |
| 4 | https://www.runningshoesguru.com/guide/best-running-shoes-for-beginners/ | 60 | 72 |
| 5 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-personal-shopper/2024/09/25/the-best-running-shoes-for-beginners-according-to-running-experts/ | 30 | 60 |
| 6 | https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/best-beginner-running-shoes.html | 45 | 67 |
| 7 | https://runrepeat.com/guides/best-for-beginners-running-shoes | 35 | 64 |
| 8 | https://nymag.com/strategist/article/best-running-shoes-for-beginners.html | 42 | 68 |
| 9 | https://www.marathonsports.com/blog/best-running-shoes-for-beginners/ | 38 | 66 |
| 10 | https://www.runnersworld.com/gear/a19663621/best-running-shoes/ | 48 | 71 |
Step 2: Find the Median Referring Domains
We now extract the Referring Domains column and find the median:
Sorted list of referring domains: 30, 35, 38, 40, 42, 45, 48, 50, 55, 60
Since we have 10 values, the median is calculated as:
= 42+45/2
= 87/2
= 43.5
So, Median Referring Domains = 43.5
Step 3: Find the Median Authority Score
We now extract the Domain Authority Score column and find the median:
Sorted list of authority scores: 60, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 70, 71, 72, 75
Median = 67 + 68/ 2
= 135 / 2
= 67.5
So, Median Authority Score = 67.5
Step 4: Compute Competition Strength
The formula for Competition Strength:
[ Median Referring Domains + Median Authority Score] /2
= 43.5 + 67.5 / 2
= 111 / 2
= 55.5
So, Competition Strength = 55.5
Step 5: Evaluate SERP Features Impact
We now analyze the SERP Features on the results page.
- Featured Snippet (-5)
- People Also Ask (-2)
- Local Pack (No impact)
- No Knowledge Panel (No impact)
SERP Feature Impact = − 5 − 2 = −7
Step 6: Assign Relevance Score
The relevance score is a subjective evaluation (1-100). Since our page is well-optimized, we assign:
Relevance Score = 90
Relevance Score (1-100) Criteria for Keyword Optimization
Below is a detailed breakdown of how to assign a Relevance Score based on missing or present elements.
| Relevance Score Range | Criteria |
| ⚫️ 1-10: Poor Relevance | Keyword missing in title, URL, H1, and content. Thin content (<300 words), no multimedia. No internal links, irrelevant or missing meta description. |
| 🔴 11-20: Weak Relevance | Keyword appears only once (title or body), not in headings. Generic content (<500 words), lacks depth. No structured data, no LSI keywords, not mobile-friendly. |
| 🟡 21-40: Below Average | Keyword in title, URL, H1, but not naturally placed. Short-form content (600+ words), missing E-E-A-T elements. Images used but missing alt text, weak internal linking. |
| 🟢 41-60: Average Relevance | Keyword well-placed (title, H1, first 100 words). Content depth (1000+ words), but lacks unique insights. Some structured data, moderate page speed, basic on-page SEO. |
| 🔵 61-80: Strong Relevance | Comprehensive content (1500+ words), well-structured. Keyword variations & semantic SEO applied. Rich media (videos, infographics), strong internal linking. |
| 🟣 81-100: Perfect Relevance | Expert-level content, fully aligned with search intent. All technical & on-page SEO best practices applied. Strong backlinks, high authority signals, engaging UX. |
Step 7: Normalize Search Volume
The keyword search volume is 15,000.
We apply logarithmic scaling to normalize it:
log (15,000) = 4.18
So, Search Volume Weight = 4.18
Step 8: Calculate Keyword Difficulty (KD)
Using the formula:
[ ( Competition Strength + SERP Features Impact ) × Relevance Score ]
Search Volume Weight
Substituting values:
KD = ( 55.5 − 7 ) × 90 / 4.18
KD = 48.5 × 90 / 4.18
KD = 4365 / 4.18
KD ≈ 104.4
Since KD = 104.4, this indicates a very high difficulty keyword. (Extremely Hard to Rank)
The Importance of Considering Keyword Difficulty When Conducting Keyword Research
Keyword Difficulty (KD) is a crucial metric in SEO that helps determine the competitiveness of a keyword and the likelihood of ranking for it. Ignoring KD can lead to wasted efforts on highly competitive keywords or missing out on low-hanging opportunities.
Here’s why KD should be a key factor in your keyword research strategy:
1. Helps Prioritize Keywords Based on Ranking Potential 🎯
Not all keywords are created equal. Some may have high search volume but be extremely competitive, making it hard to rank without a strong SEO foundation.
By analyzing KD, you can prioritize keywords that best balance competition and ranking feasibility.
2. Prevents Targeting Unrealistic Keywords 🚧
Targeting keywords with a very high difficulty score (80-100) without an authoritative website and strong backlinks can be a waste of resources.
Instead, businesses and websites with lower domain authority should focus on moderate or easy keywords (KD 0-60) to improve their chances of ranking and gaining organic traffic.
3. Enhances SEO and Content Strategy 📌
KD provides a strategic roadmap for content planning. By choosing keywords with an achievable difficulty level, you can:
- Create high-quality, targeted content that meets search intent.
- Optimize internal linking and backlink acquisition to improve authority.
- Focus on long-tail keywords with lower competition but strong intent.
4. Improves ROI for SEO and PPC Campaigns 💰
For businesses investing in both organic SEO and PPC, KD plays a role in determining where to allocate budget and resources.
- If a keyword has high difficulty, running a PPC campaign might be a better short-term option.
- If a keyword has low difficulty, organic SEO efforts could yield long-term benefits with sustainable rankings.
5. Aids in Competitor Analysis 🏆
KD allows you to analyze your competitors by understanding:
- How strong the top-ranking pages are.
- The backlink profiles and domain authority of ranking competitors.
- Whether you have a realistic chance of outranking them with optimized content and a solid link-building strategy.
6. Accounts for SERP Features & Click-Through Rate 📈
SERP features (such as Featured Snippets, People Also Ask, and Local Packs) can impact the actual traffic potential of a keyword. Even if a keyword has a low KD, dominating SERP features may reduce organic clicks.
Factoring in SERP features when assessing KD helps ensure that you’re targeting keywords that provide actual traffic potential.
What Is a “Good” Keyword Difficulty Score?
A “good” keyword difficulty score depends on your SEO goals, website authority, and niche competition. While there’s no universal standard, here’s a general breakdown:
- 🟢 Low (0-30): Easier to rank for, usually with lower search volumes. Ideal for new websites or when focusing on long-tail keywords.
- 🟡 Medium (31-60): Moderately competitive, offering a balance between search volume and competition. Suitable for established websites with some authority.
- 🔴 High (61-80): The most challenging keywords, often with high search volumes and dominated by authoritative domains. Ranking for these requires strong SEO efforts, quality backlinks, and an authoritative online presence.
- ⚫ Very Difficult (81-100): The hardest keywords to rank for, dominated by industry leaders and high-authority domains. Requires extensive SEO strategies, top-tier backlinks, and a strong online presence.
The ideal keyword difficulty score for your strategy depends on your website’s strength, resources, and growth goals. A balanced approach targeting achievable yet high-value keywords is key to driving sustainable organic traffic.
Why You Should Calculate Keyword Difficulty Manually: The Problem With Most KD Tools
Most keyword difficulty (KD) tools provide a score to estimate ranking difficulty, but there’s no universal standard for calculating it. This results in inconsistent and often misleading scores across different SEO platforms.
🔍 How Different Tools Calculate KD
- MOZ: Uses a mix of Page Authority (PA) and Domain Authority (DA), which are largely influenced by the number of referring domains.
- Semrush: Evaluates SERP strength based on referring domains, follow/nofollow link ratios, domain authority, and keyword characteristics like search volume and SERP features. However, two-thirds of their score is still based on backlinks.
- Ahrefs: Assigns KD based on the number of referring domains needed to rank for a keyword.
🚨 The Issue With These Methods
The problem? Most KD tools overly rely on backlinks to determine competitiveness. While backlinks were once a dominant ranking factor, their influence has declined significantly.
- Google’s ranking algorithm now prioritizes content relevance, user intent, and overall page experience over backlinks.
- Even Google’s John Mueller confirmed that backlinks will continue losing weight as a ranking factor.
This means that traditional keyword difficulty scores are becoming increasingly inaccurate.
Why Manual Keyword Difficulty Calculation is Better?
Instead of relying on outdated, backlink-heavy formulas, a manual keyword difficulty calculation considers real-world ranking factors, such as:
✔ SERP analysis: Evaluating top-ranking pages beyond just backlinks, including content quality, user intent, and engagement metrics.
✔ Search intent alignment: Understanding whether a keyword is informational, navigational, or transactional, and how Google serves results.
✔ SERP features impact: Factoring in Featured Snippets, People Also Ask, Local Packs, and Ads that influence organic click-through rates.
✔ Content strength: Analyzing the actual depth, readability, and topical authority of existing ranking pages.
By using manual keyword difficulty calculation, you gain a more accurate and actionable insight into your ranking potential, allowing you to target keywords that truly align with your website’s strengths and resources.
How Manual Keyword Difficulty Calculation is Evolving in 2025
In 2025, manual keyword difficulty calculation has evolved significantly, adapting to the dynamic nature of search engine algorithms and user behavior. This evolution encompasses recent statistics, original insights, and predictions based on current trends.
Key Developments in Manual Keyword Difficulty Calculation
Keyword difficulty isn’t just about backlinks and competition anymore. SEO experts are now factoring in user behavior, search intent, and content relevance to get a more accurate picture.
These updates help marketers choose keywords that not only rank well but also drive meaningful engagement.
📊 User Behavior Now Matters More: Instead of just looking at backlinks and competition, SEO experts are now considering user engagement metrics like click-through rates (CTR) and dwell time.
If a keyword attracts users who stay longer and interact more, it might be worth targeting, even if it’s harder to rank for.
🔗 Grouping Similar Keywords Together: Instead of focusing on single keywords, SEO pros now cluster related terms together. This means targeting an entire topic rather than just one keyword.
It helps cover multiple search intents at once and can make ranking easier because Google sees the content as more comprehensive.
Future Predictions Based on Current Trends
Staying ahead in SEO requires a shift towards AI-driven content optimization and personalized search strategies. Businesses that adapt their keyword difficulty assessments accordingly will have a competitive edge in search rankings and user engagement.
AI-Driven Content Evaluation:
As artificial intelligence continues to advance, search engines are expected to assess content with greater nuance, considering factors like sentiment analysis and contextual relevance.
This evolution necessitates more sophisticated manual keyword difficulty calculations that account for these elements.
Personalization of Search Results:
With the increasing personalization of search results based on individual user behavior and preferences, keyword difficulty assessments will need to adapt.
SEO strategies may shift towards targeting user segments rather than broad keywords, making manual KD calculations more complex but also more tailored.
In summary, the evolution of AI and personalized search is reshaping the landscape of SEO and keyword difficulty assessment.
Authority Saturation Index (ASI): The Hidden Barrier to Ranking
Even if a keyword has low KD, it might be dominated by authority sites (e.g., Wikipedia, Amazon, Forbes), making ranking impossible for smaller websites.
🔹 Unique Approach: Create an Authority Saturation Index (ASI) that measures:
- Percentage of high-DA sites (DA 80+ in the top 10 results).
- Presence of non-ranking SERP features (People Also Ask, Knowledge Panel).
- Brand Bias (Do the top pages belong to well-known brands?)
🔹 Formula Idea:
ASI= High-DA Pages+SERP Features / Total Results
Higher ASI = Harder to rank.
Example Keyword: “Best Laptops for Students”
We extract Google’s top 10 search results for this keyword and analyze their Domain Authority (DA), SERP Features, and Brand Bias.
Step 1: Extract the Top 10 Search Results
We collect the top-ranking pages and their Domain Authority (DA).
| Rank | Website URL | DA Score | Brand Bias? (Yes/No) |
| 1 | https://www.techradar.com/news/mobile-computing/laptops/10-best-laptops-for-students-983385 | 91 | Yes |
| 2 | amazon.com/best-laptops-for-students/s?k=best+laptops+for+students | 95 | Yes |
| 3 | https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-laptops-for-college-students | 88 | Yes |
| 4 | https://intaglaptops.com/collections/for-designing?srsltid=AfmBOoqZtxkfHjO4qmhrVNpHDhyAzgwZGr609OHc2iBwAhbULWC3ATzL | 86 | Yes |
| 5 | https://www.rtings.com/laptop/reviews/best/by-usage/college | 84 | Yes |
| 6 | dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops-for-students | 93 | Yes |
| 7 | https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop | 89 | Yes |
| 8 | https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/?cid=flash_redirect_2p3o1i | 83 | Yes |
| 9 | https://www.creativebloq.com/news/best-laptops-for-students | 65 | No |
| 10 | https://www.jbhifi.com.au/collections/computers-tablets/student-laptops | 55 | No |
Step 2: Identify High-DA Pages (DA 80+)
A high-DA page is defined as having DA ≥ 80.
From our list:
- 8 out of 10 pages have DA 80+.
So, High-DA Pages = 8
Step 3: Identify SERP Features
Check for SERP features affecting the ranking:
- Featured Snippet (✓)
- People Also Ask (PAA) (✓)
- Knowledge Panel (✓)
Total SERP Features = 3
Step 4: Apply the ASI Formula
ASI=High-DA Pages+SERP Features/Total Results
ASI = 8 + 3 / 10
ASI = 10 / 11 = 1.1
Final ASI Score Interpretation
- ASI = 1.1 (Extremely Hard to Rank) 🔥
The keyword is dominated by authority sites (Amazon, BestBuy, PCMag, etc.), making ranking difficult for smaller websites.
What This Means for SEO Strategy
- If ASI > 1, smaller websites should avoid this keyword or target long-tail variations.
- If ASI < 0.6, it’s a more achievable keyword.
- Look for alternative opportunities, such as low-competition sub-niches (e.g., “Best Budget Laptops for Students”).
Explore More SEO Guides
- Website Traffic Checker: Unlock free traffic insight, audience, growth, and cost analysis.
- SEO Tools with Data for Multiple Search Engines: Optimize SEO and drive traffic and revenue.
- Social Signals vs. Links: Compare social engagement and backlinks to understand their impact on SEO.
- Local SEO vs. Traditional SEO: Discover key differences, optimize locally or go broad for success.
- Book Title Generator Using Keywords: Generate compelling book titles that boost creativity and audience appeal.
FAQs
Why is manual keyword difficulty calculation more accurate than SEO tools?
What factors should I consider in manual keyword difficulty calculation?
How can I check SERP features manually for keyword difficulty?
Conclusion
Manual Keyword Difficulty calculation provides a more accurate way to assess ranking potential by considering SERP features, competition strength, and user intent, rather than just backlinks.
With the formula provided, you can make data-driven SEO decisions and focus on achievable, high-impact keywords for better rankings and organic growth. Optimize smarter, rank faster!
