Keyword Difficulty (KD%)

A 0-100% estimate of how hard it is to rank on page one for a keyword organically. Driven mainly by the authority and backlink profiles of the pages already ranking. The core prioritization lever: pair KD% with search volume and intent to find winnable, valuable terms instead of chasing head terms you cannot rank for.

Syntax

semrush

KD%: 0-100 (higher = more/stronger competing pages to beat)

Example

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// Difficulty bands (Semrush guidance)
0-14    Very easy   — go now, even a new site can rank
15-29   Easy        — attainable with solid on-page + a few links
30-49   Possible    — needs quality content + some authority
50-69   Difficult   — needs strong content + active link building
70-84   Hard        — established, authoritative sites only
85-100  Very hard    — brand-level dominance required

// Strategy for a newer site:
// filter Keyword Magic to KD < 30, volume > 100,
// commercial/transactional intent → your first wins.

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