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Breaking Down High-Difficulty SEO Keywords

29 January 2023
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Keyword TypeDescriptionImplication in SEO strategy
High-Difficulty KeywordsKeywords that are highly competitive due to high search volumeThese keywords are challenging to rank for, may generate irrelevant traffic, and are generally not suitable for SEO targeting
Long-Tail KeywordsMore specific keywords with lower search volumeThese keywords are easier to target and brings in relevant traffic, making them ideal for SEO
Search VolumeThe number of searches that a particular keyword receivesKeywords with high search volume are more competitive but can potentially attract more traffic
Keyword Difficulty ScoreA measure of how challenging it is to rank a particular keywordA high keyword difficulty score may deter the use of a particular keyword in SEO
Backlink CountThe number of links pointing to a websiteA high backlink count signifies higher keyword competition
Paid Ad CPCCost per click for paid ads for a particular keywordA high CPC may signify high keyword competition
Number of ResultsThe number of website pages that come up in the search results for a particular keywordA high number of results indicate high keyword competition
Bounce RateThe percentage of visitors who leave a website after viewing only one pageHigh bounce rate from high-difficulty keywords can imply that the traffic is irrelevant
ConversionsActions that visitors take on a website that fulfill the site's goalsFew conversions from high-difficulty keywords can indicate their ineffectiveness
Keyword Research ToolsTools used to identify key search phrasesThese tools aid in identifying viable long-tail keywords and gauging search intent

This article discussed the importance of keyword difficulty in SEO and the different ways to measure it. It also discussed the challenges of targeting high-difficulty keywords and the advantages of targeting long-tail keywords. It concluded by emphasizing the importance of knowing keyword difficulty to help decide whether to pursue a keyword or look for other options.

  • Introduction

  • Overview of Keyword Difficulty

  • High-Difficulty Keywords

  • Breaking Down Long-Tail Keywords

  • Conclusion

Introduction: Regarding SEO, keyword difficulty is an essential factor to consider. It measures how hard it is to rank for a given keyword in the search engine results pages (SERPs). Knowing the keyword difficulty can help you decide whether to pursue a keyword or to look for other options. In this article, we’ll look at the different ways to measure keyword difficulty and discuss the challenges of targeting high-difficulty keywords.

Overview of Keyword Difficulty

There are several ways to measure keyword difficulty. The most common approach is to use a keyword difficulty score from an SEO platform. These scores are based on various data points, such as search volume, number of results, backlink count, and paid ad CPC. On their own, each of these is a weak indicator of keyword competition, but in collective, they become more reliable.

High-Difficulty Keywords

High-difficulty keywords can be challenging to target. They tend to be high-volume but can be low-relevance. They will bring useless traffic with a high bounce rate and few conversions if they're too broad. If they are specific enough to generate leads, they are often too competitive to rank for.

Breaking Down Long-Tail Keywords

Long-tail keywords are more specific and often have lower keyword difficulty scores. They can be a great way to target high-volume keywords without competing with the big players. However, they can also be challenging to identify and target. To do so, you need to use keyword research tools to identify related terms and search intent. You can also use tools such as Google Trends to identify long-tail keywords with high search volume.

Conclusion: Keyword difficulty is an essential factor when targeting SEO keywords. High-difficulty keywords can be challenging to target and usually represent poor opportunities. On the other hand, long-tail keywords can be a great way to target high-volume keywords without competing with the big players. To do so, you need to use keyword research tools to identify related terms and search intent. Knowing the keyword difficulty can help you decide whether to pursue a keyword or to look for other options.

The key to successful SEO is breaking down high-difficulty keywords into manageable chunks.

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High-Difficulty Keywords, Keywords that are highly competitive due to high search volume, These keywords are challenging to rank for, may generate irrelevant traffic, and are generally not suitable for SEO targeting, Long-Tail Keywords, More specific keywords with lower search volume, These keywords are easier to target and brings in relevant traffic, making them ideal for SEO, Search Volume, The number of searches that a particular keyword receives, Keywords with high search volume are more competitive but can potentially attract more traffic, Keyword Difficulty Score, A measure of how challenging it is to rank a particular keyword, A high keyword difficulty score may deter the use of a particular keyword in SEO, Backlink Count, The number of links pointing to a website, A high backlink count signifies higher keyword competition, Paid Ad CPC, Cost per click for paid ads for a particular keyword, A high CPC may signify high keyword competition, Number of Results, The number of website pages that come up in the search results for a particular keyword, A high number of results indicate high keyword competition, Bounce Rate, The percentage of visitors who leave a website after viewing only one page, High bounce rate from high-difficulty keywords can imply that the traffic is irrelevant, Conversions, Actions that visitors take on a website that fulfill the site's goals, Few conversions from high-difficulty keywords can indicate their ineffectiveness, Keyword Research Tools, Tools used to identify key search phrases, These tools aid in identifying viable long-tail keywords and gauging search intent
SEO keyword difficulty SERPs keyword difficulty score keyword competition high-volume low-relevance long-tail keywords keyword research tools Google Trends search intent
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David Lipper
SEO Professional

David Lipper is an experienced and successful SEO professional. He has worked in the industry since 1997 and has been with his current company since 2006.

David is a highly sought-after consultant and speaker and has given presentations on SEO at various conferences worldwide. He is also a contributing writer for Search Engine Land.

When he's not working or writing about SEO, David enjoys spending time with his wife and two young children.

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