Methodology · Visibility
How the Keyword difficulty (KD) is calculated
Method version visibility-v1 · Last updated
In short
Keyword difficulty (KD) estimates on a scale of 0 to 100 how hard it is to rank in Google's top 10 for a keyword, based on the authority and backlinks of the pages that currently rank there. Actavero shows it per keyword and groups it as easy (below 30), medium (30–59) or hard (60 and above).
Formula
Easy: KD < 30 · Medium: 30 ≤ KD < 60 · Hard: KD ≥ 60
How it is calculated, step by step
- Take the keyword difficulty the data provider calculates from the link profiles of the current top-10 results.
- Classify it into easy, medium or hard.
What goes into it
- Top-10 results
- The pages ranking for the keyword and their backlink authority.
Data sources
- Planned: DataForSEO Labs (keyword difficulty). Until connected, labelled sample data.
How often it is updated
Monthly.
How to read it
- High-volume keywords with low difficulty where competitors rank and you don't are the quickest wins.
Limitations
- Difficulty is an estimate; content quality and search intent matter as much as links.
Frequently asked questions
Is KD the same in every tool?
No, each data provider has its own formula; compare keywords within Actavero rather than across tools.
Related
- SEO share of voice — Your share of the estimated search clicks of all tracked brands: monthly search volume × expected click-through rate of each brand's Google position, per keyword.
- Backlink share of voice and link gap — Your share of the referring domains (unique sites linking to you) of all tracked brands; the link gap lists sites that link to competitors but not to you.