How You Can Use Keyword Difficulty to Double Your Traffic

Learn the Simple Strategy I Used to Get My Website Traffic with Keyword Difficulty!

Ferdian Arif
5 min readJun 20, 2024

What if I told you there’s a simple strategy that can help you double your website traffic? Yes, you read that right — DOUBLE!

These are the things I’ve learned about keyword difficulty since diving into the world of SEO in January 2023.

Time flies, and my knowledge has grown tremendously. So don’t wait any longer — I’m going to share the different types of keyword difficulty with you, for free and in a concise manner.

If this article isn’t short and easy to understand, I’ll deactivate all my Medium account.

  1. Keyword Difficulty Based on SEO Tools.
  2. Keyword Difficulty Based on Topical Authority.
  3. Keyword Difficulty Based on Intent.
  4. Keyword Difficulty Based on Domain Rating.

Keyword Difficulty Based on SEO tools

Let’s start with the basics. Most SEO tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Moz have their own way of measuring keyword difficulty.

keyword difficulty overview

They use complex algorithms to analyze factors like:

  • Backlinks.
  • Content quality.
  • Competition.

In essence, keyword difficulty is determined algorithmically by SEO tools. However, what these tools present doesn’t necessarily represent the actual reality.

The value provided by an SEO tool is only the first step in determining the true keyword difficulty.

Tips for Using SEO Tools:

“The key is to focus on keywords with a lower difficulty score but decent search volume. This balance helps you target terms you can actually rank for without competing with the big players.” — Master Oogway

Keyword Difficulty Based on Topical Authority

Keyword difficulty isn’t just about numbers but it’s also about your authority on a topic.

Think of it like this:

“If you’re an expert in baking, you’ll have an easier time ranking for baking-related keywords than someone who just started a cooking blog.” — Sun Tzu

Building topical authority takes time, but it’s worth it. Start by creating high-quality content around your niche.

Over time, search engines will recognize your expertise and reward you with higher rankings.

“But sir, how do I determine the topical authority of my competitor?” — You Asked

First, you need to look at each website on the SERP you want to compete in. Imagine the SERP is about “best jeans for women,” but all the other websites on the SERP are about watches, home decor, and plumbing.

jeans for women serp
It’s almost impossible nowadays to find a plumbing website ranking for fashion keywords. I’m just joking guys. Please go easy…

If you have topical authority for women fashion, then it’s easy for you to outrank your competitors.

Keyword Difficulty Based on Intent

Here’s where it gets really interesting. Not all keywords are created equal. Some are:

  • Informational (like “how to bake a cake”).
  • Navigational (“best baking blogs”)
  • Transactional (“buy cake pans online”).

Understanding the intent behind a keyword can make or break your SEO strategy.

Ask yourself:

What is the searcher really looking for?- You Asked (Probably)

If you can match your content to their intent, you’re golden. For example, a keyword with high purchase intent but low difficulty is a goldmine for e-commerce sites.

I once worked at an SEO agency in Indonesia, managing an e-commerce website called Mitra10. Mitra10 specializes in building materials and household necessities.

Mitra10 vs Tokopedia
My client’s website beat ecommerce giant Tokopedia.

This website performs exceptionally well for keywords with competitive keyword difficulty (KD) because we control the topical authority.

In fact, its performance surpasses that of e-commerce giants like Shopee and Tokopedia, which target all keywords blindly.

Keyword Difficulty Based on Domain Rating

Lastly, let’s talk about domain rating (DR). This metric, provided by tools to measures the overall strength of your website.

The higher your DR, the easier it is to rank for competitive keywords. It’s like having a VIP pass to everywhere.

protein powder serp overview
It will take years for me to be able to beat these 3 websites. Maybe it never will.

But don’t get discouraged if your DR is low. Focus on building high-quality backlinks and creating great content.

Over time, your DR will improve, and you’ll find it easier to compete for those tougher keywords. SEO is all about playing the long game my friend.

Conclusion

Understanding keyword difficulty can help you double your website traffic.

  1. Use SEO tools to find easier keywords.
  2. Build your authority on specific topics.
  3. Match your content to what people are looking for.
  4. Improve your domain rating.

By doing this, you can target the best keywords and get more visitors. Remember, it’s about working smart, not just hard.

Start using these tips today, and see your traffic grow. Happy optimizing everyone! Love you.

Now leave a comment, should I delete my Medium account?

Bonus

Organic traffic is FREE and I’m going to show you everything you need to know about SEO. From keyword research to technical. In the end, you’ll be writing articles that rank #1 on Google. So let’s get started!

THANK YOU!!!

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