Using KD Charts to Find Low‑Competition Keywords

KD Chart: The Complete Guide to Keyword DifficultyA KD chart (Keyword Difficulty chart) is a visual tool SEO professionals and content creators use to evaluate how hard it will be to rank for a particular keyword in organic search. Understanding KD and how to read KD charts helps you prioritize keyword targets, allocate resources, and create content strategies that balance traffic potential with achievability.

What “Keyword Difficulty” (KD) means

Keyword Difficulty is a numeric or categorical estimate of how competitive a keyword is on search engine results pages (SERPs). It combines signals such as the authority and relevance of pages currently ranking, backlink strength, content quality, and sometimes on‑page SEO factors. KD values are typically shown as:

• a percentage (e.g., 0–100), where higher means more difficult, or
• categorical labels (e.g., Low / Medium / High / Very High).

KD is an estimate, not a guarantee. It helps prioritize keyword research but should be used alongside search intent, traffic potential, and your site’s authority.

Why KD charts matter

• They help you avoid wasting time on keywords you’re unlikely to rank for.
• They reveal low-competition opportunities where you can gain traction quickly.
• They guide resource allocation: high KD targets usually need stronger content, link building, and time.
• They support scalable content strategies by mixing high-potential, high-KD targets with easier wins.

Typical KD chart components

A KD chart may vary across tools, but common elements include:

• Keyword list — the terms being analyzed.
• KD score — numeric or categorical difficulty for each keyword.
• Search volume — estimated monthly searches; often shown alongside KD.
• CPC (cost per click) — paid-search metric that hints at commercial intent.
• SERP features — presence of featured snippets, knowledge panels, videos, etc.
• Top-ranking pages — sample URLs and their authority metrics (backlinks, domain rating).
• Trend line — seasonal or historical interest over time.

How KD is calculated (overview)

Different SEO tools use different formulas, but most consider:

• Backlink profiles of ranking pages (number and quality of links).
• Domain authority or domain rating of those sites.
• On-page relevance and content quality signals.
• SERP features and result diversity (e.g., many authority sites or mixed types like video/news).
• Sometimes user engagement metrics and page speed.

Because methodologies differ, KD scores for the same keyword often vary between tools. Use KD from one tool consistently to compare keywords reliably.

Reading a KD chart — step-by-step

1. Look at KD relative to your domain authority.
   • If KD is much higher than your site’s authority, ranking will be slow and resource-intensive.
2. Compare KD with search volume.
   • High volume + low KD = prime opportunity.
   • High KD + low volume = usually not worth chasing.
3. Check SERP features.
   • Heavy presence of SERP features (e.g., shopping, video) can reduce the organic click-through even if KD looks moderate.
4. Examine competing pages.
   • Are top results long-form, well-researched articles or thin pages? Thin pages present opportunities even for moderately difficult keywords.
5. Consider intent.
   • Does the keyword match a conversion or awareness stage? High commercial intent may justify higher KD targets.
6. Factor in resources and timeline.
   • Decide whether to allocate link-building, expert content creation, or PR efforts based on KD.

Practical strategy using KD charts

• Quick wins: target keywords with Low to Medium KD and decent search volume; these can boost traffic faster.
• Content clusters: create pillar pages for high‑KD topics and many supporting lower‑KD pages to build topical authority.
• Competitive long-term plays: for Very High KD keywords, plan extensive content, backlinks, and promotion over months.
• Monitor and iterate: track rankings and refine based on which low KD pages start gaining links or traffic.

Example decision matrix

Tools that provide KD charts

Popular SEO platforms offer KD metrics and charts: Ahrefs, SEMrush, Moz, SERPstat, and others. Each uses its own formula; pick one tool and remain consistent for internal comparisons.

Limitations and common misconceptions

• KD doesn’t measure content quality directly; a well-executed piece can outrank higher‑KD pages.
• Scores vary by tool; don’t compare absolute KD numbers across different platforms.
• High KD doesn’t mean “never try.” If your content can address a niche angle or better match intent, you can still succeed.
• KD is only one factor — user intent, CTR, on-page SEO, and promotion matter equally.

Quick checklist before chasing a keyword

• Does the keyword match business goals and user intent?
• Is search volume sufficient to justify effort?
• Can you produce better content than existing top results?
• Do you have means to build links or promotion?
• Can you wait for long-term results if KD is high?

Conclusion

A KD chart is a powerful, practical way to prioritize keywords by estimated competitiveness. Use it as a guide—pair KD with search volume, intent, and honest assessment of your site’s authority and resources. With a balanced mix of low-KD wins and strategic high-KD investments, you’ll build sustainable organic growth.