Understanding Keyword Obtainability: A New Metric for Effective SEO Strategy
As we delve deeper into the world of SEO and keyword research, it’s crucial to develop a framework that allows for better decision-making when it comes to selecting keywords for content creation. One pressing question arises: How can you determine if a keyword is achievable for your particular website? By establishing a reliable assessment metric, we can efficiently prioritize content based on its potential for attracting traffic and aligning with your business goals.
The Quest for a New Metric
To assist in this complex task, I’m proposing a new metric that could serve as a barometer for keyword difficulty relative to the authority of your website. This metric—let’s tentatively call it “obtainability” or “achievability”—would reflect the likelihood of successfully ranking for a keyword based on current conditions.
In essence, my current approach involves utilizing the keyword difficulty (KD) rated by tools such as Ahrefs and relating it to your website’s Domain Rating (DR). The proposed calculation would involve dividing the keyword difficulty by the site’s Domain Rating. For example, if a keyword has a difficulty rating of 80 and your site has a Domain Rating of 5, the resulting “obtainability” score would be 16. A lower value would indicate that the keyword is much more attainable, while values approaching or exceeding 1 may signify a steeper climb toward successful ranking.
An Alternative Perspective
While division seems like a straightforward approach, I’m contemplating whether a subtractive calculation might offer a clearer understanding. In this scenario, the equation would be:
Obtainability = Keyword Difficulty – Site Domain Rating
This method could highlight the gap between what you currently have and what it will take to rank for a specific keyword, potentially providing more actionable insights.
Seeking Feedback
I would love to hear your thoughts on this conceptual framework and whether you believe this method or an alternative could more effectively capture the nuances of keyword assessability. How do you approach keyword difficulty in relation to your own site’s authority? Let’s share our strategies and insights to enhance our understanding and execution of effective keyword research.
By refining our approach to keyword selection, we can significantly bolster our content strategy, ensuring that we’re targeting keywords that maximize traffic potential while remaining within our reach. Let’s collaborate and elevate our SEO game together.
One response to “Determining keyword ranking difficulty”
This is a fascinating post that highlights an essential aspect of SEO strategy—keyword selection! The concept of “obtainability” as a metric adds a much-needed layer of practicality to the traditional keyword difficulty assessments. By factoring in a site’s Domain Rating, you’re proposing a more tailored approach that recognizes the unique capabilities and resources of each website.
I find your idea of using both a divisive and a subtractive calculation intriguing. The division method provides a clear comparison of difficulty relative to a site’s authority, while the subtractive method emphasizes the gap and might motivate website owners to bridge that gap with stronger content or backlinks. It might be beneficial to complement these metrics with qualitative assessments as well, such as examining the competitive landscape for the keywords in question—factors like the site’s content quality, user engagement, and backlink profiles of competitors.
Moreover, integrating trends in search volume and user intent could offer additional insights into keyword selection. For instance, targeting a lower-difficulty keyword that aligns with a rising trend can yield even greater traffic potential than a higher-difficulty keyword with stagnant interest.
I’d love to see more discourse on how industry tools could evolve to incorporate such a metric, making it accessible for a wider audience. Collaboration through sharing tools, tests, and results will undoubtedly enhance our collective SEO strategies and understanding. What are your thoughts on integrating user engagement metrics as well to refine the “obtainability” measurement further?