Home Blog Contact

Seo Tutorial — Lesson 6 of 10 [ Updated: 17 Aug 2026 ]

# Search Volume, Keyword Difficulty, and Competition in SEO

In the previous lessons, you learned:

  • What SEO is

  • How search engines work

  • What search intent means

  • What keywords are

  • The difference between short-tail and long-tail keywords

Now we are ready to learn three important concepts that appear frequently in keyword research:

Search Volume

Keyword Difficulty

Competition

When you start researching keywords, you will often see numbers such as:

  • 10 searches

  • 500 searches

  • 10,000 searches

  • Keyword Difficulty: 20

  • Keyword Difficulty: 70

As a beginner, it can be tempting to think:

"I should always choose the keyword with the highest search volume."

That is not necessarily correct.

A keyword with 50,000 searches may be extremely broad or difficult to compete for.

A keyword with 300 searches may be highly relevant and much more useful for your particular website.

Therefore, keyword selection requires more than looking at one number.

In this tutorial, you will learn:

  • What search volume means

  • What keyword difficulty means

  • What SEO competition means

  • How these concepts are different

  • Why high search volume is not always better

  • How relevance affects keyword selection

  • How beginners should evaluate keyword opportunities

  • Common mistakes to avoid

What Is Search Volume?

Search volume generally refers to the estimated number of times a particular search term is searched during a given period.

Keyword tools may provide an estimated monthly search volume.

For example, imagine a keyword tool shows:

Keyword A — 10,000 monthly searches

Keyword B — 1,000 monthly searches

Keyword C — 100 monthly searches

Based only on these numbers, Keyword A appears to have greater search demand.

But this does not automatically make Keyword A the best keyword.

Search Volume Is an Estimate

One important thing beginners should understand is that keyword search volume is generally an estimate, not an exact promise of future traffic.

Different keyword research tools may show different numbers.

For example:

One tool might estimate:

1,000 searches/month

Another might estimate:

1,300 searches/month

Another could show a different value.

This does not necessarily mean one tool is broken.

Keyword databases use different data sources, models, and methodologies.

Therefore, treat search volume as a useful directional metric rather than an exact measurement.

Does Search Volume Equal Website Traffic?

No.

This is another important distinction.

Suppose a keyword has:

10,000 monthly searches

That does not mean your website will receive 10,000 visitors.

Why?

Because:

  • Many websites may rank for the keyword.

  • Your page may not rank.

  • Your page may rank below other results.

  • Users may click different results.

  • Some searches may produce features that reduce organic clicks.

  • Search behavior can vary.

Even ranking first does not guarantee that every searcher will click your result.

Therefore:

Search volume ≠ guaranteed traffic

What Is Keyword Difficulty?

Keyword difficulty is a metric used by many SEO tools to estimate how difficult it may be to rank for a particular keyword.

Different SEO platforms calculate this score differently.

For example, one tool might show:

Keyword Difficulty: 15

while another shows:

Keyword Difficulty: 45

These numbers cannot always be compared directly because each platform may use a different calculation.

Some tools may consider factors such as:

  • Backlinks

  • Authority of ranking pages

  • Competition

  • Link profiles

  • Other SEO signals

Therefore, keyword difficulty is best treated as a research indicator, not an official Google ranking score.

Is Keyword Difficulty a Google Metric?

No.

This is very important.

There is no universal official Google metric called:

"Keyword Difficulty"

SEO tools create their own difficulty scores to help users estimate competition.

For example, a tool might use a scale from:

0–100

Another tool might use a completely different scoring system.

Therefore, do not assume:

KD 30 = exactly the same difficulty everywhere.

It is not.

What Is SEO Competition?

Competition refers to how many other websites or pages are competing for visibility for a particular search.

Imagine two keywords:

Keyword A

"SEO"

Thousands of websites may have content related to SEO.

Keyword B

"how to create an SEO checklist for a small website"

There may be fewer pages specifically targeting that exact topic.

The second search can have a narrower competitive landscape.

However, this does not automatically mean it is easy.

You still need to examine the actual search results.

Keyword Difficulty vs Competition

These terms are related but not exactly the same.

Competition

The real-world competitive environment around a search topic.

Keyword Difficulty

A third-party SEO tool's estimate of how difficult ranking may be.

For example:

You search Google for:

"best SEO tools"

You might see powerful websites, well-established brands, and pages with many backlinks.

That is evidence of a competitive search landscape.

An SEO tool may summarize that competitive environment using a difficulty score.

Therefore:

Competition = real search landscape

Keyword Difficulty = tool-based estimate

Why High Search Volume Is Attractive

High search volume can be attractive because it indicates that many people are searching for the topic.

For example:

Keyword A — 50,000 searches/month

may appear more attractive than:

Keyword B — 500 searches/month

But search volume alone does not tell you:

  • Whether the keyword is relevant

  • Whether you can rank

  • Whether the intent matches your content

  • Whether visitors will take useful actions

  • How competitive the SERP is

So high search volume should be viewed as one factor among several.

Example: High Volume vs High Relevance

Imagine your website teaches SEO to beginners.

You discover two keywords:

Keyword A

SEO

Estimated volume: Very high

Keyword B

SEO tutorial for beginners

Estimated volume: Lower

Which one should you choose?

There is no universal answer.

But Keyword B may provide a clearer match for a beginner SEO tutorial.

Why?

Because the search intent is more specific.

The user is explicitly looking for a tutorial.

Keyword A could represent many different needs.

This is why:

Relevance + Intent

can be more useful than volume alone.

A Keyword With Low Search Volume Can Still Be Valuable

Suppose you find a keyword with:

100 searches/month

At first, it may look insignificant.

But imagine:

  • The keyword is highly relevant.

  • The search intent perfectly matches your article.

  • Your page can answer the query extremely well.

  • The visitors are valuable to your website.

  • There are related searches you can cover naturally.

That keyword may be worth targeting.

If your website eventually ranks for many relevant low-volume searches, the combined traffic can become meaningful.

The Long-Tail Effect

Let's imagine you have 100 relevant long-tail keywords.

Each keyword receives approximately:

100 searches/month

Individually, each keyword looks small.

But together:

100 × 100 = 10,000 estimated searches/month

This is a simplified example, not a traffic prediction.

It demonstrates an important SEO concept:

Many specific search opportunities can collectively become significant.

This is one reason long-tail keyword research can be useful.

Search Volume and Search Intent Must Work Together

Consider these two keywords:

SEO

and

how to learn SEO for beginners

The first may have much higher search volume.

But the second has clearer informational intent.

If your page is a beginner tutorial, the second keyword may be a better fit.

This gives us a useful beginner formula:

Keyword Opportunity = Relevance + Intent + Competition + Demand

You should consider all of these instead of relying on one metric.

What Is a Realistic Keyword Opportunity?

A realistic keyword opportunity is a search topic that:

  • Fits your website

  • Matches your audience

  • Has meaningful search demand

  • Has an intent you can satisfy

  • Has a competitive landscape you can realistically approach

  • Allows you to create genuinely useful content

Notice that search volume is only one part of this equation.

How Beginners Should Evaluate a Keyword

When you find a potential keyword, use this process.

Step 1: Check Relevance

Ask:

Does this topic belong on my website?

If not, discard it.

Step 2: Understand the Intent

Ask:

What does the searcher want?

Is it:

  • Information?

  • A tutorial?

  • A comparison?

  • A product?

  • A specific website?

Step 3: Check Search Demand

Use a keyword research tool to estimate search volume.

Do not treat the number as an exact prediction.

Step 4: Examine Competition

Search the keyword yourself.

Look at the pages currently ranking.

Ask:

  • Are they authoritative websites?

  • Are they highly relevant?

  • Do they provide comprehensive information?

  • Are they strong brands?

  • Do they have many backlinks?

  • Can I create something genuinely better or more useful?

Step 5: Evaluate Your Website

Consider your own website.

Is it:

  • New?

  • Established?

  • Highly specialized?

  • Broad?

  • Focused on a particular audience?

A keyword that may be realistic for a large established website may not be the best starting point for a new website.

Why You Should Study the SERP

The SERP, or Search Engine Results Page, is one of the most useful places to study keyword competition.

Suppose you search:

"how to do keyword research"

Look at the results.

You may find:

  • Beginner guides

  • Professional SEO websites

  • Software companies

  • Tutorials

  • Videos

  • Forums

  • Other resources

Now ask:

What kind of content is Google showing?

This tells you something about the search intent.

It also gives you clues about the competitive environment.

Look at the Quality of Ranking Pages

Do not only count how many websites are ranking.

Study them.

Ask:

Is the content useful?

Does it actually answer the question?

Is it comprehensive?

Does it cover the topic properly?

Is it current?

Does the information still make sense?

Is the page easy to use?

Can the reader quickly find what they need?

Does it match the search intent?

This type of analysis is much more useful than simply saying:

"There are many results, so competition must be high."

Search Results Are More Important Than a Difficulty Number

Suppose an SEO tool gives a keyword:

KD: 70

You might immediately decide:

"Impossible."

But then you examine Google and find several relatively small websites ranking with useful, focused content.

That tells you something important.

The tool's score is only an estimate.

The actual SERP provides additional evidence.

The opposite can also happen.

A keyword may show a moderate difficulty score, but the search results may be dominated by extremely strong websites.

Therefore, always combine:

Tool data + SERP analysis + your own judgment

Why New Websites Need a Different Approach

A new website generally has less history, fewer pages, fewer links, and less established authority than a major website.

That does not mean a new website cannot rank.

It means keyword selection and content strategy should be realistic.

Instead of immediately targeting:

SEO

you could build content around focused topics such as:

  • SEO for beginners

  • What is search intent?

  • What are keywords?

  • How to find long-tail keywords

  • How to write SEO-friendly titles

As your website grows, you can gradually expand into broader topics.

Don't Chase Only Low-Difficulty Keywords

Another beginner mistake is:

"I will target only keywords with the lowest difficulty."

This can also be problematic.

A keyword may have low estimated difficulty but:

  • Very little search demand

  • Poor relevance

  • Weak commercial value

  • Unclear intent

  • Little connection to your website

A low-difficulty keyword is not automatically a good keyword.

The keyword must still make sense for your website.

The Four Questions to Ask

Before choosing a keyword, ask these four questions:

Question 1

Is it relevant to my website?

Question 2

Do I understand the user's intent?

Question 3

Is there meaningful search demand?

Question 4

Can I realistically create a useful page for this search?

If all four answers are positive, the keyword may be worth investigating further.

Example Keyword Evaluation

Suppose you have a website teaching SEO.

You find this keyword:

"what is keyword research"

Let's evaluate it.

Relevance

Yes.

It is directly related to SEO education.

Intent

Informational.

The user wants to understand keyword research.

Search Demand

You can check this using a keyword research tool.

Competition

Search Google and study the ranking pages.

Content Opportunity

You can create a beginner-friendly explanation with examples.

This is a sensible keyword topic for an educational SEO website.

Another Example

Keyword:

"best SEO software for large enterprises"

Relevance

Potentially relevant.

Intent

Commercial investigation.

Search Demand

Needs to be researched.

Competition

Could be strong because software companies and large SEO websites may target the topic.

Content Opportunity

You would need to create a genuinely useful comparison.

The keyword may still be valuable, but it requires a different content strategy.

Search Volume, Difficulty, and Relevance

Think about three imaginary keywords:

Keyword Search Volume Difficulty Relevance
A Very High Very High Medium
B Medium Medium High
C Low Low Very High

Which one is best?

There is no automatic answer.

Keyword B might be the strongest overall opportunity.

Keyword C might also be valuable if the topic is highly important to your audience.

Keyword A might be attractive but difficult and less relevant.

This example shows why SEO decisions should not be based on one number.

A Better Keyword Selection Mindset

Instead of asking:

"Which keyword has the highest search volume?"

ask:

"Which keyword gives my website the best realistic opportunity to satisfy a valuable search?"

This change in thinking is important.

SEO is not a competition to collect the largest numbers.

It is about connecting:

The right user

with

the right content

through

the right search opportunity.

Common Beginner Mistakes

Mistake 1: Choosing Only High-Volume Keywords

High volume does not guarantee traffic or success.

Mistake 2: Trusting Keyword Difficulty Blindly

Difficulty scores are estimates created by SEO tools.

Mistake 3: Ignoring Search Intent

A keyword can have excellent volume but still be wrong for your page.

Mistake 4: Ignoring Relevance

Do not target unrelated keywords simply because they have demand.

Mistake 5: Never Looking at the SERP

Search results provide valuable information about intent and competition.

Mistake 6: Assuming Low Difficulty Means Easy Traffic

Low difficulty does not guarantee meaningful traffic.

Mistake 7: Trying to Rank for Everything

A focused content strategy is usually easier to manage than targeting random keywords.

Practice Exercise

Consider these imaginary keywords:

Keyword A

SEO

Volume: Very High

Difficulty: Very High

Intent: Unclear

Keyword B

SEO tutorial for beginners

Volume: Medium

Difficulty: Medium

Intent: Informational

Keyword C

how to learn SEO step by step for beginners

Volume: Low

Difficulty: Low

Intent: Informational

Now ask yourself:

Which keyword would be easier to build a focused beginner tutorial around?

Probably B or C, because the intent is clearer.

But remember: the final decision should be based on actual keyword data and SERP analysis.

Your Practice Task

For your own website, choose three topics.

For each topic, write:

Keyword:

Search Intent:

Estimated Search Volume:

Keyword Difficulty:

SERP Competition:

Why Is It Relevant?

Do not worry about getting everything perfect.

The purpose of this exercise is to develop the habit of evaluating keywords from multiple angles.

Key Takeaways

You should now understand:

  • Search volume estimates how much a keyword is searched.

  • Search volume does not guarantee website traffic.

  • Keyword difficulty is an SEO tool's estimate of ranking difficulty.

  • Keyword difficulty is not an official Google ranking score.

  • Competition describes the actual competitive environment.

  • High search volume does not automatically mean a keyword is better.

  • Low difficulty does not automatically mean a keyword is valuable.

  • Relevance and search intent are essential.

  • SERP analysis helps you understand the real competitive landscape.

  • New websites should consider realistic keyword opportunities.

  • Multiple smaller search opportunities can collectively become valuable.

The most important lesson is:

Do not choose a keyword simply because it has high search volume. Choose a relevant search opportunity that you can realistically satisfy with genuinely useful content.

Next Tutorial

Now you understand the basic concepts behind:

Search Volume + Keyword Difficulty + Competition

The next step is to learn how to actually discover keyword ideas.

Next Tutorial: How to Find Keywords for SEO — Beginner Keyword Research

In the next lesson, we will start practical keyword research and learn how to generate keyword ideas from your audience, topics, Google searches, related searches, and other useful sources.

← Previous Next →