If you’re here, chances are you’re trying to figure out why your SEO strategy isn’t bringing the results you expected—or how to make better decisions when choosing keywords for your site. What is keyword difficulty? How do you utilize it for your business? That’s what we’re here to help with.

One of the most critical parts of getting SEO right is understanding how to evaluate keywords. That starts with a clear view of two crucial factors: keyword difficulty and search volume.

Why the balance between difficulty and volume matters

Not all keywords are worth going after. The right ones balance how many people are searching and how hard ranking is. Here’s what each term means:

• Search volume tells you how often a term is searched each month
• Keyword difficulty shows how competitive it is to rank for that term

A common mistake is chasing high-volume keywords without considering the level of competition. If your site isn’t well-established, you may spend months (or longer) trying to rank without real traction. On the other hand, targeting keywords with low difficulty and almost no search volume might not be worth the effort either. The process of finding the best keywords for your business is delicate, but not impossible.

We help businesses identify achievable and valuable keywords—terms that support their content goals and lead to real traffic and conversions.

Common Keyword Mistakes to Avoid

Choosing the wrong keywords can waste time and budget. Here are some of the most frequent mistakes we help clients correct. By understanding your business, your goals, and your audience, we can help you avoid these pitfalls and choose the right keywords for your site.

• Going after only high-volume terms can be a costly mistake. These terms are often dominated by large sites with more authority and deeper resources, making it difficult for smaller businesses to compete effectively.
• Ignoring search intent: ranking for a keyword that doesn’t match what your audience is actually looking for won’t drive results
• Using overly broad phrases: general terms bring unqualified traffic and higher bounce rates
• Overlooking long-tail keywords is a common mistake: These are longer, more specific terms that may have less volume, but they often convert better because they match detailed search intent. For example, instead of targeting ‘shoes’, a long-tail keyword could be ‘best running shoes for flat feet’. Instead of guessing, we help you build a list of high-value keywords that balance volume, competition, and business relevance.

How We Approach Keyword Research

At Web Impact Marketing, keyword strategy is more than just analyzing metrics. We start by understanding your business, your goals, and your audience. Then, we use industry tools and real-world insights to select keywords that make sense for your site.

Every strategy includes:

• A detailed look at keyword difficulty vs search volume
• A breakdown of keyword intent and how it fits with your offers
• Clear explanations on why specific keywords matter more than others
• Suggestions for building content that supports both ranking and conversion

We make sure every recommendation is based on data and tailored to your situation—no generic lists, no copy-paste strategies. This personalized approach is our way of showing you how much we value your unique business needs, and more importantly, is our way of supporting your company’s success.

Ready to build a smarter keyword plan?

If you’re struggling to get traction or aren’t sure which keywords to focus on, we can help. Our keyword research process gives you clear answers and actionable steps. You’ll know exactly what to target, why it matters, and how to move forward. 

Contact Web Impact Marketing today, and start building a keyword strategy that works for your business.