> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.fetchhive.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Keyword Difficulty

> Configure a workflow step that scores keywords from 0 to 100 for how hard they are to rank for in Google

Use **Keyword Difficulty** when you want to know how hard a list of keywords is to rank for in Google. Each keyword gets a score from 0 to 100, where a higher score means harder. A typical use is to rank a keyword list from easiest to hardest, or to filter out keywords that are too competitive, in a later step.

## Configuration

| Option | Required | Description |
| - | - | - |
| Name | No | Label for the step in the workflow canvas. |
| Keywords | Yes | One keyword per line, or comma-separated. Up to 1000 keywords, 250 characters each. This field supports workflow variables through **Insert Variable**. |
| Language | No | Language of the results, such as English. You can choose from the list or enable **Custom Value**. |
| Location | No | The country or region to score for. Choose from the list, or enable **Custom Value** with a numeric location code (for example `2840` for the United States) or a variable that resolves to one. |
| When the step fails | No | Controls whether the workflow should **Terminate Workflow** or **Continue** if this step fails. |

Add this step from the **Research** group in **Search steps...**.

Blank lines and repeated keywords are ignored.

## Output

Click **Run** in the step header to test the step. Fetch Hive shows the scores in **Output** after the run completes.

Use the variable picker in a later step to insert the exact output path available for that run. The list of scored keywords is:

```text theme={null}
{{step_2.output.items}}
```

The output also includes `items_count` and the `location_code` and `language_code` that were used. Each item in `items` includes:

| Field | Meaning |
| - | - |
| `keyword` | The keyword. |
| `keyword_difficulty` | A score from 0 to 100. Higher means harder to rank for. It is empty when there is no data for the keyword. |

To use the first keyword's score:

```text theme={null}
{{step_2.output.items[0].keyword_difficulty}}
```

Search intent is not part of this step. To get the intent of keywords a domain already ranks for, use [Ranked Keywords](https://docs.fetchhive.com/workflows/steps/web-research/ranked-keywords.md).

## Example

Add **Keyword Difficulty** from the **Research** group in **Search steps...**.

Set **Name** to something like `Keyword scores`.

Enter your keywords in **Keywords**, one per line or comma-separated. If the list comes from an earlier step, click **Insert Variable** and add that reference.

Choose **Language** and **Location**, then click **Run** and review the scores in **Output** before using them in a later step.

## Notes

* You can send up to 1000 keywords in a single run. Each keyword can be up to 250 characters.
* This step returns the full result set for the submitted keywords. There is no pagination.
* Scores come from Google keyword data and can differ by location and language.
* Hosted runs convert the recorded service cost plus a 6% service fee into task credits. See [Task costs](https://docs.fetchhive.com/resources/task-costs.md).

See also: [Ranked Keywords](https://docs.fetchhive.com/workflows/steps/web-research/ranked-keywords.md), [Competitor Domains](https://docs.fetchhive.com/workflows/steps/web-research/competitor-domains.md), [Creating and Editing](https://docs.fetchhive.com/workflows/creating-and-editing.md), [Testing and Iteration](https://docs.fetchhive.com/workflows/testing-and-iteration.md), and [Error Handling](https://docs.fetchhive.com/workflows/error-handling.md)


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