Keyword difficulty is a metric that shows how difficult it is to rank for a specific search term. A high keyword difficulty score often indicates strong competition, which can require more time and effort to achieve higher rankings. 

Keyword difficulty scores help you select keywords you can realistically compete for. By focusing on terms with lower difficulty, you can see results faster and build momentum for your site, especially if your time or budget is limited. 

However, keyword difficulty isn’t a universal metric. Different SEO tools and services each use their own methods to calculate keyword difficulty, so treat it as a guide rather than an exact measure. High-quality content and strong backlinks remain essential for climbing search results. 

Further reading: How to Choose Keywords for SEO