What is Keyword Ranking Tracking?
Keyword ranking tracking (referred to sometimes as “position tracking”) involves monitoring how your website ranks for your target keywords. You can track your rankings manually or with a rank tracking tool.
SEO professionals often perform keyword research to find their target keywords, then include those keywords in their content. Keyword tracking is the usual next step, so they can understand whether their strategies are helping them achieve the rank they want.
Why Should You Be Tracking Your Keyword Positions?
Tracking your keywords positions is important if you want to measure the success of your SEO strategy. You can use ranking data to measure the success of your SEO campaigns or share progress with your clients.
You can also use keyword tracking to determine how well your competitors’ strategies are performing or whether they’re ranking for your target keywords.
If a competitor has started a campaign that targets the same keywords as you, position tracking can alert you. If they suddenly start to move up the ranks, then you know they’ve started to target the same keywords and phrases.
If they’re ranking higher, you may need to refocus your efforts, refresh or improve your content, or address other parts of your strategy.
How to Track Keyword Ranking with Semrush:
Step 1: Set up a project in Semrush
- Select the “Projects” view from the tool’s main toolbar:
- Scroll down to the “My projects” view, then select the “Create project” button on the top-right:
- Insert project name and domain URL
Step 2: Setup position tracking for your keywords
- Select your new project from the list to open your project dashboard. Select the Position Tracking tool from the dashboard:
- Select the search engine & device you want to use to track your rankings. Add the main location your website targets (e.g. Australia or a specific city) if applicable:
- Add the keywords you want to track into the sandbox:
- Click “Add keywords to campaign”
- Click “Start tracking”
Step 3: View your keyword rankings
- Visit the tool from your project dashboard:
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Select “Overview.” Set a time period between when you want to track your keyword rankings:
- Scroll down to “Rankings Overview:”
You’ll now have access to a list of your target keywords and their important metrics, including any position changes.
Understanding Your Position Tracking Report
Once you’ve set up your position tracking report, you’ll want to check it consistently to track your rankings. The Position Tracking tool tracks keywords daily so you’ll remain up-to-date on the latest changes.