Monitoring keyword rankings is a crucial aspect of SEO as it allows you to track the performance of your target keywords in search engine results pages (SERPs) and assess the effectiveness of your SEO efforts. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to monitor keyword rankings:
- Identify Target Keywords: Start by identifying the keywords you want to target. These should be relevant to your content, products, or services and have a reasonable search volume. You can use keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Ubersuggest to find relevant keywords for your website.
- Use a Rank Tracking Tool: To monitor keyword rankings effectively, you’ll need a rank tracking tool. There are several paid and free tools available that can help you with this. Some popular options include Ahrefs, SEMrush, Moz, Serpstat, and Google Search Console.
- Set Up Your Campaign: Once you have chosen a rank tracking tool, set up a campaign or project for your website. Add the list of target keywords to the campaign.
- Select Your Search Engines: Decide which search engines you want to track your keyword rankings on. Google is the primary search engine to monitor, but depending on your target audience and location, you may also want to track rankings on other search engines like Bing.
- Track Your Rankings Regularly: Most rank tracking tools offer the option to schedule regular updates for your keyword rankings. Daily or weekly updates are common, but it depends on your needs and the frequency of ranking fluctuations in your industry. Regular updates will help you identify any significant changes in rankings and take timely actions if necessary.
- Analyze Trends and Changes: Analyze the data collected over time to identify trends and changes in your keyword rankings. Look for improvements or declines in ranking positions and try to understand the reasons behind these changes. Factors such as algorithm updates, changes to your website, or competitor actions could influence your rankings.
- Competitor Analysis: Monitor the keyword rankings of your main competitors as well. This can provide valuable insights into their SEO strategies and help you identify potential opportunities or threats.
- Take Action: Based on your analysis, take action to optimize your content and improve rankings for specific keywords if needed. This might involve on-page SEO improvements, backlink building, or content updates.
- Track Local Keywords (if applicable): If you’re a local business, consider tracking rankings for keywords that include location-specific phrases to gauge your performance in local search results.
- Be Patient: SEO is a long-term strategy, and keyword rankings can fluctuate over time. It’s essential to remain patient and consistent with your efforts.
Remember that keyword rankings are just one part of the SEO puzzle. While they provide valuable insights, they should be considered alongside other KPIs like organic traffic, conversion rate, and user engagement to get a comprehensive view of your SEO success.