What is a Keyword Ranking?

A keyword ranking is the position where a particular web page appears in search engine results for a specific keyword or phrase. The rankings you see in search engine results aren't just random.

Powerhouses like Google employ advanced algorithms to evaluate the relevance and quality of web pages. These algorithms then order the pages accordingly when someone searches, with the most relevant and highest quality pages appearing first.

Why are Keyword Rankings Important?

Keyword rankings are crucial for search engine optimization (SEO) because they directly impact a website's visibility and traffic potential. Pages that rank higher in search results tend to receive more organic traffic from users searching for those terms.

How to Find Your Keyword Ranking Position

There are several methods you can use to determine your keyword ranking position:

Manual Search

Step 1: Open your preferred search engine (e.g., Google, Bing, Yahoo).

Step 2: Enter your target keyword into the search bar.

Step 3: Analyze the search engine results pages (SERPs) and locate your website's position.

Step 4: If your website doesn't appear on the first few pages, try searching for your website's domain name and keyword to find its ranking.

Use Rank Tracking Tools

Step 1: Subscribe to a rank-tracking tool like SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Moz.

Step 2: Set up your website and the target keywords you want to track.

Step 3: The tool will periodically check and report your ranking positions for those keywords across various search engines and locations.

Google Search Console (for Google rankings)

Step 1: Verify your website in Google Search Console.

Step 2: Navigate to the "Performance" report.

Step 3: Filter the data by specific queries (keywords) and pages.

Step 4: Analyze the "Position" metric to see where your pages rank for those keywords.

Best Practices for Improving Keyword Rankings

Improving your keyword rankings involves implementing various SEO strategies. Here are some best practices to consider:

1. Conduct Thorough Keyword Research

Identify relevant and high-volume keywords related to your business, products, or services. Consider user intent, search volume, competition level, and potential traffic value. Keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Moz Keyword Explorer are also a great way to discover these opportunities.

2. Optimize Your Website Content

Incorporate target keywords into your page titles, headings, meta descriptions, and body content. Create engaging, informative, and high-quality content that addresses user queries and search intent, naturally integrating keyword variations and related terms to provide comprehensive coverage.

3. Improve Technical SEO

Make sure your website has a clean, crawlable structure and fast loading speeds. Optimize images, implement SSL/HTTPS, and fix broken links or redirects. Make your website mobile-friendly and responsive.

4. Build High-Quality Backlinks

Earn backlinks from authoritative, relevant, and trusted websites in your industry. Implement link-building strategies like guest blogging, broken link building, and resource page link building. Avoid spammy or low-quality link sources, as they can harm your rankings.

5. Optimize for Local Search (if applicable)

Claim and optimize your Google Business Profile with accurate and complete information. Build local citations and backlinks from locally relevant websites and directories. Include location-specific keywords and content on your website.

6. Monitor and Analyze Your Competitors

Identify the keywords your competitors rank well for and analyze their content and strategies. Look for gaps or opportunities to improve your rankings and differentiate your offerings.

7. Stay Up-To-Date With Search Engine Algorithm Updates

Follow reputable SEO blogs, forums, and resources to stay informed about the latest algorithm changes. Adjust your SEO tactics to ensure compliance and maintain or improve your rankings.

8. Continuously Monitor and Optimize

Regularly track your keyword rankings and analyze the data to identify areas for improvement. Test and refine your strategies based on performance metrics and user feedback. Continuously optimizing your website, content, and off-page SEO efforts can result in better rankings.

How to Track Keyword Rankings

Monitoring your positions for target keywords is vital to gauge the success of your SEO initiatives and steer your strategy with data insights. Here are some steps to follow:

1. Choose a rank-tracking tool: Research and select a reliable rank-tracking tool that suits your needs and budget. Many tools offer free trials or limited free plans to get started.
2. Set up your website and target keywords: Connect your website to the rank-tracking tool by entering your domain. Create a list of target keywords you want to track, including primary and secondary keywords. Organize your keywords into groups or campaigns for better organization and analysis.
3. Configure tracking settings: Select the search engines and locations you want to track rankings for (e.g., Google, Bing, Yahoo, and specific countries or cities). Choose the desired tracking frequency (daily, weekly, monthly) based on your needs and tool's capabilities. Set up email or dashboard notifications for ranking updates and alerts.
4. Monitor and analyze ranking data: Log into the rank tracking tool's dashboard or reports to view your keyword ranking positions. Analyze ranking trends over time and identify keywords with positive or negative movements. Look for opportunities to optimize content or adjust strategies for keywords with lower rankings.
5. Integrate with other SEO tools: Many rank tracking tools offer integrations with other SEO platforms, such as Google Search Console, Google Analytics, or content optimization tools. Combining data from multiple sources can provide deeper insights and a more comprehensive view of your SEO performance.
6. Adjust and optimize based on data: Use the ranking data to make informed decisions about your SEO strategies. Identify areas for improvement, such as content optimization, link building, or technical SEO adjustments. Continuously monitor and refine your tactics to maintain or improve your keyword rankings over time.

Take Your Rankings to the Next Level

Does improving your website's search rankings and nailing your SEO strategy feel like an uphill battle? The team at SEOLeverage has your back. Our seasoned SEO pros will personally work with you to develop a custom game plan to skyrocket your rankings and online visibility.

When you're ready to see actual results that move the needle for your business, drop us a line. We'll roll up our sleeves and get to work.