It is important to stay on top of your current Google rankings. Rank positions can fluctuate based on Google algorithm updates and new content published by competitors. By checking and keeping track of your search rankings, you will be able to notice when they experience a drop and fix the issues that caused it. In this article, we will discuss various tools you can use to check your current Google rankings for any keyword.
1. Google Webmaster Tools
Most people don’t know that you can find keyword ranking data on the Google Search Console, formerly known as Google Webmaster Tools. You will also have access to additional data that can be very helpful for improving your rankings.
In your Google Search Console, click on the Performance tab on your left-hand menu. You will see data for your top keywords, pages, countries, and devices.
Under Queries, you will see a list of your keywords, along with their clicks and impressions. By default, this list will be arranged with your top-performing keywords first. Click on any keyword to see additional data about it:
- A historic graph outlining its performance over time
- Its click-through rate
- Its average position in the search results
You can see this data for your pages and posts as well.
Your actual position can fluctuate and may not be the same for all Google users. Some things that can affect your position in any individual search are Google Knowledge Panels, search result carousels, and the IP address location of the searcher.
If you are seeing a lot of impressions but a low click-through rate, consider optimizing your page meta title and description. If you are seeing a good click-through rate but your ranking position is low, consider revising your content to include more words and media.
2. Small Seo Tools
Small SEO Tools is a suite of free SEO tools. One of their tools is a keyword ranking checker.
Enter your domain name and any keywords you want to track. Choose a search engine – for example, you can stick with Google.com or you can choose country-specific results. You can check your positions for both desktop and mobile searches.
You will see your current ranking position for each keyword, along with the URL that is ranking for that keyword.
Alternatively, you can simply enter your domain name and you will see a list of different keywords you are currently ranking for and their positions.
3. SERPs.com
One of the best things about SERPs.com is that you can search for your rankings in any location – just enter a city or a zip code. Search rankings can fluctuate from location to location, and being able to determine your rankings for specific cities is especially important if you operate a local business or a chain business.
You can also search for ranking results in different languages. Yahoo search results are available as well.
However, the free version of SERPs.com is limited to one keyword at a time. If you want to upgrade, plans start at $49/month for 300 searches. Tracking one keyword in two locations counts as two searches.
4. SERPWatcher
SERPWatcher is a great tool by Mongools that lets you track your rankings for keywords for searches in different countries and on different devices. There is also a keyword research tool.
There is a free plan, but you will be limited to tracking 10 keywords at a time. Premium plans start at $49/month.
5. SERP Robot
SERP Robot, formerly known as SERP Lab, is an easy-to-use tool for tracking your keyword rankings over time.
Enter your URL and the keywords you want to track. SERP Robot will track each keyword’s performance, with data updated daily. Simply check back to see each keyword’s position and position change.
SERP Robot isn’t free anymore. You will get a 14-day free trial. After that, you will have to “hire” robots. Each robot costs $4.99/month or $59.88/year and can perform 300 searches a day. This means that you can track up to 300 keywords for one site. If you are targeting the same keywords with two different sites, you will be able to track up to 150 keywords with one robot.
6. SEMRush
SEMRush is another premium suite of SEO tools. Its Position Tracking Tool lets you track your rankings for different keywords in different locations and different languages. You can also see how your rankings compare with your competitors’ rankings and which keywords your competitors are ranking for in different locations.
SEMRush helps you stay organized by allowing you to group your keywords based on tags. You can also filter your results for desktop, tablet, or smartphone searches.
SEMRush lets you create a free account, but you will only get limited access – 10 searches per day for specific tools. Premium plans start at $99.95/month and are best for medium and large-sized businesses who want access to advanced data and analytics about their site and their competitors’ sites.
7. Ahrefs
Ahrefs is a good tool to use if backlink research is a priority of yours. They have the largest backlink index in the world (15 trillion backlinks indexed). In fact, they originally started as a backlink analysis tool before moving on to keyword research and site analysis.
There are several ways to Ahref’s ranking tracker.
One is to track keyword rankings for your website. For each keyword, you will see important data, such as:
- Current position
- Position change
- Monthly volume
- Traffic volume
- Traffic change
- Keyword Difficulty score
- Which URL is ranking for the keyword
Another option is to just type in a website domain name. Ahrefs will then give you a list of the top keywords that site is ranking for. You can do this for your site, or you can use this feature to monitor your competitors and copy their keyword strategies.
You can also just enter a keyword. This will give you access to important data about the top websites competing for that keyword and will help you get an idea of how easy it would be to rank for it.
Ahrefs has many other useful SEO tools that will give you a wealth of data. However, it is not cheap, with plans starting at $99/month. To see if it’s a right fit for you, there is a seven-day trial for $7.
The Importance of Checking Your Rankings Regularly
It is a good idea to check your rankings at least every few months. A lot can change in a short amount of time, and keeping your content updated regularly is important for staying one step ahead of the competition. It is also a best practice to keep records of your rankings to see how different SEO strategies, search engine algorithm updates, and competitor content updates can affect rankings. Although you can use the free tools mentioned, you will only be able to check your rankings for a few keywords at a time or track a limited number of keywords. Paying for a premium tool will help you save time and give you access to more advanced data.
With over 10+ years of experience in marketing and design, Jiun help businesses manage and execute marketing campaigns, track goal metrics, develop SEO-friendly content, optimize the buyer lifecycle, and collaborate with multiple partners, vendors, and press to maximize a brand’s lead acquisition strategy. Her background in marketing, graphic design, and front-end web development allows her to easily plan, communicate, and develop projects to meet your organizational goals.
