Do you ever wonder how your website stacks up against the competition in Google search results? You’re not alone – tracking your website’s performance is essential for understanding where you stand and identifying areas for improvement. But with so many ranking factors and tools available, how do you know which ones to use and trust? Fear not! In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the best free tools and methods on how to check Google ranking of website, ensuring that you stay ahead of the game.
From understanding the different types of Google rankings to learning how to use Google Search Console, we’ll cover everything you need to know to monitor and improve your website’s search engine performance. By the end of this post, you’ll be well-equipped to track your website’s position and make data-driven decisions to boost your online presence.
Key Takeaways
- Organic rankings are determined by relevance and authority, while local and paid rankings require different tactics.
- Google Search Console provides key metrics for analysing website performance in search results, while manual checks with private browser sessions can provide an overview of a website’s position.
- Various free tools such as Ubersuggest or premium SEO software like Ahrefs offer comprehensive solutions to monitor Google ranking fluctuations caused by algorithm updates, localisation, personalisation etc.
Understanding Google Rankings: Organic, Local, and Paid
Your website’s visibility to potential customers significantly depends on Google rankings. There are three primary types of Google rankings: organic, local, and paid. Each type serves a unique purpose and requires a tailored approach for effective monitoring and optimisation. Understanding these ranking types allows you to focus your efforts effectively, leading to increased clicks and organic traffic on the search engine results page (SERP).
Tracking keyword rankings after publishing a blog post or launching a new webpage helps you assess its performance in search engines and modify your strategies as needed. A rank tracking tool offers a comprehensive view of your website’s SEO progress, empowering you to make informed decisions that can enhance your search engine rankings.
Organic Rankings
Organic rankings refer to the natural placement of a website in search results based on its relevance and authority. These rankings are paramount, as they are the most dependable way to make your website visible to potential customers using relevant Google keywords. Moreover, organic rankings are more economical than paid advertising, as they do not necessitate any extra investment.
Several free tools and methods are available to assess your website’s organic rankings effectively. These include Google Search Console, manual ranking checks with private browser sessions, and top free tools like Ubersuggest, SERanking, The Hoth, and Serprobot. These tools enable you to track the factors that influence your organic rankings, including website content, architecture, speed, backlinks, and user experience.
Local Rankings
Local rankings are based on the searcher’s location and are especially important for businesses targeting a specific geographic area. Monitoring Google keyword rankings can help businesses improve their Google ranking, increasing visibility and attracting customers within their target locations. To ensure the best results, it’s essential to check Google ranking regularly.
Tools like the Local Search Results Checker from Bright Local can be extremely helpful for assessing local rankings. This tool allows users to conduct a few free searches each day and customise the location they wish to search from, providing impartial Google search results for relevant keywords.
Focusing on local keywords enables businesses to enhance their presence on Google and other search engines like Bing and Yahoo.
Paid Rankings
Paid rankings, on the other hand, are the result of advertising campaigns, such as Google Ads, where businesses bid on keywords to appear at the top of search results. Google Ads PPC (Pay-Per-Click) is an advertising platform that allows businesses to bid on keywords, ensuring their website appears prominently in search results for those specific terms.
The primary distinction between paid and organic rankings is that paid rankings are acquired through advertising efforts, while organic rankings are achieved through SEO tactics. Although both approaches can be effective for increasing website visibility, understanding the differences between them is essential for implementing a well-rounded SEO strategy.
Using Google Search Console for Ranking Insights
Google Search Console is a free tool that provides valuable insights into your website’s ranking performance. Setting up and configuring Google Search Console provides access to a wealth of data about your website, including:
- Keyword rankings
- Impressions
- Clicks
- Click-through rates
Using Google Search Console is an excellent starting point for understanding how your website performs in search results and identifying areas for improvement. In the following sections, we’ll walk you through setting up Google Search Console and analysing the ranking data it provides.
Setting Up Google Search Console
To get started with Google Search Console, you’ll need to verify your website and submit a sitemap. Verifying your website is a simple process that involves following the steps outlined in the Google Search Console setup guide. Once your website is verified, you can submit a sitemap to help Google crawl and index your site effectively.
After setting up Google Search Console, you can access the “Search results” section, which provides a comprehensive list of your SEO keyword rankings. By selecting the “Average CTR” and “Average position” metrics, you can gain valuable insights into your website’s performance, helping you identify areas for improvement and optimise your SEO efforts.
Analysing Ranking Data
Analysing ranking data in Google Search Console is crucial for understanding your website’s performance in search results. The platform provides four key metrics:
- Average position
- Impressions
- Clicks
- Click-through rate (CTR) for specific keywords.
By monitoring these metrics, you can identify trends and patterns that can inform your SEO strategy.
Google Search Console can be a useful tool for local businesses, but it is important to note that the data is filtered according to the country rather than an individual’s location. This could be a limiting factor for businesses trying to reach local customers. This means that the average ranking data may not accurately reflect how your business ranks for someone who lives nearby. To overcome this limitation, you can apply a filter in Google Search Console to view results exclusively from your target country, providing a more accurate representation of your local rankings.
Manual Ranking Checks with Private Browser Sessions
Manual ranking checks using private browser sessions can provide a quick snapshot of your website’s position in search results. Private browser sessions, also known as incognito tabs in Chrome and private sessions in Firefox, prevent Google from utilising your browsing history to provide personalised search results.
However, it’s important to note that manual ranking checks may not accurately reflect personalised and localised factors that influence search results. To ensure the accuracy of your manual ranking checks, consider attempting this from multiple locations or asking colleagues to try from their home address and capture a screenshot.
Top Free Tools for Tracking Google Rankings
In addition to Google Search Console and manual ranking checks, there are several free tools available for tracking Google rankings. Each tool offers unique features and benefits, catering to different needs and preferences. Some of these tools include:
- Google Analytics
- SEMrush
- Mos
- Ahrefs
- SERPWatcher
These tools provide valuable insights into your website’s performance and enable data-driven decisions to enhance your search engine rankings.
In the following sections, we’ll introduce you to some of the top free tools for tracking Google rankings, including:
- Ubersuggest
- SERanking
- The Hoth
- Serprobot
Whether you’re looking for a simple rank checker or a more comprehensive SEO platform, these tools can help you monitor and optimise your website’s performance.
Ubersuggest
Ubersuggest is an all-in-one SEO tool that provides a wealth of information about your website’s keyword ranking, technical SEO insights, and competitive analysis. Ubersuggest allows you to track your website’s performance, pinpoint areas for improvement, and maintain a competitive edge.
One of the notable features of Ubersuggest is its user-friendly interface, which makes it easy for both beginners and experienced marketers to navigate. The tool offers a free limited version, allowing you to access basic keyword ranking data and insights. For more advanced features and capabilities, Ubersuggest also offers paid plans starting at $29 per month.
SERanking
SERanking is another comprehensive SEO tool that offers a range of features, including keyword tracking, backlink analysis, and social media analytics. SERanking enables you to track your website’s performance for specific keywords, evaluate your backlink profile, and gauge the success of your social media campaigns.
One of the unique features of SERanking is its ability to track local ranking scores by setting the geographical location of your keywords. This is particularly useful for businesses targeting specific regions or cities, as it provides accurate ranking data for those areas.
SERanking offers a 14-day free trial, with paid plans starting at $18 per month for ten projects.
The Hoth
The Hoth is a free tool that displays a website’s organic ranking for specific keywords, search volumes, and traffic percentages. By simply entering your website URL and target keywords, The Hoth provides valuable insights into your website’s performance in search results.
One of the main advantages of The Hoth is its simplicity and ease of use, making it an excellent choice for those new to SEO or looking for a quick snapshot of their website’s performance. While The Hoth may not offer the same level of advanced features as some of the other tools mentioned in this post, it remains a useful and free resource for tracking Google rankings.
Serprobot
Serprobot is an online tool that allows users to:
- Check Google rankings for up to 10 keywords without requiring an account registration
- Simply enter your domain and target keywords
- Serprobot will provide accurate, up-to-date ranking information to help you monitor your website’s performance in search results.
While Serprobot is free and easy to use, its main drawback is that it only allows users to monitor up to 10 keywords. For businesses or marketers looking to track a larger number of keywords, other tools like:
- Google Search Console
- Ubersuggest
- SERanking
- The Hoth
- Serprobot
may be more suitable.
Premium SEO Software and Rank Tracking Tools
For those looking for more advanced features and capabilities, premium SEO software and rank tracking tools can be a worthwhile investment. These tools offer a wide range of features, such as:
- Site audits
- Keyword research
- Backlink analysis
- Competitor analysis
- Rank tracking
- On-page optimisation
- Reporting and analytics
These tools provide a comprehensive solution for monitoring and improving your website’s performance.
Some of the most popular premium SEO software and rank tracking tools include Ahrefs, SEMRush, and MosPro. In the following sections, we’ll explore each of these tools in more detail, discussing their features, benefits, and pricing options.
Ahrefs
Ahrefs is a comprehensive SEO tool known for its backlink checker and extensive database of live links. Ahrefs provides extensive information about your website’s keyword ranking, backlink profile, and overall performance. The platform offers a range of features, such as a keyword rank checker, site audit, and backlink analysis, making it an excellent choice for businesses and marketers looking for a powerful SEO solution.
While Ahrefs offers a range of advanced features, it is a paid tool, which may not be suitable for those on a tight budget. Additionally, the platform has a steep learning curve, which can be challenging for those new to SEO. For those willing to invest in a premium SEO tool, Ahrefs can provide valuable insights and features to help optimise your website’s performance.
SEMRush
SEMRush is another popular premium SEO tool that offers an array of features, including keyword research, organic ranking tracking, and performance monitoring through graphs and charts. SEMRush enables you to pinpoint which keywords your website is ranking for, evaluate your backlink profile, and track the impact of algorithm updates on your search engine rankings.
In addition to its keyword tracking capabilities, SEMRush also offers backlink checking and algorithm update monitoring features. The platform is not free; however, it offers a range of pricing options to suit different budgets and needs, with packages starting from $99 per month and a free trial available.
MosPro
MosPro is a rank-checking tool that also offers site audits, backlink analysis, and keyword planning features with real-time results. MosPro provides valuable insights into your website’s performance, helps identify areas for improvement, and enhances your SEO efforts.
MosPro provides a user-friendly interface, making it easy to navigate and understand your website’s performance data. The platform offers a range of pricing options, with packages starting from $99 per month and a free trial available.
By leveraging MosPro’s features, you can effectively:
- Monitor your website’s search engine rankings
- Analyse your website’s performance data
- Identify areas for improvement
- Track your competitors’ rankings
- Generate reports to share with your team or clients
With MosPro, you have the tools you need to optimise your website and improve your search engine visibility.
Factors Affecting Ranking Fluctuations
Recognising the factors that affect your website’s ranking fluctuations is key to optimising your SEO efforts. Several factors can impact your keyword rankings, including:
- Algorithm updates: These can alter how search engine algorithms interpret and rank websites.
- Localisation: This can influence search results based on the user’s location.
- Personalisation: This can influence search results based on the user’s search history.
- User engagement: This includes factors such as click-through rates, bounce rates, and time spent on your website.
Understanding these factors will help you make informed decisions and improve your website’s ranking in search engine results.
By being aware of these factors and incorporating them into your SEO strategy, you can better monitor and optimise your website’s performance. Utilising the tools and methods discussed in this blog post provides valuable insights into your website’s ranking performance, enabling data-driven decisions that can enhance your online presence.
Summary
In conclusion, tracking your website’s Google rankings is essential for understanding its performance in search results and identifying areas for improvement. With a range of free and premium tools available, such as Google Search Console, Ubersuggest, SERanking, The Hoth, Serprobot, Ahrefs, SEMRush, and MosPro, there’s no shortage of resources to help you monitor and optimise your website’s performance.
By understanding the different types of Google rankings, leveraging the best tools for your needs, and considering the factors affecting ranking fluctuations, you can make informed decisions to improve your website’s search engine performance. So, start tracking your website’s rankings today and unlock the full potential of your online presence.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check ranking for a website?
To check the ranking for your website, use Google Search Console (GSC) which provides tons of data about your site’s position in SERPs, CTR, and impressions. Additionally, you can identify the page URL that is ranking for a keyword by using the Analyse a Keyword tool or checking the organic results.
What are the different types of Google rankings?
Google rankings come in three main forms: organic, local, and paid.
What factors can affect my website’s ranking fluctuations?
Algorithm updates, localisation, personalisation, and user engagement are all factors which can have a significant impact on website rankings.
Are there any free tools for tracking Google rankings?
Yes, there are free tools available for tracking Google rankings, such as Google Search Console, Ubersuggest, SERanking, The Hoth, and Serprobot.
