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Where Does My Website Rank on Google? How to Check

Check your website’s Google ranking with this easy step-by-step guide.

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Lucy Thomas, Digital Marketing Assistant

Illustration of a Google search results page with a rising graph icon, symbolising SEO performance and improved search rankings.

In today’s digital landscape, online visibility can either make or break your website's success. Ever wondered how your website is doing on Google? You’re not alone! In the realm of online success, understanding your website’s position on Search Engine Result Pages (SERPs) is paramount. Join us as we dive into the world of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and tools that allow you to check your Google ranking.

The Importance of Knowing Your Google Ranking

Checking your website rankings provides valuable insights into how well your pages are performing in Google Search. Your position on Google directly influences the organic traffic your website receives. Given the competitive nature of SERPS, securing a high ranking is crucial, as users are more inclined to click on the top results. Top results are deemed to have the greatest authority.

Why Google Rankings Matter

In the realm of online search, user behaviour emphasises the importance of appearing on the first page. Research indicates that only 0.44% of Google search users venture beyond the initial page of results. Achieving a first-page ranking is essential to ensure that users easily find the information they seek without having to delve too deep.

Understanding your Google ranking is a key element of online success. This knowledge not only provides insights into your current performance but also aids in gauging the level of effort required to attain a top spot in Google's search results. Being aware of your ranking allows you to identify the requirements for reaching the top spot and who you are competing with, helping you improve your SEO strategy for better online visibility and success.

Key Ranking Factors

Google holds a dominant position in the search engine market with a market share of 91.61% as of December 2023. Google employs complex algorithms to determine the positioning of websites within its search results. Google’s ranking system sorts through hundreds of billions of web pages in order to present the most relevant and valuable information in response to a search query.

Many factors are taken into consideration by the algorithm including:

  • User Experience (UX)
  • On-Page SEO & Technical SEO
  • The quality of content on your website
  • Keywords
  • Backlinks
  • The relevance of your content to the search query
  • User engagement (Site’s bounce rate)

By understanding Google’s algorithm and strategically optimising your content accordingly can significantly enhance your website’s Google rank.

How To Check Your Website’s Google Ranking For Free

Google Search Console

Google Search Console (GSC) is a free tool that any website owner or digital marketer can use to monitor, maintain or improve a site's performance in Google Search results.

To access your Search Performance Report, navigate to your Google Search Console property, then select Performance, followed by Search results in the left-hand menu.

Google Search Console dashboard displaying performance data for a website, with focus on search results metrics and traffic trends over the past 3 months.

1. Scroll down beyond the graph to reveal the table below. The queries tab will be displayed by default.

Google Search Console report showing performance metrics by search queries, including clicks and impressions data over the last 3 months.

2. The queries tab shows the main keywords your site is ranking for, alongside clicks and impressions. To include average CTR and position metrics in the table, go back up above the graph and check the average CTR and average position boxes.

Google Search Console performance overview showing total clicks, impressions, average CTR, and average position for the past 3 months.

Quick summary of each metric:

  • Clicks: the total number of times users landed on your page from a Google search results page.
  • Impressions: the total number of times your page appeared in Google search results, irrespective of whether it entered the user's viewport.
  • CTR (Click-Through Rate): the ratio of total clicks to total impressions.
  • Position: the average ranking of your page in Google search results.

How to Filter The Search Performance Report To A Specific Page

1. Scroll down below the graph to the table section of the report and click on the pages tab.

Google Search Console 'Pages' tab showing performance data by top pages, including clicks, impressions, CTR, and average position for the last 3 months.

The table simply lists your top pages based on clicks. Initially, only 10 pages are visible, so you may need to scroll down to find the specific page you're looking for.

Scroll through the list by:

2. Using the page arrow at the bottom or by clicking the rows per page section and adding more rows to the table.

Google Search Console 'Pages' report showing top-performing pages with metrics for clicks, impressions, CTR, and average position over the last 3 months.

3. Selecting the three lines located in the upper-right corner of the table to apply a filter to the list.

Once you find the page you want in the table, click on it. The Search Performance Report will then filter the data to that specific page.

Filters applied to the report will be displayed at the top.

Google Search Console view filtered by specific page, showing performance summary cards for clicks, impressions, CTR, and average position over the last 3 months.

How to Filter The Report For A Specific Keyword You Want To Track

1. Click on the queries tab in the table.

Google Search Console report filtered by a specific page, showing top queries with metrics for clicks, impressions, CTR, and average position over the last 3 months.

2. The specific page will show its top queries or ranking keywords. These are the keywords for which the page is ranking in Google Search, along with their related metrics.

After identifying the main target keyword you wish to track for the page, select it from the table. The report will then proceed to display the specific data related to that particular keyword.

Google Search Console performance report filtered by query 'web agency belfast' and specific page, showing metrics for clicks, impressions, CTR, and position over time.

At this point, your keyword ranking position is displayed in the Search performance Report Graph over time.

3. By default, the report shows data for the last 3 months. To adjust the date range, click the date filter at the top of the report and choose a different time period, such as the last 12 months in order to view more data.

Google Search Console date range filter menu with 'Last 12 months' selected and a custom date range from October 22, 2023, to January 21, 2024.

Third Party Tools for Checking Google Rankings

SEMrush

SEMRush is a widely used SEO tool crafted to assist marketers in developing a strong SEO strategy. Their range of tools and reports can help in the following areas: SEO, PPC, Keyword Research, Competitive Research, PR, Content Marketing, Campaign Management and Marketing Insights.

SEMrush dashboard showing a project for 'Ecommerce Keyword Analytics,' with options to add competitors and create new projects.

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At Eyekiller, we utilise SEMRush for multiple functions. This includes conducting in-depth keyword research tailored for Google Ad campaigns, overseeing the scheduling and tracking of social media activities, and undertaking thorough competitor research for client projects. SEMRush provides us with insights into both organic and paid ranking positions.

Ahrefs

Ahrefs stands out as a premier SEO tool, crafted to provide comprehensive insights into your SEO performance. The Ahrefs rank tracker tool not only reveals keyword rankings for both desktop and mobile searches but also enables checking local rankings.

Ahrefs homepage promoting SEO tools with the headline 'Everything you need to rank higher & get more traffic.' Includes a sign-up button and logos of brands like PlayStation, Uber, and Adidas.

Enter your website, and the rank checker tool will showcase the keywords you're positioned for, along with their positions, keyword difficulty, and search volumes. Ahrefs goes beyond by indicating whether you rank for additional Google features such as the featured snippet, sitelinks, top stories, image pack, and "people also ask" sections.

MOZPro

MozPro stands as a comprehensive SEO software, encompassing a rank-checking tool among its features. In addition to rank checking, MozPro assists SEO experts in conducting site audits, analysing backlinks, and planning keywords.

Moz homepage promoting Moz Pro with the tagline 'Higher rankings. Quality traffic. Measurable results.' Includes a 'Start my free trial' button and an offer celebrating Moz's 20th anniversary.

Unlike other platforms, MozPro utilises STAT, the world's most advanced rank tracker, offering precise real-time results that update throughout the day, surpassing the typical average position data provided by other platforms.

SE Ranking

SERanking is another all-around platform for SEO that offers tools to help marketers with SEO audits, backlink analysis, SEO reporting, social media analysis and keyword tracking.

SE Ranking homepage offering a free trial and demo for their SEO platform, featuring company logos and 'No credit card required'.

When setting up a project, select your desired keywords, SERanking provides suggestions based on your organic results. Customise your tracking further by specifying the location and adding competitors for benchmarking. The tool presents key metrics for your tracked keywords, including position, average rank, overall visibility, traffic forecast, and indication of SERP feature appearances. In order to track organic keywords, it's essential to link this tool to both Google Analytics and Google Search Console.

Improving Your SEO and Google Ranking

To enhance your SEO strategy and improve your Google ranking, incorporate the following best practices:

  • Keyword research
  • Optimise writing unique meta titles & meta descriptions for each page
  • Creating quality content
  • Adding descriptive alt text to all your images, improving accessibility and context for search engines
  • Backlink strategy to enhance authority and site credibility
  • Focus on creating a positive user experience (UX) by optimising site navigation
  • Implement on-page SEO techniques such as proper header tags and keyword placement
  • Address technical SEO aspects such as sitemap optimisation and canonical tags

Do You Need Help With Improving Your Rankings?

Get in touch with us today to discover the power of our proven SEO services. Elevate your online presence and boost your rankings with our expert strategies. Reach out for a comprehensive proposal tailored to your business needs.

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