If you’re running ongoing SEO campaigns and want to know if your work’s actually moving the needle, you have to track keyword rankings. Doing this in Woorank is pretty straightforward—at least, once you know what matters (and what doesn’t). This guide is for marketers, content folks, and anyone tired of fluffy dashboards that don’t actually tell you what’s changing on Google. We’ll cut through the noise and give you a process that works.
Why bother tracking keyword rankings, anyway?
Let’s be honest: keyword rankings aren’t the only metric that matters. But if you want to see if your content and SEO tweaks are doing anything, tracking your rankings is a solid way to spot trends, notice wins, and find problems before your boss or client does.
But here’s the thing: obsessing over daily swings or trying to track 500 keywords is a waste of time. The real value comes from tracking the right set of keywords, checking on them regularly (but not obsessively), and using that info to actually improve your site.
Step 1: Pick keywords that actually matter
Before you even log into Woorank, stop and think: what keywords are really worth tracking? Here’s how to keep it useful:
- Focus on intent. Forget about random high-volume keywords if they don’t match what your business offers. Track keywords your actual customers might use.
- Mix branded and non-branded. Don’t just track your brand name—mix in real product/service queries.
- Don’t go overboard. Tracking 20–50 keywords is more than enough for most small and midsize businesses. You can always add more later.
- Keep it current. Drop keywords that aren’t relevant anymore. No need to track “2017 trends” in 2024.
Pro tip: If you’re stuck, pull keywords from your Google Search Console “Performance” report—these are phrases you already get impressions for.
Step 2: Set up tracking in Woorank (without making a mess)
Woorank’s keyword tracking is easy to use, but there are a few things to watch out for. Here’s the process:
- Create or select your project. Each website gets its own project in Woorank.
- Go to the “Keywords” section. This is where you’ll add your target phrases.
- Add keywords manually or import a list. Paste them in, or upload a CSV if you’re organized.
- Choose your target country and device. If all your customers are local or mobile, adjust these settings accordingly. Otherwise you’ll get weird, irrelevant data.
- Set competitors (optional). You can track how you rank compared to others, but don’t get too distracted by this—your own progress matters more.
What to ignore: Don’t bother with super granular location tracking (like city-level) unless you’re a local business. You’ll just end up with more data and less clarity.
Step 3: Don’t obsess—set a reasonable check-in routine
It’s tempting to check rankings daily, but that’s a recipe for stress and confusion. Google’s results shuffle all the time, and daily changes often mean nothing.
- Weekly or bi-weekly is fine. For most ongoing SEO campaigns, check keyword rankings once a week or every other week. Monthly works if you’re short on time.
- Set a recurring calendar reminder. Otherwise, you’ll forget and scramble before reporting time.
Pro tip: If you see a big drop in rankings, don’t panic. Wait a few days and check again. Google updates, competitors, or even a typo in your robots.txt can cause temporary blips.
Step 4: Actually use the data—spot trends, not noise
This is where most people go wrong. They stare at the dashboard, see some rankings up and some down, and call it a day. Here’s how to make your tracking actually useful:
- Look for steady movement, not daily swings. Up or down over several weeks is what matters.
- Flag big drops or gains. If a keyword tanks or jumps, dig into what changed: new content, lost links, technical issues?
- Compare to your content updates. Did you optimize a page and see a ranking bump? Great—do more of that.
- Ignore keywords stuck on page 5. Focus on keywords hovering around pages 1–2; these are within reach.
What doesn’t work: Obsessing over “average position” for all keywords. It’s a vanity metric. Focus on the handful that actually drive traffic or conversions.
Step 5: Make reporting simple, honest, and actionable
If you’re reporting to a boss or client, don’t just send a screenshot of Woorank’s dashboard. Here’s how to make your updates actually useful:
- Highlight wins and losses. “We moved up 3 spots for [main keyword], but dropped 2 on [secondary keyword].”
- Explain why things changed, if you can. Tie ranking changes to site updates, new content, or technical fixes.
- Suggest next steps. “Let’s update the product page for [keyword] to try to move from #7 to #3.”
- Keep it brief. No one wants to read a 10-page ranking report.
Pro tip: Add a simple chart showing rankings for your top 5–10 keywords over time. Visuals make trends obvious, and you don’t need fancy graphics software—Woorank’s built-in charts are good enough.
Step 6: Watch out for the common traps
There are a few ways people trip themselves up with keyword tracking, especially in Woorank:
- Tracking too many keywords. You’ll drown in data and miss the stuff that matters.
- Chasing “position 1” for everything. For many keywords, just getting onto the first page is a win.
- Ignoring intent. Ranking for a keyword that doesn’t lead to conversions is just an ego boost.
- Assuming rankings = traffic. Not all clicks go to the top spot, especially with featured snippets and ads crowding the page.
- Forgetting about search features. If you’re ranking #3, but spots 1 and 2 are Google Ads and a featured snippet, your “real” ranking is lower.
Step 7: Iterate—don’t set and forget
SEO isn’t a one-and-done deal. Keep your keyword list fresh. Every few months:
- Add new keywords based on recent content or changing business goals.
- Drop deadweight—keywords that never move or don’t matter anymore.
- Adjust for seasonality (if relevant). Some keywords only matter at certain times of year.
If your rankings are stuck, take it as a sign: time to update your content, fix technical issues, or rethink your keyword targeting.
Quick troubleshooting: When Woorank data looks weird
- Sudden drops across the board? Check if your site’s down, robots.txt changed, or if there’s a Google algorithm update.
- No data for new keywords? Woorank can take a few days to collect ranking info for new terms. Be patient.
- Competitors missing? Make sure you set them up correctly, and remember: Woorank only tracks what you tell it to.
Final thoughts: Keep it simple, make it useful
Tracking keyword rankings in Woorank doesn’t have to be complicated. Pick a handful of meaningful keywords, check on them regularly, and use the results to guide your next SEO moves. Don’t get sucked into data for its own sake, and don’t try to impress anyone with huge reports. SEO is a long game—keep things simple, stay curious, and adjust as you go.