How to check your keyword rankings accurately
Searching for your own keywords in your browser is an unreliable way to check rankings. Google can tailor results to your location, language, device and search history, so what you see may not match what your customers see.
A keyword rank checker runs a neutral search for the country and device you choose and reads the organic results. This one checks Google's top 100 for up to 3 keywords at a time. For each keyword it shows your position, the URL that ranks, any extra positions and the top 3 domains.
What your position means
- Positions 1 to 3. The top of the first page, where most organic clicks go.
- Positions 4 to 10. Still on the first page. Moving up a few places here can make a clear difference to your traffic.
- Positions 11 to 20. Just off the first page. These are often your best quick wins, because Google already sees the page as relevant.
- Positions 21 to 100. Google ranks the page, but it needs real work to compete.
- Not in top 100. Your site is not in the top 100 for this search right now. The page may be missing, weak for the topic or not indexed.
Why positions count organic results only
Positions in this rank checker count organic results only. Ads, AI Overviews, People also ask boxes, videos and other features are not counted, so position 1 means you are the first organic result even if other features appear above you.
That keeps your numbers comparable from one check to the next. To see everything else on the page, run the keyword through the SERP checker.
What to do with your results
- Check the ranking URL. If Google ranks a different page than the one you wanted, make your target page the clearest match for the keyword and link to it from the other page.
- Watch for several pages ranking. Extra positions can be good news. But two of your pages close together on the same keyword may compete with each other, so consider merging them or giving each a clearly different focus.
- Study the top 3. Visit the pages above you and compare their depth, freshness and format with yours.
- Push page-two keywords first. Update the content, sharpen the title and add internal links from related pages. These are often the fastest gains.
Which keywords to check first
With up to 3 keywords per check, pick the ones that matter most to your business instead of checking everything. Good candidates are:
- Money keywords. The searches that lead to sales or enquiries, such as your main service plus your city or industry.
- Pages you just changed. Check the main keyword of a page you updated, then check again a week or two later to see whether it moved.
- Page-two keywords. Terms where you sit just below the first page, since small improvements can lift them onto it.
- Your brand name. Make sure your own site comes first for your brand, and see which other sites appear next to it.
Keep a simple spreadsheet with the date, keyword, country, device and position for each check. After a few weeks, that log shows the trend far better than any single check.
How often to check your rankings
Rankings move a little from day to day, so one check is a snapshot. For most sites, checking important keywords once a week, and after you publish or update a page, is enough to see real trends. Rank checks are cached for up to 12 hours, so checking the same keywords again within that time shows the saved result.
Use it as a free keyword position checker for quick spot checks. For a wider view of everything a site ranks for, try the website traffic checker.
Why your ranking may differ from what you see
- Location. Results vary by country and, for local searches, by city. This tool checks at country level.
- Device. Mobile and desktop rankings can differ. Check the one your customers use most.
- Personal history. Your past searches and signed-in account can change what you see.
- Timing. Google updates results constantly, so two checks a few hours apart can differ slightly.
If your positions are stuck and you are not sure why, an outside view helps. Request a free SEO audit and our team will look at what holds your pages back.