Tracking Keyword Performance Over Time Using Google Search Console

To track keyword performance over time using Google Search Console (GSC), follow these steps:

1. Access the Performance Report

• Log in to your Google Search Console account.
• Select your website property.
• Click on the Performance tab in the left-hand menu.
• This report shows key metrics like clicks, impressions, click-through rate (CTR), and average position for your site’s search queries.

2. Set Your Date Range

• Adjust the date range at the top of the report to compare keyword performance across different periods (up to 16 months).
• You can compare current data to previous periods (e.g., month-over-month or year-over-year) by clicking Compare and selecting your desired time frames.

3. View Keyword (Query) Data

• The Queries tab displays the keywords your site ranks for.
• You can see how each keyword has performed over time in terms of clicks, impressions, CTR, and average position.

4. Filter and Analyze Keywords

• Click on a specific keyword in the Queries tab to see its performance trend over your selected date range.
• Use filters to focus on specific queries or match keywords containing a certain string.
• Sort by metrics like impressions, clicks, or average position to identify trends and opportunities.

5. Export and Store Data

• Export your keyword data by clicking Export in the top right corner (options: Google Sheets, Excel, CSV).
• Regularly export and archive your data to track long-term trends, as GSC only stores data for up to 16 months.

6. Monitor Changes and Trends

• Look for keywords with rising or falling impressions, clicks, or positions.
• Identify underperforming pages by switching to the Pages tab and sorting by Click Differences or Impression Differences.

7. Use Third-Party Tools (Optional)

• For continuous tracking and historical analysis beyond 16 months, consider integrating GSC with tools like SEOTesting, Rows, or other SEO platforms that automatically archive and visualize your keyword performance data.

Key Metrics to Track:

• Clicks: Number of visits from search results.
• Impressions: How often your site appears in search results.
• CTR: Percentage of impressions that result in clicks.
• Average Position: Your average ranking for each keyword.

Tips:

• Regularly review your keyword performance to spot trends and optimize content.
• Use GSC to discover new keyword opportunities and identify content gaps.
• Combine GSC data with other SEO tools for deeper insights and live ranking updates.

By following these steps, you can effectively monitor how your keywords are performing over time and make data-driven decisions to improve your site’s visibility in Google Search.