How to track keyword rankings in Ahrefs

Tracking keyword rankings in Ahrefs helps you monitor your SEO performance and see how your website is improving in search results. Follow these step-by-step instructions to set up keyword tracking and start measuring your rankings accurately.

1. Log in to Your Ahrefs Account

Go to ahrefs.com.
Click Log in in the top-right corner.
Enter your email and password.
Once logged in, you’ll land on the Ahrefs dashboard.

2. Open Rank Tracker

In the top navigation menu, click on Rank Tracker.
If this is your first time using it, you’ll see an option to Set up a new project.

3. Create a New Project

Click + New Project (or Set up a new project).
Enter your domain name (e.g., yourwebsite.com).
Choose the correct protocol (HTTP or HTTPS).
Click Continue.

4. Add Keywords to Track

Manually enter the keywords you want to track (one per line),
or
Import keywords from:
- A CSV file
- Google Search Console
- Ahrefs’ keyword suggestions
Click Continue once your keyword list is ready.

5. Select Location and Search Engine

Choose the country you want to track rankings in (e.g., United Kingdom).
Select the search engine (e.g., Google).
If needed, specify desktop or mobile tracking.
Click Continue.

6. Add Competitors (Optional but Recommended)

Enter competitor domains to compare rankings.
Ahrefs may also suggest competitors automatically.
Click Continue to proceed.

7. Finish Setup and Start Tracking

Review your settings.
Click Finish to create the project.
Ahrefs will begin collecting ranking data (this may take some time initially).

8. Monitor and Analyse Keyword Rankings

Go to Rank Tracker and select your project.
View key metrics such as:
- Average position
- Ranking distribution
- Visibility percentage
- SERP features
Click on individual keywords to see detailed ranking history.
Use filters to sort by position, ranking changes, or competitors.

What is Ahrefs

Ahrefs is a powerful SEO toolset designed to help businesses, marketers, and website owners improve their visibility in search engines. It provides detailed insights into keyword performance, backlinks, competitor activity, and overall website health. One of its most popular features is Rank Tracker, which allows you to monitor how your target keywords are performing in search engine results pages (SERPs).

With Ahrefs, you can track rankings across different countries, devices (desktop or mobile), and search engines. The platform updates ranking data regularly, giving you a clear picture of performance trends over time. It also enables competitor comparison, so you can see how your rankings stack up against others in your industry. Whether you’re managing SEO for a single website or multiple client projects, Ahrefs provides the data needed to make informed optimisation decisions and improve your search visibility strategically.

Benefits of using Ahrefs to track keyword rankings

Tracking keyword rankings in Ahrefs gives you clear, actionable SEO data. It helps you measure performance, identify opportunities, and adjust your strategy based on real-time insights rather than guesswork.

1. Accurate and Regular Ranking Updates

Ahrefs provides reliable ranking data that updates frequently, allowing you to monitor changes in keyword positions over time. This helps you quickly spot ranking improvements or declines and take action before traffic is affected. Having consistent data ensures your SEO decisions are based on measurable performance, not assumptions.

2. Competitor Comparison Insights

With Rank Tracker, you can add competitor domains and compare keyword performance side by side. This helps you identify gaps in your strategy and uncover opportunities where competitors may be outperforming you. By understanding where you stand, you can refine your targeting and strengthen your SEO campaigns more effectively.

3. Performance Tracking Across Locations and Devices

Ahrefs allows you to track rankings by country, search engine, and device type. This is particularly useful if you target specific regions or want to understand differences between desktop and mobile performance. Segmenting your ranking data ensures your SEO strategy aligns with how users are actually searching.