Track Your SEO Keywords Ranking With Semrush Position Tracking

Last Updated Date: November 27, 2025

TLDR:

  • Shows how to set up Semrush Position Tracking for specific domains, devices, locations (including local/Maps), and keyword lists.
  • Explains how to read the dashboard: visibility, estimated traffic, average position, and ranking distribution to see gains and losses.
  • Covers using tags, filters, and reports to analyze keyword movements, pages, SERP features, and detect cannibalization issues.
  • Demonstrates adding and monitoring competitors to compare visibility, traffic, and top 3/10/20/100 rankings.
  • Emphasizes using these insights to prioritize SEO actions, refine targeting, and capture more SERP features.

I use Semrush position tracking to keep a close eye on how my target keywords perform. Track Your SEO Keywords Ranking With Semrush Position Tracking helps me see whether I am improving, declining, or ranking for the right target keywords — and that visibility is the starting point for any meaningful SEO action.

Table of Contents

How do I set up Semrush Position Tracking to Track Your SEO Keywords Ranking With Semrush Position Tracking?

I start by selecting the domain I want to track. Semrush asks for the search engine (Google, Bing, or Baidu), the device (desktop, mobile, or tablet), and the location. For local businesses I either enter the local business website URL or the business name so Semrush can track the Google Maps ranking as well.

Semrush Position Tracking setup screen with Search engine options and Google highlighted by a magnified cursor
Choose the search engine (Google) and device when setting up position tracking.

When choosing location I often use a city name. For example, I can select Chennai and Semrush will list available options. Next I add keywords and optional tags. I can type keywords manually, tag them, import from a CSV, pull from another campaign, use Semrush suggestions, or import queries from Google Analytics.

SEMrush Keywords input with 'Only Keywords' tab selected and sample keywords visible in the list with magnified cursor.
Enter keywords (and optional tags) to build your tracking list — I usually start with city‑specific terms.

After adding keywords I check the keyword usage limit for my plan and click Start tracking. Semrush then begins collecting daily ranking data for the chosen search engine, device, and location.

What does the Semrush position tracking dashboard show?

After a few days of tracking I get a dashboard that summarizes performance: visibility score for target keywords, estimated traffic, and average position. I treat estimated traffic cautiously for non‑US databases because Semrush sometimes underestimates traffic for foreign countries, but visibility and average position are reliable indicators.

Clear Semrush position tracking dashboard screenshot showing estimated traffic (15.38), average position and rankings distribution.
Semrush dashboard highlighting the estimated traffic and average position metrics.

The dashboard breaks into sections. The landscape summary reads like a mini SEO consultant — it highlights traffic trends, visibility changes, and keywords that moved up or down. I use those high‑level takeaways to prioritize where to dig deeper.

How does Semrush show keyword movement and ranking distribution?

Ranking distribution summarizes where my tracked keywords sit in search results: how many are in the top 3, top 10, top 20, and top 100. It also plots trend changes so I can see which keywords improved and which declined over time.

Semrush position tracking dashboard showing rankings distribution chart and Keywords panel magnified (Top 3, Top 10 counts)
I use the Keywords panel and Rankings Distribution to see how many terms are in the Top 3, Top 10, and Top 100.

Clickable links take me to subsections where I can view top keywords, positive impact (keywords that improved), and negative impact (keywords that lost positions). I can also group keywords by tag if I want to compare categories of keywords across campaigns.

How can I compare market traffic and discover SEO competitors?

I add competitors to the campaign and Semrush suggests popular rivals based on shared keywords or advertising presence. Once added, the tool compares average position, visibility, estimated traffic, and how many keywords each competitor holds in top 3, top 10, top 20, and top 100.

Semrush add competitors dialog showing suggested competitor domains and update button
Add competitors modal with suggested competitor domains listed.

The competitor discovery report can identify dozens or even hundreds of competitors automatically. I review the suggestions, add relevant domains, and hide unrelated ones. This makes it easy to track winners and losers in my niche and spot threats and opportunities.

What SERP features and page-level insights does position tracking provide?

Semrush reports which SERP features (featured snippets, local packs, etc.) appear for my tracked keywords and whether my pages hold them. The tool highlights opportunities where a competitor owns a snippet I could target.

Semrush SERP Features bar chart with a magnifier and tooltip visible and the Pages list below, clearly showing which SERP features are present
SERP Features tooltip and landing pages — shows which features our keywords trigger.

Page reports list which URLs on my site rank for tracked keywords, the average position for each page, and whether that page gained or lost positions. I use this to identify underperforming pages and to understand which content drives visibility.

How does Semrush help me detect keyword cannibalization?

Cannibalization shows when two or more pages on my site compete for the same keyword. Semrush flags these instances so I can consolidate or clarify targeting. My aim is to have a single authoritative page for each target keyword to avoid confusing search engines.

SEMrush Position Tracking Pages panel with a magnifier over the Keywords and Avg. position columns, showing numeric counts for multiple landing pages and a presenter overlay.
Pages panel showing keyword counts and average positions for landing pages — useful to spot cannibalization.

When one or more pages in your website try to rank for a single keyword, you are essentially competing with yourself.

What filtering and reporting controls should I use?

I use filters to focus on visibility, device, location, tags, or keyword intent. For larger keyword sets these filters are essential. I also export reports and set up email alerts to be notified of significant rank changes.

How many search engines can I track in one campaign?

You can choose Google, Bing, or Baidu when setting up a campaign. Select the one that matches your audience and target market.

Can I track local business and map rankings?

Yes. Enter the local business website URL or the business name during setup to monitor local pack and Google Maps rankings along with organic positions.

What plan features affect position tracking data?

Some features like device and location segmentation, tag reports, cannibalization details, and share of voice are available only on higher tier plans such as Guru and Business.

Is Semrush estimated traffic always accurate?

Estimated traffic can be less accurate for smaller or non US databases. Use visibility and average position as more consistent indicators, and cross reference with your analytics data when possible.

Final thoughts on how to Track Your SEO Keywords Ranking With Semrush Position Tracking?

Track Your SEO Keywords Ranking With Semrush Position Tracking gives me both a high level overview and granular insights into SERP performance. From setup to competitor discovery, page reports to cannibalization checks, the tool surfaces the actions I need to make data driven SEO decisions.

When I combine the position tracking data with on‑page fixes and content prioritization, the results become measurable: fewer ranking declines, clearer keyword targeting, and better opportunities to capture SERP features.

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Senior Digital Marketing Manager BSF, SEO Expert & Teacher

Alston Antony is a Senior Digital Marketing Manager and SEO Expert with more than 15 years of experience helping businesses turn SEO into a predictable customer acquisition system. He holds an MSc in Software Engineering (Distinction) from the University of Greenwich and is a Professional Member of the British Computer Society (MBCS). As a practicing Digital Marketing Manager at BSF, Alston applies the same SEO strategies he teaches to real businesses, validating them in the field before sharing them publicly. More than 7,000 professionals follow him through his private community. He runs a YouTube channel with over 4,000 subscribers and has taught more than 20,000 students on Udemy. Alston created the BARS SEO System, which doesn’t just teach SEO theory. He engineers SEO systems that bring customers.

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