If you’re serious about SEO, you need to track your rankings.

And the best way to do that?

An SEO ranking report.

Today, I’m going to show you exactly how to create, read, and use SEO ranking reports to boost your search engine rankings.

Let’s dive right in.

What is an SEO Ranking Report?

An SEO ranking report is like a report card for your website.

It shows you where your website ranks in Google for specific keywords. Think of it as a snapshot that tells you: “Here’s how well your website is doing in search results.”

For example, let’s say you run a pizza shop in Chicago. Your SEO ranking report might show that:

• You rank #3 for “best pizza Chicago”
• You rank #15 for “pizza delivery near me”
• You rank #1 for “deep dish pizza Chicago”

Pretty cool, right?

But here’s the thing: An SEO ranking report doesn’t just show you where you rank TODAY. It also shows you how your rankings have changed over time.

Maybe last month you ranked #5 for “best pizza Chicago.” Now you’re at #3. That’s progress!

Why SEO Ranking Reports Are Essential for Your SEO Strategy

Here’s a fact that might surprise you:

87% of marketers say that tracking keyword rankings is critical to their SEO success.

Why?

Because without tracking your rankings, you’re basically flying blind.

Think about it this way: If you’re trying to lose weight, you step on a scale to see if your diet is working. If you’re trying to save money, you check your bank account.

SEO ranking reports are your “scale” for SEO.

They help you:

• See if your SEO efforts are actually working
• Spot problems before they become disasters
• Make data-driven decisions about your SEO strategy
• Show your boss (or clients) that SEO is working

Here’s a real example: One of my clients was losing traffic, but they didn’t know why. Their SEO ranking report showed that their main keyword dropped from position #2 to #8 overnight.

Without that report, they would have been scratching their heads for weeks.

What an SEO Ranking Report Includes

A good SEO ranking report is like a Swiss Army knife. It has everything you need in one place.

Here’s what you’ll typically find:

Keyword Rankings (Desktop vs Mobile)

This is the meat and potatoes of your report.

You’ll see where your website ranks for each keyword you’re tracking. And since Google uses different rankings for desktop and mobile, good reports show both.

Why does this matter?

Because more than 60% of Google searches now happen on mobile devices. If your mobile rankings stink, you’re missing out on a lot of traffic.

Ranking Changes Over Time

This is where things get interesting.

Instead of just showing you where you rank today, your report shows you how your rankings have changed. You might see:

• ↑ Moved up 3 positions
• ↓ Dropped 2 positions
• → Stayed the same

This helps you spot trends. Are your rankings generally going up? Down? Staying flat?

Search Volume and Click-Through Rate (CTR) Data

Search volume tells you how many people search for a keyword each month. CTR tells you how many people actually click on your website when they see it in search results.

This combination is pure gold.

For example, you might rank #1 for a keyword with 10,000 monthly searches. Sounds great, right? But if your CTR is only 5%, you’re only getting 500 clicks per month. That’s a red flag that your title tag needs work.

Competitor Comparison

Knowledge is power. And knowing where your competitors rank is powerful knowledge.

Your report might show:

• You rank #4 for “pizza delivery”
• Your main competitor ranks #2
• Another competitor ranks #6

This helps you see the competitive landscape and identify opportunities.

Backlink Overview

Some reports include a quick overview of your backlinks. This isn’t always included, but when it is, it’s helpful.

Backlinks are still one of Google’s top ranking factors. So if you see your rankings drop and your backlinks also dropped, you’ve found your culprit.

Technical SEO Insights

Advanced reports sometimes include technical SEO data like:

• Page loading speed
• Mobile-friendliness scores
• Core Web Vitals

This helps you spot technical issues that might be hurting your rankings.

Visualizations: Graphs, Tables, and Charts

Numbers are boring. Charts and graphs make data come alive.

Good SEO ranking reports use visualizations to help you quickly understand your data. You’ll see:

• Line graphs showing ranking changes over time
• Bar charts comparing your performance to competitors
• Tables organizing all your keyword data

Why SEO Ranking Reports Matter (The Real Reasons)

Let me be brutally honest with you:

Most people create SEO ranking reports because they think they’re supposed to. But they don’t really understand WHY these reports are so important.

Here are the real reasons you need them:

Track Performance and Growth

SEO is a long-term game. Results don’t happen overnight.

Without tracking your rankings, you might give up too early. You might think your SEO isn’t working when it actually is.

I’ve seen this happen countless times. Someone invests in SEO for 2-3 months, doesn’t see immediate results, and quits. If they had been tracking their rankings, they would have seen that they were slowly but steadily climbing.

Identify Ranking Drops or Gains

Google updates its algorithm over 3,000 times per year.

Most of these updates are small. But sometimes, a big update can tank your rankings overnight.

When this happens, you need to know about it ASAP. The sooner you know, the sooner you can fix it.

Here’s a real story: A client’s website dropped from #1 to #15 for their main keyword after a Google update. Because they had daily ranking reports, they caught it within 24 hours. We were able to fix the issue and get them back to #1 within two weeks.

Without ranking reports, they might not have noticed for months.

Prove ROI to Clients or Stakeholders

Let’s face it: SEO can be hard to explain to non-SEO people.

Your boss might ask: “What exactly are we paying you for?”

Your SEO ranking report is your answer. You can show them:

• “We moved from #15 to #3 for our main keyword”
• “Our average ranking position improved by 40%”
• “We’re now ranking on page 1 for 25 keywords (up from 8)”

Numbers don’t lie. And they’re much more convincing than saying “trust me, the SEO is working.”

Prioritize SEO Tasks with Data

Here’s something most people don’t think about:

Your ranking report helps you decide what to work on next.

For example, let’s say your report shows:

• Keyword A: You rank #11 (page 2)
• Keyword B: You rank #45 (page 5)

Which keyword should you focus on?

Keyword A, obviously. You’re already close to page 1. A little push might get you there.

This is called “low-hanging fruit” optimization, and it’s incredibly effective.

How to Create an SEO Ranking Report (Step-by-Step)

Ready to create your first SEO ranking report?

Here’s exactly how to do it:

Step 1: Choose the Right Tool

This is crucial. The tool you choose will determine the quality of your reports.

Here are your main options:

Free Options:

• Google Search Console (100% free, but limited)

Paid Options:

• Ahrefs ($99/month)
• SEMrush ($119/month)
• SE Ranking ($39/month)
• Moz Pro ($99/month)
• AccuRanker ($109/month)

My recommendation? Start with Google Search Console if you’re on a tight budget. It’s free and gives you basic ranking data.

If you can afford it, go with Ahrefs or SEMrush. They’re more expensive but offer much more comprehensive data.

Step 2: Select Keywords to Track

This is where most people mess up.

They either track too many keywords or track the wrong keywords.

Here’s my simple rule: Start with 20-50 keywords that are most important to your business.

How do you choose them?

1. Your main service/product keywords: These are obvious. If you sell shoes, you want to track “running shoes,” “sneakers,” etc.

2. Long-tail keywords: These are longer, more specific phrases like “best running shoes for flat feet.”

3. Local keywords (if applicable): If you’re a local business, track keywords like “pizza delivery Chicago.”

4. Branded keywords: Track your brand name and variations.

Pro tip: Don’t track keywords you have no chance of ranking for. If you’re a new website, don’t track “insurance” (it’s too competitive). Start with easier keywords and work your way up.

Step 3: Set Location & Device Preferences

This step is often overlooked, but it’s important.

Google shows different results based on:

• Location: Search results in New York are different from results in Los Angeles
• Device: Mobile results are different from desktop results

Make sure your tracking settings match your target audience.

If you’re a local business in Chicago, set your location to Chicago. If most of your traffic comes from mobile, make sure you’re tracking mobile rankings.

Step 4: Customize Report Fields

Most tools let you customize what data appears in your reports.

Here’s what I recommend including:

• Current ranking position
• Previous ranking position
• Change in position
• Search volume
• Current URL ranking
• Best ranking position (historical high)

Don’t include everything. Too much data makes reports hard to read.

Step 5: Automate Reporting

Here’s a time-saving tip that most people ignore:

Automate your reports.

Set them up to run automatically and email you the results. Most tools offer daily, weekly, or monthly automated reports.

I recommend weekly reports for most businesses. Daily reports can be overwhelming, and monthly reports don’t give you enough insight.

Step 6: Export and Share

Finally, you need to get your reports to the right people.

Most tools offer several export options:

• PDF: Great for emailing to clients or bosses
• Excel/CSV: Perfect if you want to manipulate the data
• Live dashboard: Allows real-time access to anyone with the link

Choose the format that works best for your situation.

Best Tools to Generate SEO Ranking Reports

Let me break down the top tools for creating SEO ranking reports:

Google Search Console (Free)

The Good:

• Completely free
• Data straight from Google
• Shows actual clicks and impressions
• Easy to set up

The Bad:

• Limited to 1,000 rows of data
• Only shows your own website (no competitor data)
• Limited historical data
• Basic reporting features

Best for: Beginners and small businesses on a tight budget.

Ahrefs ($129/month)

The Good:

• Incredibly accurate ranking data
• Tracks desktop and mobile separately
• Excellent competitor analysis
• Beautiful, easy-to-read reports
• Tracks rankings daily

The Bad:

• Expensive for small businesses
• Can be overwhelming for beginners
• Limited local SEO features

Best for: Serious SEO professionals and agencies.

SEMrush ($139/month)

The Good:

• All-in-one SEO toolkit
• Great for competitor research
• Includes paid search data
• Excellent reporting features
• Strong local SEO tools

The Bad:

• Expensive
• Steep learning curve
• Some data accuracy issues

Best for: Marketing teams who need more than just ranking reports.

SE Ranking ($52/month)

The Good:

• Very affordable
• White-label reports for agencies
• Good accuracy
• Easy to use

The Bad:

• Fewer features than premium tools
• Limited keyword research capabilities
• Smaller database

Best for: Small agencies and freelancers.

Moz Pro ($49/month)

The Good:

• User-friendly interface
• Great for beginners
• Excellent educational resources
• Good local SEO features

The Bad:

• Smaller keyword database
• Less frequent updates
• Limited advanced features

Best for: Small to medium businesses new to SEO.

AccuRanker ($129/month)

The Good:

• Lightning-fast ranking updates
• Extremely accurate data
• Great for agencies
• Excellent API

The Bad:

• Expensive
• Limited additional SEO features
• Focused only on rank tracking

Best for: Agencies and businesses that need real-time ranking data.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the best free tool for SEO ranking reports?

Google Search Console is hands down the best free tool for SEO ranking reports. It gives you data straight from Google, shows you which keywords are driving traffic, and costs absolutely nothing.

The downside? It’s limited compared to paid tools. You can’t see competitor data, and the reporting features are basic.

2. How often should I generate an SEO ranking report?

For most businesses, weekly reports are perfect. They give you enough data to spot trends without overwhelming you with daily fluctuations.

Here’s my recommendation:

• Daily reports: Only if you’re managing a large website or running active SEO campaigns
• Weekly reports: Perfect for most businesses
• Monthly reports: Good for small businesses with limited SEO activity

3. What’s the difference between Google Search Console and third-party tools?

Great question. Here’s the breakdown:

Google Search Console:

• Shows data only for your website
• Data comes directly from Google
• Limited to 16 months of historical data
• Focuses on clicks and impressions, not just rankings

Third-party tools (Ahrefs, SEMrush, etc.):

• Show competitor data
• Track rankings more frequently
• Offer more advanced reporting features
• Provide additional SEO insights

Think of it this way: Google Search Console tells you what’s happening. Third-party tools tell you what’s happening AND why it’s happening.

4. How do I share reports with clients?

Most SEO tools offer several sharing options:

1. PDF exports: Professional-looking reports you can email
2. Live dashboards: Clients can access real-time data with a link
3. Automated emails: Reports sent automatically on a schedule
4. White-label reports: Remove your tool’s branding and add your own

I recommend automated weekly PDF reports for most clients. They’re professional, easy to understand, and don’t require clients to log into any systems.

Conclusion

SEO ranking reports aren’t just nice-to-have documents. They’re essential tools for anyone serious about SEO success.

Here’s what we covered:

An SEO ranking report shows you where your website ranks for specific keywords and how those rankings change over time. It’s like a report card for your SEO efforts.

The best reports include keyword rankings, ranking changes, search volume data, competitor comparisons, and easy-to-understand visualizations.

Why do they matter? Because they help you track performance, identify problems early, prove ROI, and prioritize your SEO tasks.

Creating reports is straightforward: choose a tool, select your keywords, set your preferences, customize your fields, automate the process, and share with stakeholders.

For tools, start with Google Search Console if you’re on a budget. Upgrade to Ahrefs or SEMrush when you’re ready for more advanced features.

Remember: SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. Regular tracking and optimization are the keys to long-term success.

Ready to start tracking your rankings? Pick a tool, set up your first report, and begin your journey to SEO success.

The data doesn’t lie. And neither will your improved search rankings.