How to Use Google Analytics to Track SEO Success
Curious about what catapults a brand into the spotlight? SEO is the powerhouse behind massive online visibility. Just look at Nike, whose SEO-driven strategies pushed its organic traffic through the roof, even during the pandemic.
However, implementing SEO strategies is only half the battle. You need a solid plan to track and analyse their effectiveness. That’s where Google Analytics comes in. It’s about making that data work for you. Let’s dig into how to use Google Analytics to track SEO success, sharpen your tactics and ensure they deliver.
Google Analytics for SEO Success Tracking: Setting the Stage
First things first, when you’re using Google Analytics for SEO success tracking, make sure your Google Analytics is hooked up to Google Search Console. This setup is crucial—it gives you a bird’s-eye view of how search activities influence your site’s overall dynamics.
Not sure where to start? The pros at First Page Digital New Zealand are here to help with a smooth setup, transforming complex data into strategic decisions.
Our Tips on Measuring SEO Success Using Analytics
1. Track Organic Traffic
The backbone of Google Analytics for SEO success tracking is understanding your organic traffic. Google Analytics provides data on the volume of visitors coming from search engines, directly reflecting your SEO’s impact.
Navigate to Reports → Acquisition → Traffic acquisition to monitor how these numbers change over time. An uptick means you’re on the right track, while a downward trend might signal it’s time for a strategy shift.
2. Analyse Keyword Performance
With 75% of users never scrolling past the first page of Google search results, the higher your ranks, the more likely your brand will be discovered. This is why it’s essential to track and target keywords with high-volume searches. Supercharge keyword tracking by linking Google Analytics with Google Search Console. This integration reveals which search queries drive traffic to your site, enabling you to level up your SEO approach.
Head over to Reports → Search Console → Queries to get started. This data is gold in measuring SEO success using analytics—it helps you focus on keywords that are performing well and identify others that might be just a few tweaks away from climbing to Google’s first page.
3. Evaluate Top Performing Pages
Discover your traffic magnets by checking out Behaviour → Site Content → All Pages. Use this insight to boost your top pages even further and replicate their success across your site. And don’t overlook the power of referral traffic.
For insights on who’s linking to you and how that’s bolstering your site, visit Acquisition → Traffic acquisition and filter for ‘referral’. These connections are invaluable for enhancing your site’s authority and SEO rep.
4. Enhance User Engagement
Another thing to keep in mind when learning how to use Google Analytics to track SEO success is watching your engagement metrics. We know low engagement rates can negatively impact your ranks. These data, like bounce rates and session duration, are critical indicators of how well visitors interact with your site.
Go to Acquisition → User Acquisition to review your average engagement rate for Organic Search. How can you boost engagement? Enrich your content and optimise your site’s user experience.
5. Optimise for Mobile Users
Fun fact: Think with Google concluded that 18% of local smartphone searches lead to a sale in one day. This is why it’s vital to make your website mobile-friendly and use Google Analytics for SEO success tracking to know where to improve. Analyse mobile performance via User → Tech → Tech Details and select the Device category from the Browser dropdown. With this information, you can make necessary adjustments to ensure your site offers a killer mobile experience.
6. Ensure Your Pages Are Speedy
Fast-loading pages win in user experience and SEO. How do they link? Google ranks your site while considering the user experience, and a page that takes forever to load can pack a punch to your campaign.
While Google Analytics doesn’t provide direct site speed reports, Google’s PageSpeed Insights can help you evaluate and enhance your site’s performance. Looking for other ways to speed things up? Reduce the size of images and use compatible file formats for a quicker loading time.
7. Fix Broken Links
Broken links can seriously dent your SEO efforts by ruining the user experience when visitors are brought to non-existing or 404 error pages. To maintain your site’s integrity and ranking, regularly scan for and fix broken links or even set up a plugin that notifies you of any broken links and redirects them.
8. Conversions and Page-Specific Performance
Monitor how well your pages convert visitors into customers or leads. You can measure SEO success using Google Analytics by setting up specific goals to track essential conversions and identify high-performing pages. This gives you insight into whether browsers are becoming buyers on your site.
For data on which page gets people clicking, navigate to Engagement → Pages and Screens to see your insights on Views and Users. You can also add the source or medium for information on your traffic source. Simply choose the + icon and go to Traffic Source → Session Source / Medium.
Dominate the Game & Stay Ahead
Skill up with our techniques on how to use Google Analytics to track SEO success, and you’ll keep your SEO strategies laser-sharp while ensuring they deliver maximum impact. Need more insights or hands-on assistance? Reach out to First Page, your go-to SEO Agency in New Zealand, ready to drive your site to the top of search engine rankings.