How to Check Google Ranking of Your Website

Why “rank checking” is slippery

Rankings are personalized, localized, and volatile. What matters isn’t one screenshot; it’s trends by query and the clicks/leads those positions drive. Use this workflow.

Need the full strategy to move positions up after you measure them? Read: How to Rank Higher on Google.

Step 1 — Build your query set

Make a 2-column list: Primary queries (money terms) and Supporting queries (questions, comparisons). Keep it to 25–50 to start.

Step 2 — Use Google Search Console (GSC)

Go to Performance → Search results.

• Filter by page (your money page) and by query (exact terms).
• Toggle Date → Compare (last 28 days vs previous).
• Segment by Device and Country.

Read these columns:

• Impressions = visibility potential
• Average position = weighted mean across many searches
• CTR = how compelling your title/description are

Export the table to CSV for your sheet.

Step 3 — Sanity-check the live SERP

Open an incognito window, set location (or use a proxy), and search your target terms. Note:

• Intent & format: are winners guides, category pages, map pack, videos?
• Coverage gaps: what questions or comparisons do they answer that you don’t?
• Page-level authority: roughly how many unique referring domains point to each winning URL (not just the domain)?

Document this in your sheet; it becomes your refresh brief.

Step 4 — Add a light rank tracker (optional)

If you need snapshots (by city/device), use a simple tracker. Track exact URLs + exact queries, daily or weekly. Judge success by trend lines and lead volume, not day-to-day noise.

Step 5 — Turn insights into action

• If impressions rise but CTR lags, rewrite titles/descriptions to match intent.
• If average position stalls on page 2, expand and refresh content sections based on your SERP brief.
• If stronger pages outrank you, add internal links from relevant hubs and secure a few editorial backlinks to the target URL.
• If a stubborn URL has baggage, consider relaunching on a cleaner, related slug and 301 the old page → new page.

For a broader execution plan—on-page upgrades, internal linking, and ethical link earning—see our rank higher on Google playbook.

Glossary (quick hits)

• Average position: the mean of where your result appeared across many searches—don’t treat it like a single slot.
• Map Pack vs. Organic: local pack positions are separate; track each independently.
• Visibility, not vanity: trending up in impressions and clicks beats one “#1” screenshot.

Simple tracking template (copy this)

Update weekly. Add a “Change” column to color wins/losses. Tie each query to a specific action (title test, new section, internal links, outreach).