Check My SEO Rating: The Smart Way

So, you’ve invested in an SEO service. You’ve updated your content, added keywords, and your site feels sharper than ever.

Now you’re wondering: how do I check my SEO ranking and know if any of this actually worked?

Good news! Checking your SEO ranking isn’t rocket science. Even better, modern tools make it easy to track your progress and pinpoint what’s working (and what’s not).

This guide will walk you through:

• Why your SEO ranking matters

• Step-by-step methods to track it

• The best tools to use in 2025

• What to do if your rankings aren’t improving

• How to stay ahead of your competitors long-term

Let’s dive in and take control of your SEO results.

Why ‘Check My SEO Ranking’ Is the Smartest First Step

You can’t grow what you don’t measure.

If you’ve invested in SEO – whether through an agency, a freelancer, or DIY tactics – you need to track the outcome. Otherwise, you’re flying blind.

When you regularly check your SEO ranking, you can:

• Measure the effectiveness of your SEO service

• Spot sudden drops before they impact traffic

• Identify your top-performing pages

• See which keywords are gaining traction

• Benchmark against competitors

SEO is a long game, but that doesn’t mean you should wait months to see progress. Tracking gives you insights today.

How to Check My SEO Ranking: Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Identify Your Target Keywords

Before you check anything, list the keywords you want to rank for. These might include:

• Product or service keywords (e.g. “organic pet shampoo”)

• Local keywords (e.g. “best sushi in Leeds”)

• Long-tail queries (e.g. “how to fix a leaking garden tap”)

• Branded terms

If your SEO provider gave you a keyword list, start there. If not, use tools like Ubersuggest, Ahrefs, or Google Keyword Planner to generate a list based on your content.

Step 2: Use Google Search Console (Free)

This is Google’s official tool for tracking your website’s search performance.

What you can see:

• Which keywords you’re ranking for

• Your average position for each keyword

• How often your site appears (impressions)

• Click-through rates (CTR)

To use it:

1. Go to Google Search Console

2. Navigate to Performance > Search Results

3. Filter by date, keyword, or page to analyse performance

This tool alone can help you monitor your SEO ranking over time, and it’s 100% free.

Step 3: Use Dedicated Rank Tracking Tools

Google Search Console is powerful, but if you want more precision or competitor data, try a third-party SEO ranking checker.

Here are top tools in 2025:

Using these tools, you can simply enter your domain and target keywords and track your positions across Google and even Bing.

Common Mistakes When You Check Your SEO Ranking

Just typing your keyword into Google and seeing where you show up? Not reliable.

Why?

• Results are personalised (location, search history, device)

• Rankings fluctuate daily

• You may be in an incognito bubble or hitting a different SERP variant

Stick to professional tools or Google Search Console for accurate, unbiased results.

What to Do If Your Rankings Are Stagnant

You’ve done the work. You’re checking your SEO ranking regularly. But things aren’t moving. Now what?

1. Improve On-Page SEO

• Use tools like PageTest.AI to test different headlines, meta descriptions, and layouts

• Add internal links to relevant pages

• Improve keyword usage without stuffing

• Add structured data (schema) to help Google understand your content

2. Fix Technical SEO Issues

• Use Lighthouse or Screaming Frog to find broken links, slow-loading pages, or duplicate content

• Ensure your site is mobile-friendly

• Check for crawl errors in Search Console

3. Build Backlinks

If your competitors outrank you, they may just have stronger link profiles. Use SEMRush to analyse their backlinks and 3Way.Social to start outreach.

Advanced Tips for Monitoring Rankings in 2025

• Set up email alerts in SEMrush or Ahrefs to detect sudden drops

• Track both desktop and mobile rankings (they can differ!)

• Group keywords by topic or intent to monitor progress across a funnel

• A/B test your SEO content with tools like PageTest.AI to find high-performing variations

• Compare with competitors to benchmark growth

Remember: ranking alone isn’t the goal. Clicks and conversions are what really matter.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been asking yourself, “How do I check my SEO ranking and actually understand what’s working?”—you’re now equipped with the tools and steps to do it.

Regular tracking not only gives you peace of mind after purchasing SEO services, but it also empowers you to:

• Hold service providers accountable

• Make smarter content and UX decisions

• Optimise your site for real business outcomes

And if you want to go beyond tracking, to actually test and improve your content in real time, PageTest.AI is a great place to start. From meta description testing to layout experiments, you can see exactly what helps your pages climb (and convert).

Ready to check your SEO ranking with confidence?
Start with Search Console, track with your favourite tool, and test smarter with PageTest.AI.