Understanding how to check keyword ranking in Google Analytics is essential for digital marketers, SEO specialists, and business owners who want to track the performance of their website and content strategies. While Google Analytics provides deep insights into website traffic, user behavior, and content engagement, it does not directly show keyword rankings in the traditional SEO sense.
However, with a smart combination of tools, data integration, and strategy, you can get reliable insights into keyword performance and rankings. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through various methods to check keyword rankings using Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and third-party integrations—plus, we’ll show you how NuxLay Digital Agency uses these insights to drive success for their clients.
Table of Contents
Why Keyword Ranking Still Matters
In the era of semantic search and AI-driven algorithms, keyword rankings may not be the only metric that matters—but they’re still critical. Ranking high on search engine results pages (SERPs) increases visibility, organic traffic, and ultimately conversions. Monitoring your keyword ranking helps you:
- Track SEO performance over time
- Identify opportunities for improvement
- Understand what content is driving organic success
- Benchmark against competitors
If you’re wondering how to check keyword ranking in Google Analytics, it’s important to know that while GA doesn’t display rankings directly, it can still play a crucial role in tracking SEO performance when combined with other tools.
Can You See Keyword Rankings in Google Analytics?
Google Analytics by itself does not show specific keyword rankings due to privacy updates (especially after the introduction of “not provided” keywords). However, you can still gain valuable keyword data using a combination of Google Analytics + Google Search Console integration, as well as some additional tools.
Here’s what you can do with Google Analytics:
- Track which pages receive organic traffic
- Understand which sources drive search visitors
- Identify behavioral trends such as bounce rate and time on page
- Monitor goal completions and conversions by landing page
To check actual keyword rankings, you’ll need to take the next step and connect GA with Google Search Console.
Step-by-Step: How to Check Keyword Ranking in Google Analytics (via Search Console)
To unlock keyword data and rankings inside Google Analytics, follow these steps:
Step 1: Connect Google Search Console to Google Analytics
- Go to your Google Analytics account.
- Click on Admin in the bottom-left corner.
- Under the Property Settings, find the Search Console Settings.
- Click Adjust Search Console and link your GA property to your GSC property.
- Confirm and save the configuration.
Step 2: Access Search Console Reports in GA
Once the integration is done, navigate to:
Acquisition → Search Console → Queries
This section gives you insight into:
- Keywords (search queries) your site appears for
- Click-through rates (CTR)
- Impressions
- Average position (i.e., ranking)
Although the average position isn’t exact for every search, it provides a strong estimate of where your pages are ranking for particular keywords.
Understanding the Metrics: What the Data Means
When learning how to check keyword ranking in Google Analytics via Search Console data, it’s important to understand the key metrics presented:
- Impressions: The number of times your site was shown in search results.
- Clicks: How many times users clicked your link.
- CTR (Click-Through Rate): Clicks divided by impressions—tells you how compelling your listing is.
- Average Position: Your average spot in Google search results for the keyword.
For example, if your site shows up at positions 3, 5, and 2 for a query and gets 3 impressions, the average position would be 3.3. This gives you a directional understanding of how you’re performing for different queries.
Why You Should Go Beyond Google Analytics
While Google Analytics and Search Console provide a solid foundation, if you’re serious about SEO, consider layering your data with tools like:
- SEMrush
- Ahrefs
- Moz Pro
- Google Data Studio (Looker Studio)
These tools offer more refined keyword ranking reports, daily updates, and competitor insights. Many of them also integrate with Google Analytics for unified reporting.
How NuxLay Digital Agency Tracks Keyword Rankings for Clients
At NuxLay Digital Agency, we go beyond basic analytics. Our team integrates Google Analytics, Search Console, and premium SEO tools to give our clients a crystal-clear view of their keyword performance. We build custom dashboards that not only show rankings but also map them against organic traffic trends, conversion rates, and on-page behavior.
Using these combined insights, NuxLay can identify which keywords are performing well, which ones need improvement, and where the next opportunities lie. Our expert team uses this data to implement high-impact strategies that boost visibility, traffic, and revenue.
Whether you’re a startup or an established brand, NuxLay’s data-driven SEO services ensure you’re always ahead of the curve.
How to Build Keyword Ranking Reports in Google Analytics
To track keyword performance consistently, you can create custom dashboards in Google Data Studio using Google Analytics and Search Console as data sources.
Here’s a simple way to do it:
- Open Google Data Studio and create a new report.
- Connect both Google Analytics and Google Search Console as data sources.
- Use dimensions like Search Query and Landing Page.
- Add metrics such as Clicks, CTR, Impressions, and Average Position.
- Set filters to isolate branded vs non-branded keywords.
This dashboard becomes your go-to tool to visualize how your keyword strategy is evolving over time.
Pro Tip: Segment by Landing Pages
In Google Analytics, go to:
Behavior → Site Content → Landing Pages
Now apply a secondary dimension like “Source / Medium” to focus on organic traffic. You can then review which landing pages are attracting the most search traffic and pair them with keyword data from Search Console.
This approach is particularly useful for identifying:
- Which pages are driving the most organic traffic
- Potential keywords those pages are ranking for
- Pages that need optimization
What to Do After You Find Your Keyword Rankings
Knowing how to check keyword ranking in Google Analytics is just the first step. The next part is acting on the data. Here’s how:
1. Optimize Underperforming Pages
If a page ranks in position 10–20 for a high-volume keyword, you have a strong opportunity. Improve the content, add internal links, and ensure on-page SEO is in place.
2. Update Winning Content
Even top-ranking content needs maintenance. Regularly update content, fix broken links, and add fresh information to keep your rankings secure.
3. Expand with Long-Tail Keywords
Look for queries where you rank between positions 5–15 and consider building supporting content around long-tail variations.
4. Monitor Competitors
Use third-party SEO tools to track competitors’ keyword rankings. Benchmark your performance and identify keyword gaps.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
If you’re new to tracking keyword rankings in Google Analytics, avoid these common errors:
- Ignoring Search Console: Without linking it, you won’t get keyword data.
- Not using filters: Data overload happens fast—filters keep you focused.
- Looking at rankings in isolation: Combine rankings with traffic, engagement, and conversions for a complete picture.
- Assuming average position equals actual rank: It’s an average across many searches, not a guaranteed position.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to check keyword ranking in Google Analytics can feel confusing at first, but with the right setup and knowledge, it becomes one of your most powerful tools for SEO growth. By combining GA with Google Search Console and third-party tools, you can access meaningful, accurate keyword data to guide your digital marketing strategy.
NuxLay Digital Agency specializes in turning this data into action. Our SEO experts don’t just track rankings—they interpret them, build strategies around them, and drive results that matter. If you’re looking to improve your keyword performance and make smarter digital decisions, NuxLay is your trusted partner.
