7 Ways to Utilize Ahrefs for Tracking Ranking Progress On Long-Tail Keywords

In the ever-evolving landscape of SEO, tracking long-tail keyword performance is crucial for success. We’ve gathered insights from SEO Consultants and Founders, offering their single best practices for using Ahrefs effectively. From setting up custom keyword alerts to setting dedicated projects for long-tail tracking, discover the top seven strategies to enhance your ranking progress.

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Set Up Custom Keyword Alerts

One of the coolest tricks up my sleeve for utilizing Ahrefs to track ranking progress on long-tail keywords is to set up custom alerts for those specific keywords. Imagine this: It’s like having your own personal SEO watchdog that barks (or emails) whenever there’s a significant movement in your rankings. I once had a client in the artisanal cheese niche—yes, that’s a thing—and we were targeting some really quirky long-tail keywords like “best truffle-infused brie in Brooklyn.”

By setting up these custom alerts, we could instantly see when our content tweaks or new backlinks made a difference. It’s like having a radar that keeps you in the loop without you having to dig through endless data. Next time you’re in Ahrefs, give those custom alerts a whirl and let the tool do some of the heavy lifting for you.

Lukasz Zelezny, SEO Consultant, SEO ANT LTD

Utilize Position Tracker Reporting

As the founder and owner of a marketing agency and someone who’s been using Ahrefs for years, one of the most effective ways I track progress in ranking long-tail keywords is through their Position Tracker reporting. Beyond just snapshot data, this dynamic tool charts historical ranking trends with key metrics like best position, search volume, and precise anchor texts that have improved or slipped over custom periods.

Specifically for long-tail targets, I have analysts narrow down to keyword clusters within a key category for regular client reporting cadences. For example, a law firm may want increased visibility across various specific litigation and statute combinations. By adding these 20+ related long-tail terms with respectable search volumes into a Position Tracker project, we can assess holistic ranking change velocity across the niche.

Leslie Gilmour, Founder, BeFound SEO

Group Keywords into Clusters

For such tasks, I’m setting up detailed tracking for clusters of related long-tail keywords. By grouping similar long-tail keywords into clusters in Ahrefs’ Rank Tracker, I can monitor the performance of content targeting specific topics.

I recommend using Ahrefs’ alerts feature to stay updated on ranking changes for these keyword clusters. This proactive monitoring lets me quickly react to any significant changes in keyword rankings—whether positive or negative.

By analyzing these alerts, I can determine if a drop in rankings is isolated or part of a broader trend, which helps in refining the SEO strategy effectively. For example, if a specific cluster starts performing poorly, I can quickly audit the related content to enhance its quality or relevance, thus maintaining a high presence in SERPs.

Ihor Lavrenenko, CEO, Dental SEO Expert

Monitor Keywords with Rank Tracker

Use Ahrefs’ Rank Tracker to monitor long-tail keywords. Regularly check the “Organic Keywords” report for shifts in rankings and traffic. Set up alerts for significant changes. This practice ensures you stay updated on keyword performance and can quickly adapt your SEO strategy for better visibility and engagement.

Koray Tugberk GUBUR, Founder and Owner, Holistic SEO

Regularly Track Specific Long-Tail Phrases

When utilizing Ahrefs for tracking ranking progress on long-tail keywords, I set up regular keyword tracking for specific long-tail phrases relevant to my content. I closely monitor fluctuations in rankings over time, paying attention to both gains and losses. 

By analyzing the performance of these keywords in relation to my competitors and adjusting my content and optimization strategies accordingly, I can capitalize on emerging opportunities and mitigate potential challenges. 

Consistent monitoring and strategic optimization based on Ahrefs data enable me to continuously improve my search visibility and drive targeted traffic to my website, ultimately leading to increased sales and revenue.

Tim Woda, Founder, White Peak

Create Projects for Niche Keywords

If you want to track ranking progress on long-tail keywords using Ahrefs, you would have to set up custom keyword tracking through its Rank Tracker tool. Aim to track long-tail keywords relevant to your niche, so you can see whether your content is performing well over time.

Find Long-Tail Keywords That Are Important to Your Business

These would be the keywords that your target audience is likely to be searching for and that have a good balance between search volume and competition. You can use Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer, looking at volume, keyword difficulty, and related terms.

Here are three pointers to do this effectively:

Create a New Project: Set up a new project in Ahrefs by adding the website URL.

Add Keywords: You can add the long-tail keywords one by one, or if you are in a hurry, you can upload them in bulk.

Set Up Competitors: Add competitor URLs to keep an eye on your ranks against theirs. This would provide you with a proper idea of your competitive landscape.

Customize the Tracking Settings: Select the exact search engines and locations in which you would like to be tracking these keywords so the data is really relevant to your target audience.

Keep an eye on the Rank Tracker from time to time so you can see how your keywords are doing. Monitor these metrics, especially ranking position, traffic potential, and visibility trends.

Track the data from the tool regularly so that you can analyze it for patterns and insights. For instance, you will realize that some of the long-tail keywords are increasing in rank; thus, you may think about creating more content on this topic. Otherwise, if there are any keywords underperforming, a review of the existing content can be optimized for the best match with search intent.

Using the Ahrefs Rank Tracker for long-tail keywords can provide important insights into your SEO progress; you will then be in a good position to make data-driven decisions toward improving your ranking.

Alex Cornici, SEO Manager, Awesome Hibachi

Set Dedicated Projects for Long-Tail Tracking

Use Ahrefs’ Rank Tracker tool to monitor long-tail keywords by setting up a dedicated project for your site. Input your target long-tail keywords and ensure you track them on both desktop and mobile. Set up alerts to get notified of significant ranking changes. 

Use the “SERP Features” column to identify opportunities for featured snippets and other SERP features. Regularly review the “Ranking Distribution” to assess overall keyword performance and spot trends. This focused tracking helps you stay on top of your long-tail keyword strategy and quickly adapt to changes.

Andy Hathaway, PPC Consulting, Clarity PPC

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