One of the best things that makes using SEO to increase a website’s reach to traditional marketing is its ability to measure almost every aspect of the approach followed. Free tools like Google Analytics give you in-depth information on the performance of your website. So, you’re never in the dark about whether your SEO strategies yield the desired results or not. 

However, the art of SEO is complex, leaving many people claiming they have no idea where to start. A myriad of factors plays into an individual’s list of ‘to dos’ when it comes to mastering their SEO success, but one thing remains certain: tracking your progress is vital to your SEO strategy. But it could be a challenge to know which SEO metrics to monitor to boost leads and sales.  

So, in this blog we have highlighted the top 7 SEO metrics that all businesses need to track in 2023. But first, let us understand what SEO metrics are in detail. 

What are SEO Metrics? 

Data sets known as SEO metrics are used to assess the effectiveness of SEO in digital marketing campaigns. They enable marketers to evaluate their performance and determine what worked and what didn’t. More importantly, SEO metrics assist companies in honing marketing initiatives so that they are directed toward achieving marketing objectives.  

Some SEO metrics are more relevant than others. You may be familiar with the term “vanity metrics,” which describes actions that may rise with marketing efforts but have no real impact on the company’s bottom line. Impression counts and even click counts are examples of vanity metrics in SEO. 

To better understand the indicators that are most important to the success of your SEO strategy, you should regularly analyze the campaign efforts and outcomes. You can monitor important data, such as time on page, bounce rate, page speed, and more, that impact the outcomes of your SEO efforts. 

Top 7 SEO Metrics to Track In 2023 

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is vital in driving organic traffic to your website and improving your visibility in search engine results. To gauge your SEO strategy’s effectiveness, tracking and measuring relevant metrics is essential. So, let’s go through the top 7 SEO metrics that every business should track. 

• Organic Traffic 

One of the primary goals of SEO is to increase organic traffic to your website. Tracking the number of visitors who find your site through search engines will give you insights into the effectiveness of your  local SEO to improve your ranking. Analyze trends, identify peak periods, and determine how changes to your website impact organic traffic. 

• Keyword Ranking 

Monitoring keyword rankings lets you see how your website performs in search engine results. Track the rankings of your target keywords through keyword research tool and identify areas where you can optimize your content to improve rankings. Keep an eye on your website’s overall performance and individual page rankings by checking the performance of your site on Google Search Console. 

• Conversion Rate 

While driving traffic is important, tracking how many visitors convert into customers or take desired actions on your website is equally essential. Measure conversion rates to understand the effectiveness of your SEO strategies in driving valuable activities, such as purchases, form submissions, or sign-ups. You can establish your business goals in the Google Analytics tool. Then use the model comparison tool to determine which pages generate the most organic conversions. 

• Bounce Rate 

The bounce rate represents the percentage of visitors who leave your website after viewing only one page. A high bounce rate may indicate that visitors didn’t find what they were looking for or faced a poor user experience. Monitoring and optimizing your bounce rate can help improve user engagement and retention. 

• Page Load Time

Users expect fast-loading websites, and search engines prioritize user experience. Page load time is a critical metric to track, affecting user satisfaction and search engine rankings. Regularly test your website’s load time and optimize it to ensure quick and seamless experiences for your visitors. 

• Backlinks 

Backlinks are links from other websites that direct users to your site. Monitoring your backlink profile helps you understand your website’s authority and relevance in search engines’ eyes. Track the number of backlinks, their quality, and the referring domains to gauge the strength of your off-page SEO efforts. You can use SEO tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, Moz, etc to track the number of backlinks referring back to your site. 

• Social Media Engagement 

Although not directly related to SEO, social media can significantly impact your online visibility. Monitor likes, comments, shares, and follower growth across social media platforms. Engaging content and an active social media presence can drive traffic to your website and improve brand awareness. 

Conclusion 

Though SEO trends may change with time, the metrics that one needs to track to gauge the effectiveness of their marketing efforts will remain the same. So, measure what matters and act on the data to ensure you meet your marketing goals.