SEO is a powerhouse for driving traffic, generating over 1,000% traffic than organic social media. With such impressive statistics, it's no wonder businesses are eager to attain their maximum potential using SEO. One such SEO practice is using SEO reporting dashboards that increase your productivity and provide a streamlined view of critical metrics, eliminating the need to sift through countless data sources.
Also, using ready-made SEO dashboard templates can jumpstart your efforts. These templates save time, are simple to customize, and don't require any specialized technological expertise.
In this article, we'll walk you through the process of creating your SEO reporting dashboard, as well as provide a free template.
What is an SEO Reporting Dashboard?
SEO reporting dashboard is a tool used by firms to monitor as well as evaluate the status of SEO of their website. It collects information from several other SEO tools and then, given in a concise form with the use of charts and graphs, shows how your site is ranking in such search engines as Google.
For instance, when using an SEO reporting dashboard, an organization such as Airbnb can see how many visitors are coming to their site via Google. This saves them time and enables them to identify issues easily, such as how to improve the ranking of some pages or improve their website speed.
Types of SEO Reporting Dashboards
Here are the main types of SEO dashboards, each serving different purposes:
In-House SEO Dashboards
A company’s internal team uses these to track SEO performance. The data here can be more detailed, showing technical SEO metrics, backlinks, and specific keyword data. In-house teams, like those at Coca-Cola or Spotify, use these dashboards to closely monitor their websites's SEO health and make daily adjustments.
Client-Facing SEO Dashboards
Customer-facing SEO dashboards are reports or dashboards that you offer to your clients to demonstrate how their SEO efforts are progressing. They often feature critical indicators such as website traffic, keyword rankings, and backlink profiles, which are presented in an understandable format. These dashboards allow clients to see the results of their SEO investment and comprehend the influence on their business after submitting an SEO proposal and landing a client.
Customized SEO Dashboards
A customized SEO dashboard is built specifically to fit the unique needs of a business or project. Companies such as Tesla or Apple may require different data than a small firm, so they build their dashboard to measure only what is most important, like local search results, mobile SEO, etc. These customized dashboards show them only what is relevant to them.
How to Create Your SEO Reporting Dashboard?
Creating your SEO dashboard may appear hard, but it's rather simple when broken down into sections. Here's how to make one from scratch:
Step 1: Choose the Right Tools
First, select a program that can import your SEO data and display it in an easy-to-read style. Google Analytics, SEMrush, or Ahrefs (premium tools with comprehensive SEO reporting features) are among the most popular, as is SE Ranking (ideal for agencies managing many clients). Select a tool that meets your needs and budget.
Step 2: Pick Important KPIs
A KPI (Key Performance Indicator) tells you how well the SEO is working. Here are some important ones to include:
- Organic Traffic
- Keyword Rankings
- Backlinks
- Page Load Speed
- Click-Through Rate (CTR)
.
Your KPIs should be aligned with your business objectives, like increasing traffic or improving rankings.
Step 3: Link Your Data Sources
Now, link your data sources (Google Analytics, Google Search Console, etc.) to your chosen tool. This ensures that your SEO dashboard pulls real-time data automatically. Most tools will guide you through connecting these sources.
Step 4: Organize the Data in a User-Friendly Manner
After you've determined your KPIs, organize the data in an easy-to-understand way. Use graphs and charts to visualize the data. For example, line graphs for keyword rankings and pie charts for traffic sources. Avoid clutter and too much text to make sure it’s easy to read at a glance.
Step 5: Customize Your Dashboard
Every business has different needs, so feel free to tweak the layout and design. Add filters to view data by date ranges or focus on specific campaigns. Tailoring the dashboard will make it more useful for you or your team.
Step 6: Review and Adjust Regularly
SEO is constantly evolving, so check your dashboard frequently and adapt as needed. Add or remove KPIs based on what is most critical for your current goals.
Essential KPIs to Include in an SEO Reporting Dashboard
3 Best Software For Managing SEO Reporting Dashboards
When it comes to SEO data dashboards, having the correct tools might mean the difference. The following are three SEO tools that you can try out.
SEMrush
SEMrush is an all-encompassing search engine optimization tool available in the market that contains keyword analysis, site auditing, and competitor analysis and can also integrate SEO reports. It is best for firms, which are in dire need of special SEO tools and in-depth analytics.
Top Features:
- Seo Tools: Find keywords, evaluate backlinks, conduct site audits, and monitor search engine rankings.
- Content Marketing: Find interesting topics, improve your website’s ranking, and enhance your text with the help of artificial intelligence.
- Competitor Research: Study your competitors online, find out more about their marketing techniques, and determine the areas where you can be of better service.
- PPC Advertising: Manage your PPC campaigns properly by determining the best keywords, analyzing clicks, and evaluating competitors' advertisements.
- Social Media Management: Posting and planning your content, monitoring your social media campaign results, and monitoring your competitor’s social strategy.
Pricing:
- Pro: $139.95 monthly, $117.33 yearly
- Guru: $249.95 monthly, $208.33 yearly
- Business: $499.95 monthly, $416.66 yearly
Ahrefs
Ahrefs is a tool best known for its backlinking and keyword-tracking operations. Altogether, it offers everything for evaluating the SEO performance and clear and comprehensible reports for rookies and professionals. The tool is designed to assist marketers and businesses in improving their rankings across search engines and establishing a sound and powerful online reputation.
Top Features
- Site Explorer: Analyze any website's SEO performance.
- Keywords Explorer: Discover and analyze keywords for your SEO strategy.
- AI Content Grader: Evaluate and improves the quality of your content
- Site Audit: Do a comprehensive check of your website's health.
- Content Explorer: Find popular content and track mentions and backlinks.
- Rank Tracker: Know your website's rankings for selected keywords.
- Backlink Analysis: Get reports about your website’s backlink profile.
Pricing:
- Lite: $129 monthly, $108 yearly
- Standard: $249 monthly, $208 yearly
- Advanced: $449 monthly, $374 yearly
- Enterprise: $14,990
SE Ranking
Search engine optimization specialists, SEO companies, and corporations can utilize SE Ranking for the SEO study, monitoring, content promotion, and local SEO. It provides information concerning your websites through a simple to comprehend graphical user interface. It also distinguishes itself by utilizing powerful AI and machine learning technology to fuel some of its unique features.
Top Features:
- Keyword Suggestion Tool: Find suitable keywords and phrases to target.
- Competitive Research: Gives details concerning the strategies that your rivals use in SEO.
- Backlink Checker: Withdraws backlink analysis for you to evaluate and determine where you stand on your backlink profile.
- SERP Checker: Monitors and tracks your website’s position in the search engine results pages, or SERPs.
- Rank Tracker: Gives tracking of your keyword rankings as well as stats and information related to the search place of your choice.
- Website Analysis: Scans your entire website and provides you with a report on SEO problems and opportunities.
- On-Page SEO Checker: Search engine optimization: looks through pages on the WWW to determine if they are coded according to the rules of SEO.
Pricing
- Essential: $65 monthly, $52 yearly
- Pro: $119 monthly, $95.20 yearly
- Business: $259 monthly, $207.20 yearly
Pro Tip: Are you a small business that needs to find the perfect small business management software? Check out our comprehensive comparison of the 12 best small business management software options and discover which tools can transform your business.
How Do SEO Reporting Dashboards Help Companies?
An SEO reporting dashboard offers many benefits that can enhance your website performance. Here are the key benefits of using SEO dashboards:
- Saves Time: No need to manually gather data from different sources—everything is in one place.
- Track Progress: Quickly see how your SEO efforts are paying off, like improvements in rankings or traffic.
- Clear Visualization: SEO dashboards turn complex data into easy-to-understand charts and graphs.
- Customization: Personalize the dashboard by focusing on your most important metrics.
- Spot Issues Early: Catch problems, like slow page speed or a drop in rankings, before they get worse.
- Data-Driven Decisions: Data from the SEO reporting dashboard will provide you clarity on where to improve your website.
Best Practices for SEO Reporting Dashboards
Here are five unique best practices for creating effective SEO reporting dashboards:
- Focus On Actionable Data
Include only the metrics that drive decisions. For example, if you’re focusing on improving keyword rankings, highlight changes in those rankings rather than just showing raw data. This helps you quickly spot what actions need to be taken.
- Use Clear Visuals
Choose visuals that make the data easy to understand. For instance, use bar charts to compare keyword performance over time or pie charts to show the distribution of traffic sources. Avoid clutter by keeping visualizations simple and to the point.
- Customize For The Audience
Tailor the dashboard based on who will use it. For clients, emphasize metrics that reflect their goals, like increased traffic or conversions. For internal teams, focus on technical aspects like site speed and keyword gaps.
- Regularly Update And Review
Keep your dashboard up-to-date by analyzing and changing the data regularly to reflect current goals and SEO trends. Monthly check-ins can assist you in determining whether your dashboard remains current and useful.
- Track Competitor Metrics
Include competitor analysis, such as monitoring keyword ranks, backlinks, and content performance. Monitoring competition provides vital insights that might help guide future SEO tactics.
Use SEO Data To Get Tangible Results
An SEO reporting dashboard can change how you track and enhance your website's performance. And so it is important to have one on your side. Having customizable templates is one of the best ways that you can save time by using the same templates for every client after personalization. Cone has numerous FREE templates for you to check out.
A well-designed dashboard helps you to see the big picture and fix issues quickly whenever they arise. The right dashboard is more than a tool; it's your SEO command center. So, get started today and transform your SEO data into actionable insights that produce real results!
FAQs
- How should I choose the appropriate KPIs for my SEO dashboard?
Find KPIs relevant to your purposes, such as boosting traffic or improving rankings. For significant insights, look at data like organic traffic, keyword ranks, and backlinks.
- Can I add additional data sources to my SEO dashboard?
Yes, most SEO solutions include connectivity with a variety of data sources, such as Google Analytics and Search Console, allowing you to draw in comprehensive data for a complete picture.
- Are there free options for creating an SEO dashboard?
Yes, there are free templates available online that you can customize to track essential SEO metrics without any cost. They are great for starting out.
- How do I ensure my SEO dashboard is easy to understand?
Use clear visuals like graphs and charts. Group related data together and avoid clutter. This makes it easy to interpret and quickly grasp key insights.
- What should I do if I see unexpected changes in my SEO metrics?
Set up alerts for significant changes. Investigate the causes, such as content updates or technical issues, and adjust your strategies accordingly to address any problems.