Rank tracking is an essential part of search engine optimization (SEO). It provides the basis for businesses to measure how they’re doing among search engine result pages (SERPs) via organic keyword position.

That includes the keywords used on your website, the keywords your competitors rank for, and the keyword you’re not intentionally optimizing for.

At first glance, rank tracking is pretty straightforward in terms of seeing where you rank in the SERPs. However, it can be a little confusing if you’ve never done it before. This is especially true for rank tracking your local SEO—namely, Orange County.

To learn more about rank tracking for Orange County SEO, keep reading.

Rank Tracking Source

Rank tracking falls under the SEO analytics category, which is a complicated procedure in itself. Take Google, for example. On the outside, when we need information it’s as easy as saying—not to mention a rather famous phrase—”Google it.”

However, on the inside, Google has well over 200 ranking factors in their algorithm to ensure that user intent is met and that we’re all getting top notch information. 

So, how do you pinpoint your rank tracking source? 

For starters, you need a rank tracking tool. The ranking data is pulled to simulate how a user sees something on Google. This is done when a user types in a keyword or phrase, which is essentially how we discover user intent. Each user search is always pulled from a specific location as well, whether they be at home, in a car, at work, school, etc.

That means your rank tracking source comes from user data, which is collected every time a user types in a search query with your selected keywords. When you’re pulling rank reports, each ranking will be geo tagged by location depending on the tool you’re using, and you can designate specific locations (hence, local SEO).

Rank Tracking and Local SEO 

The location of where you’re pulling your ranking reports from becomes especially important when you’re putting effort into local SEO. This is due to the fact that when you’re engaging with local SEO, you’re inherently working with search results that change based on the physical location of the user. That location can range from city to county, which makes rank tracking for local SEO a little more difficult.

There are also the Google Maps Pack and organic search results to consider.

Google Maps Pack Rank Tracking

When it comes to rank tracking and local SEO, there are a few tools you’ll want to use if you’re rank tracking in the Google Maps Pack. Many of the different rank tracking tools you’ll come across will display your rankings on the Google Maps Pack in the actual search results, so there’s no need to find “special” software to get it right.

However, the rank tracking tool you want to use is one that will show you a map or grid of your rankings across a locality. For example, the Local Falcon or Local Viking software we have here at Zupo include that feature.

These tools are great because the Google Maps Pack can change easily just by a user moving from street to street. Therefore, you’ll want to make sure that the full breadth of your business ranks on Google Maps.

When it comes to organic local rankings, most SEO ranking tools will have the capabilities and features for you to easily view your organic rankings by locality. The most important thing is that you can ensure your business appears for both the Google Maps Pack and the organic search results for the keywords you’re focused on.

Rank Tracking and Orange County SEO

Now for the specifics: Rank tracking in Orange County. Orange County has 34 incorporated cities, so you’ve got a lot of ground to cover.

When you’re engaging in Orange County SEO, we typically recommend that you engage with your local city and county as a whole entity. By doing so, you’re taking a two-pronged approach where you can rank for your local city and county at the same time (minus the extra work).

For example, many of our clients are based out of Irvington. Therefore we typically recommend an Orange County SEO strategy for our clients to go for Irvine and Orange County.

When it comes to rank tracking, as we mentioned earlier, we use a combination strategy of traditional organic search ranking tools. In terms of local SEO, we like to use BrightLocal. Local Vikings and Local Falcon are some other great options, as well as any Google Maps Grid-oriented rank tracking tool to measure your Google My Business profile rankings across city and county.

This will give you the best and closest understanding of the rankings in your city and Orange County.

The Bottom Line

Essentially, when you’re rank tracking you want to ensure you know exactly where your ranking data is sourced from in terms of location. You also want to ensure that you’re rank tracking for both the Google Maps and the organic searches.

Above all, if you want your business to rank locally, you need to rank track for both your city and county. Otherwise, you’ll end up falling behind on the SERPs and you won’t gain the traction you’re looking for.

Still confused about rank tracking? That’s where we come in. Reach out to us today with the keywords you want to rank for.