Position Distribution

Ranking distribution is a central SEO metric that shows how your keyword positions are distributed in search results. It provides insights into your website's visibility in search engines and helps identify optimization potential.

What is Ranking Distribution?

Ranking distribution is a central SEO metric that shows how your keyword positions are distributed in search results. It provides insights into your website's visibility in search engines and helps identify optimization potential.

Importance of Ranking Distribution

Analyzing ranking distribution is essential for successful SEO strategies because it:

  • Measures visibility: Shows how often your website appears in top results
  • Identifies trends: Recognizes improvements or deteriorations over time
  • Sets priorities: Helps focus on the most important keywords
  • Analyzes competition: Compares your performance with competitors

Types of Ranking Distribution

1. Positional Distribution

Distribution of keywords across different positions in SERPs:

Position
Number of Keywords
Percentage Share
Average CTR
1-3
45
15%
28.5%
4-10
120
40%
9.6%
11-20
90
30%
2.4%
21+
45
15%
0.8%

2. Thematic Distribution

Distribution by content categories or topic areas:

  • Main categories: 40% of rankings
  • Subcategories: 35% of rankings
  • Long-tail keywords: 25% of rankings

3. Device-specific Distribution

Different ranking distributions depending on device type:

Device Type
Average Position
Top-10 Share
Mobile-First Index
Computer
8.2
65%
Standard
Mobile
9.1
58%
Primary
Tablet
8.7
62%
Standard

Measuring Ranking Distribution

Software and Methods

  1. Google Search Console
    • Position reports
    • Impression data
    • Click-through rates
  2. SEO Tools
  3. Manual Tracking
    • Regular Search Results checks
    • Competitor monitoring
    • Trend analyses

Optimizing Ranking Distribution

Strategies for Better Distribution

  1. Expand top positions
  2. Improve middle positions
  3. Discover new keywords

Common Problems and Solutions

Problem 1: Uneven Distribution

Symptoms:

  • Many keywords on position 20+
  • Few top-10 rankings
  • Large gaps in distribution

Solutions:

Problem 2: Ranking Losses

Symptoms:

  • Declining positions
  • Loss of top rankings
  • Negative trends

Solutions:

Monitoring and Reporting

Important KPIs

  1. Average Position
    • Overall performance overview
    • Track trend development
  2. Top-10 Share
    • Percentage of keywords in top-10
    • Target: 70%+ in top-10
  3. Position Distribution
    • Detailed breakdown
    • Identify improvement potential
  4. SERP Features Share

Reporting Frequency

  • Daily: Monitor critical keywords
  • Weekly: Analyze overall distribution
  • Monthly: Create detailed reports
  • Quarterly: Strategic adjustments

Best Practices

1. Continuous Monitoring

  • Use automated tools
  • Regular manual checks
  • Alerts for critical changes

2. Segmented Review

  • Separate by device type
  • Thematic grouping
  • Consider keyword difficulty

3. Competitor Comparison

  • Conduct benchmark analyses
  • Create gap analyses
  • Adopt best practices

Related Topics