The Keyword Performance screen for Index Curves offers a focused view of the keywords included in your custom index during its creation.
This screen allows you to analyze the performance of these keywords, their associated metrics, and the top-ranking URLs tied to them.
Unlike Category or Location Curves, where keywords are aggregated from broader datasets, the keywords here are limited to the specific selections made during index setup.
What Is the Keyword Performance Screen in Index Curves?
The Keyword Performance screen displays all the keywords you added to your index, along with critical metrics such as rankings, MSV, CPC, and top-ranking URLs. It provides insights into how these specific keywords are performing and their contribution to your overall strategy.
Key Features:
Keyword Metrics:
MSV (Monthly Search Volume): The average monthly searches for each keyword.
CPC (Cost Per Click): The estimated cost advertisers pay per click for the keyword.
SERP: Clickable button that opens the Search Engine Results Page (SERP) view to analyze rankings.
Top Ranking URLs:
Displays the top ranking URL for each keyword. This URL may be for a domain not in the index, but it would exist in the landscape
Enables users to identify which pages dominate specific keywords in the index.
Filters:
Narrow down the list of keywords using filters such as location, MSV, CPC
Focus on specific subsets of keywords for a granular analysis.
See which keywords are prompted SERP widgets by change the SERP filter
SERP View:
Analyze up to the top 20 URLs SiteCurve found for a keyword added to the index.
See ranking trends over time, including changes in positions for each URL.
How Keyword Performance Works for Index Curves
Keyword Inclusion:
Only the keywords you selected during index creation are displayed.
SERP Widget Integration:
Keywords default to Organic Listings, but you can switch to analyze performance in specific SERP widgets (e.g., AI Overviews, People Also Ask, Featured Snippets).
For example, if you switch to "Featured Snippets," the screen will show keywords where this widget appears, and the SERP view will highlight the snippet’s top-ranking URL.
Why Use the Keyword Performance Screen in Index Curves?
Tailored Keyword Insights:
Focus exclusively on the keywords that matter to your specific goals, without noise from unrelated terms.
SERP Feature Opportunities:
Track keywords in your index appearing in widgets like AI Overviews or People Also Ask to adapt your strategy for high-visibility features.
Competitor Analysis:
See which domains and URLs are outperforming for the keywords in your index.
Strategic Adjustments:
Use performance data to refine your content, SEO, or PPC strategies for targeted terms.
How to Use the Keyword Performance Screen
Review Keyword Metrics:
Examine MSV, CPC, and rankings to prioritize high-value opportunities.
Drill Into SERPs:
Click the SERP button for any keyword to analyze the top 20 URLs and their ranking trends.
Study URL ownership for specific widgets to identify dominant domains.
Filter for Focused Analysis:
Use filters like location, device, or rank to zero in on specific subsets of your keyword data.
Compare Across Widgets:
Switch to different SERP widgets (e.g., Featured Snippets or AI Overviews) to track performance in specific contexts.
Best Practices for the Keyword Performance Screen
Focus on High MSV Keywords:
Prioritize keywords with high MSV and favorable rankings for maximum impact.
Monitor Widget-Specific Trends:
Pay attention to keywords tied to high-visibility widgets like Featured Snippets or People Also Ask.
Analyze Competitor URLs:
Use the SERP view to study competitors' strategies for dominating specific keywords.
Review your index and adjust
After creation review your index to make sure the domains and keywords you want to track are being tracked. Add or remove keywords to refine as needed.
FAQs About Keyword Performance in Index Curves
How are keywords selected for the index?
Keywords in the Keyword Performance screen are limited to those added to the index during its creation. You can update the keyword set by editing the index in the landscape admin settings.
Can I track SERP widgets for my keywords?
Yes, switch the widget filter (e.g., AI Overviews, Featured Snippets) to analyze keyword performance within specific SERP features. Only the keywords that had the widget appear in the search results will show based on the SERP selection filter.
Can I add more keywords to an index later?
Yes, you can edit the index in the landscape admin settings to include additional keywords from the landscape dataset. Your index will update to include all of the historical data from this keyword. Metrics will recalculate to reflect this new keyword.
What happens if I remove a keyword from the index?
Removing a keyword will update the index instantly, but the keywords will continue to exist at the landscape level and in any other indexes within the landscape.
Can I add or remove domains in an index later?
Yes, SiteCurve treats adding or removing domains the same it treats adding or removing keywords. SiteCurve will add/remove the domain from the index and all metrics and leaderboards will update to reflect the new competitor.
How often is keyword data updated?
Keyword rankings and associated metrics are updated daily, typically around 1:00 AM EST.