What is Google Score in SiteCurve?
Google Score or “GS” is a metric in SiteCurve that measures the presence and density of Google SERP widgets on the search results page for keywords. These widgets include features such as:
Discussions and Forums
People Also Ask (PAA)
Videos
Local Map Pack
Images
Featured Snippets
The more widgets present in a SERP, the higher the Google Score for that keyword. This score is then aggregated across all keywords a domain ranks on to calculate a domain-level Google Score. SiteCurve also calculates Google Score for URLs.
How Google Score Works in SiteCurve
Keyword-Level Scoring:
Each keyword is evaluated for the number and type of SERP widgets present.
SiteCurve assigns weights to different widget types based on their prominence and relevance.
Widgets like AI Overviews and Local Map Pack that are very prominent get higher weighting
Widgets like Images or Perspectives that are less prominent get less weighting
Keywords with more widgets will have higher scores, while those with fewer widgets will have lower scores.
Domain-Level Scoring:
The Google Score for a domain is the average of the Google Scores for all the keywords it ranks on within a landscape.
A high Google Score for a domain indicates that it primarily ranks on keywords with many SERP widgets, while a low score suggests that it ranks on keywords with fewer widgets.
Why Google Score Matters
Keyword Research:
Keywords with low Google Scores typically have fewer SERP widgets, meaning more clicks may go to organic listings rather than being absorbed by the widgets.
Identifying low-score keywords can help focus efforts on traffic opportunities where your website can receive higher visibility and clicks.
SERP Widget Strategy:
By targeting keywords with higher Google Scores, you can identify opportunities to optimize for specific widgets.
For example, if your business targets a keyword with a high Google Score driven by video results, you may want to produce optimized video content to capture visibility in that widget.
How to Use Google Score in SiteCurve
Keyword Research for Traffic Opportunities:
Go to the Keyword Performance tabs in Category Curves
Filter keywords by Google Score to find high-value terms with low Google Score (i.e., low widget density).
Prioritize these keywords for content creation and optimization.
Widget Ownership Analysis:
Go to Category Curves in your landscape and set to ‘All Categories’
Navigate to the Search Engine Visibility tab to see which widgets are most prominent in your landscape
Toggle to the desired widget (e.g., People Also Ask or Videos) in the header.
Go to the leaderboards to analyze which domains own the most visibility in that widget
Go to the SiteCurves to identify their ranking URLs in these widgets
Use these insights to create or optimize content that aligns with widget strategies.
How Google Score Differs Across Curves
SiteCurves: Google Score represents the average widget density across all keywords a domain ranks for in the landscape.
Category Curves: The Google Score for a category reflects the average score of all domains within the category and filters applied (e.g., niche, business model).
Location Curves: Google Score aggregates widget density for keywords tied to a specific geographic location.
Index Curves: Google Score focuses only on the keywords and domains selected for the specific index, providing a tailored view of widget visibility for the custom dataset.
Best Practices for Maximizing Google Score Insights
Identify Widget-Specific Trends: Use the widget filters to understand which SERP features dominate for valuable keywords.
Leverage Low-Score Keywords: Focus on keywords with low Google Scores to capitalize on opportunities where organic results dominate.
Mimic Competitor Strategies: Analyze the domains that own the most visibility in high-value widgets and replicate their approach.
Optimize for Target Widgets: Create content specifically for dominant widgets like Featured Snippets, Videos, or Local Map Packs to increase visibility for high-scoring keywords.
FAQ About Google Score
What Does a High Google Score Mean?
A high Google Score indicates that the SERPs for the keywords a domain ranks on are crowded with widgets, which may dilute organic click-through rates. You should optimize your website to rank in the widgets.
What Does a Low Google Score Mean?
A low Google Score suggests that keywords have fewer widgets, leading to higher click-through rates for organic listings.
Can I Filter Keywords by Google Score?
Yes, you can filter keywords by Google Score in most screens on SiteCuve.
How Is Google Score Calculated for Widgets?
The presence of each widget type is weighted, and the total weight determines the Google Score for a keyword. These scores are then averaged for all keywords to calculate the domain’s Google Score. The domain scores are averages again for Categories, Locations, and Indexes.
Can I See Widget Ownership for Specific Keywords?
Yes, you would have to create an index and include the specific keywords where you want to view specific widgets.