What are SEO metrics? Crafting the perfect SEO metrics can feel overwhelming, particularly when you're juggling daily responsibilities. That's why we've put together a collection of examples to spark your inspiration.
Copy these examples into your preferred app, or you can also use Tability to keep yourself accountable.
Find SEO metrics with AI While we have some examples available, it's likely that you'll have specific scenarios that aren't covered here. You can use our free AI metrics generator below to generate your own strategies.
Examples of SEO metrics and KPIs 1. Customer Acquisition Rate The number of new customers acquired over a specific period, divided by the total target customers
What good looks like for this metric: 20-40% new customer growth quarterly
Ideas to improve this metric Increase marketing activities Optimize conversion strategies on the website Enhance referral programs Expand partnerships and collaborations Improve customer tracking and analytics 2. Keyword Ranking The position of your chosen keywords in search engine results pages
What good looks like for this metric: Aim for top 10 rankings
Ideas to improve this metric Conduct keyword research Create high-quality content Utilise on-page SEO techniques Build backlinks from reputable sources Monitor and adjust keyword strategy regularly 3. Domain Rating A score representing the strength and authority of a website’s backlink profile
What good looks like for this metric: A score above 50 is considered good
Ideas to improve this metric Acquire high-authority backlinks Regularly update and optimise content Clean up any harmful or irrelevant backlinks Use internal linking effectively Engage with content marketing strategies 4. Conversion Rate The percentage of visitors to a website who take a desired action, such as filling out a form
What good looks like for this metric: Average conversion rate is around 2-5%
Ideas to improve this metric Simplify the conversion process A/B test landing pages Use clear calls to action Offer incentives Optimise for mobile devices 5. Customer Retention Rate The percentage of retained customers over a certain period after acquiring new ones
What good looks like for this metric: Average retention rate is about 20-30%
Ideas to improve this metric Enhance customer service Implement loyalty programs Personalise communication Request and act on customer feedback Regularly engage customers with newsletters
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1. Cost Per Link The average amount spent to acquire a single backlink. Calculated by dividing total linkbuilding costs by the number of acquired links.
What good looks like for this metric: Between $100 and $500 USD
Ideas to improve this metric Negotiate better rates with linkbuilding providers Utilise content marketing to attract natural links Focus on building relationships with niche influencers Leverage guest posting opportunities Optimise internal resources for linkbuilding efforts 2. Domain Authority of Acquired Links The average domain authority (DA) of the websites providing backlinks. Higher DA indicates better quality links.
What good looks like for this metric: DA 40+
Ideas to improve this metric Target websites with high domain authority Ensure content is highly relevant and valuable Use tools like Moz or Ahrefs to check DA before outreach Develop partnerships with authoritative sites Create shareable and informative content 3. Link Relevancy The relevance of the acquired backlinks to your website's niche. Measured by analysing the thematic similarities between the linking site and your own.
What good looks like for this metric: 80%+ relevancy
Ideas to improve this metric Identify niche-specific websites for linkbuilding Create content that aligns with your target niche Use outreach messages relevant to specific niches Collaborate with niche influencers Conduct detailed competitor backlink analysis 4. Referral Traffic The quantity of traffic directed to your site from backlinks. Measured in terms of sessions or visits originating from referring sites.
What good looks like for this metric: 10% of total traffic
Ideas to improve this metric Focus on high-traffic websites for backlinks Ensure backlinks are placed in high-visibility areas Track and analyse referral traffic patterns Optimise landing pages to convert referral traffic Promote content on social media 5. SERP Ranking Improvement The impact of linkbuilding on your site's search engine results page (SERP) rankings. Measured by the change in position of target keywords.
What good looks like for this metric: 5+ position improvement
Ideas to improve this metric Focus on acquiring high-quality backlinks Regularly update and optimise content Use keywords strategically in anchor texts Conduct periodic SERP analysis Disavow low-quality or spammy backlinks
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1. Local search ranking Measures the position of your website in search engine results for local queries
What good looks like for this metric: Top 3 positions
Ideas to improve this metric Optimise Google My Business profile Ensure consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) information Encourage customer reviews Create local content Build local backlinks 2. Organic traffic from local search Tracks the number of visitors to your website coming from organic local search results
What good looks like for this metric: 10-30% of total traffic
Ideas to improve this metric Use local keywords in website content Optimise meta tags for local search Improve mobile site performance Add local schema markup Create location-specific landing pages 3. Click-through rate (CTR) from local search Percentage of users who click on your website link in local search results
What good looks like for this metric: 3-5%
Ideas to improve this metric Craft compelling meta descriptions Use local reviews in snippets Improve title tags with local keywords Use attractive URLs Implement rich snippets 4. Local citation volume Number of mentions of your business on other websites, especially directory listings
What good looks like for this metric: 50-100 citations
Ideas to improve this metric Submit to local directories Ensure accurate and consistent citations Monitor and clean up duplicates Get listed in industry-specific directories Leverage data aggregators 5. Customer reviews and ratings Quantifies the number and quality of reviews on local platforms such as Google My Business and Yelp
What good looks like for this metric: 4+ star rating with over 50 reviews
Ideas to improve this metric Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews Respond promptly to reviews Address negative feedback constructively Offer incentives for reviews Highlight positive reviews on your site
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1. Domain Authority (DA) Measures the overall strength and reputation of a website on a scale from 1 to 100
What good looks like for this metric: Typical websites have a DA between 20-70
Ideas to improve this metric Create high-quality, linkable content Reach out to high-DA sites for backlinks Conduct a competitor analysis for backlink opportunities Utilise social media to promote your content Improve on-page SEO elements 2. Referring Domains Counts the number of unique domains linking to your site
What good looks like for this metric: Aim for an increasing number over time
Ideas to improve this metric Write guest posts on relevant websites Participate in industry forums and communities Engage in influencer outreach Create shareable infographics Offer free tools or resources on your website 3. Backlink Growth Rate Tracks the speed at which new backlinks are acquired
What good looks like for this metric: Strive for a consistent positive growth
Ideas to improve this metric Start an email outreach campaign Regularly update and repurpose old content Collaborate with other content creators Publish original research or case studies Monitor backlink profiles for broken links to restore 4. Backlink Quality Assesses the quality of individual backlinks, considering factors like DA, relevance, and spam score
What good looks like for this metric: High-quality backlinks should come from websites with DA above 50
Ideas to improve this metric Disavow low-quality or spammy backlinks Focus on backlinks from sites relevant to your niche Leverage public relations to gain high-quality links Create content targeting high-authority sites Build relationships with industry leaders 5. Anchor Text Distribution Evaluates the variety and relevance of anchor text used in backlinks
What good looks like for this metric: Aim for a natural and diverse anchor text profile
Ideas to improve this metric Encourage the use of branded anchor texts Avoid over-optimised anchor text Monitor and adjust anchor text for diversity Ensure contextual relevance of anchor text Include URL and generic anchor texts
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1. Number of Backlinks The total number of backlinks pointing to your website
What good looks like for this metric: Varies widely by industry; typically 50-200 backlinks for small to mid-sized sites
Ideas to improve this metric Create high-quality, shareable content Reach out to industry influencers Guest post on relevant blogs Use broken link building strategies Engage in PR activities 2. Domain Authority (DA) A search engine ranking score that predicts how well a website will rank on SERPs
What good looks like for this metric: Typically above 40 for competitive industries
Ideas to improve this metric Improve your website’s SEO Acquire high-quality backlinks Remove toxic backlinks Regularly update your content Optimise for on-page SEO 3. Referral Traffic The amount of traffic your website receives from external sources
What good looks like for this metric: 15-30% of total traffic
Ideas to improve this metric Build relationships with authoritative sites Promote content on social media Engage in online communities and forums Publish content on third-party platforms Use analytics to track and optimise sources 4. Anchor Text Distribution The diversity and relevance of anchor text used in backlinks pointing to your website
What good looks like for this metric: Balanced ratio between branded, exact-match, and generic anchors
Ideas to improve this metric Use natural and varied anchor texts Avoid over-optimisation of anchor texts Monitor and adjust anchor text ratios Analyse competitors' anchor text profiles Create guidelines for anchor text usage 5. Linking Root Domains The number of unique domains that link back to your website
What good looks like for this metric: More than 100 for medium to large sites
Ideas to improve this metric Target diverse websites for backlinks Engage in collaborations with different domains Regularly audit backlink profiles Build micro-sites for link building Participate in industry events and networks
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1. Domain Authority (DA) A measure of the overall quality and authority of a website, calculated by several factors including the number and quality of incoming links
What good looks like for this metric: Typical values range from 0 to 100, with 50+ considered good for established websites
Ideas to improve this metric Obtain backlinks from high-authority sites Create high-quality, shareable content Regularly audit and disavow low-quality links Engage in guest blogging on authoritative sites Participate in relevant online communities and forums 2. Number of Referring Domains The number of unique domains that link to your website, indicating popularity and reach
What good looks like for this metric: More than 100 referring domains considered healthy for growing websites
Ideas to improve this metric Identify and reach out to industry influencers Run link-building campaigns Offer exclusive content to potential linkers Collaborate with other websites for mutual linking Use link-building tools to find opportunities 3. Linking Root Domains Count of distinct root domains that link to your site, reflecting diversity in linking sources
What good looks like for this metric: Having diverse linking root domains strengthens authority
Ideas to improve this metric Diversify content to attract various industries Engage in PR campaigns for broader coverage Create evergreen content to attract ongoing links Analyze competitors' backlinks for new opportunities Host or sponsor industry events to gain mentions 4. Backlink Growth Rate The pace at which new backlinks are acquired over time, indicating link-building success
What good looks like for this metric: Consistent monthly growth rate of 5-10% is healthy
Ideas to improve this metric Publish new content regularly Repurpose old content in new formats Maintain relationships with website owners Monitor backlinks and capitalize on trends Utilize social media to drive traffic and engagement 5. Anchor Text Distribution The types and variety of anchor texts used in backlinks, affecting relevance and SEO
What good looks like for this metric: Balanced distribution between branded, generic, and exact match anchor texts
Ideas to improve this metric Craft varied and relevant anchor texts Encourage natural linking practices Avoid overly optimized anchor texts Monitor and adjust anchor text ratios Educate content creators on best practices
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Tracking your SEO metrics Having a plan is one thing, sticking to it is another.
Don't fall into the set-and-forget trap. It is important to adopt a weekly check-in process to keep your strategy agile – otherwise this is nothing more than a reporting exercise.
A tool like Tability can also help you by combining AI and goal-setting to keep you on track.
More metrics recently published We have more examples to help you below.
Planning resources OKRs are a great way to translate strategies into measurable goals. Here are a list of resources to help you adopt the OKR framework:
Tability's check-ins will save you hours and increase transparency
The best metrics for Customer Acquisition And SEO