Keyword Average Position
Average Position shows how a website’s tracked keywords rank across search engines over time and highlights where attention is needed.
Overview
The chart combines the rankings for the selected keywords into an average position for each search engine. This makes overall movement easier to see without reviewing every keyword individually.
Use Average Position to:
- Check whether rankings are improving, declining or remaining stable
- Compare site performance with tracked competitors
- Narrow performance by date range, search group or category
- Mark events that can explain changes in a trend
- Run an AI portfolio analysis to identify priority actions
- Discuss completed results with Ask Wheremore
Average Position is a portfolio view. Use the underlying keyword data or Ask Wheremore when a trend needs to be traced to specific keywords and pages.
Access and data scope
Average Position uses the active workspace and only shows search groups available to the signed-in user. Changing workspace resets the chart until a search group from the new workspace is selected.
The available categories and competitors depend on the selected search group and the user’s access. A missing option therefore does not always mean data has been deleted; it can belong to another workspace, search group or access scope.
Annotations are saved against the active workspace and search group. Other users will only see them when they have access to the same scope and the annotation is available to their account.
Quick start
- Select the relevant Search Group.
- Choose Last 30 Days to review a meaningful trend.
- Check the Google line first, then show other engines from the legend.
- Select a category or competitor to investigate a narrower pattern.
- Choose Analyse with AI when the portfolio needs deeper investigation.
Understand the chart
Position 1 appears at the top because it is the best ranking. A line moving upwards shows an improving average position; a line moving downwards shows a decline.
| Display | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Solid line | The tracked site’s average position |
| Dotted line | A tracked competitor’s average position |
| Line colour | A search engine |
| Small outlined dot | The previous confirmed position carried forward when no fresh check occurred |
| Red dashed vertical line | An annotation marking an event |
Google and its competitor series appear by default. Select another search engine in the legend to show its series, or select a visible series to hide it.
Hover over a point to view the date, search engine and average position. The position is shown with one decimal place because it is an average across the selected keywords.
Use the chart menu to print or export the current view.
Choose the right view
Date range
| Option | Best for |
|---|---|
| Last 1 Day | Checking the latest position |
| Last 7 Days | Reviewing recent movement |
| Last 30 Days | Identifying a meaningful trend |
| All Time | Comparing long-term performance |
The displayed period is based on the latest available ranking date for the selected scope.
Search group
A search group is a collection of tracked keywords organised around a website, location or device type. Select the group that matches the rankings under review.
Changing the search group refreshes the chart and its available competitor list. It also changes which annotations appear.
Category
Categories narrow the chart to a related set of keywords. Select a category when the overall average hides the performance of a specific product, topic or content area.
Competitor
Select All Competitors for the combined competitor comparison or choose one competitor for a focused view. The list updates when the search group changes.
A competitor line appears only when matching ranking data exists for the selected search group, category and period.
Mark important events
Annotations connect ranking movement with events such as a content update, campaign or site change.
Add an annotation
- Select the relevant date inside the chart area.
- Enter a short label in the popover.
- Select Save or press Enter.
A red dashed vertical line appears with the annotation label. The annotation is saved for the current search group.
Delete an annotation
- Select the annotation label.
- Confirm deletion in the prompt.
Check the active workspace and search group when an expected annotation is missing.
What should I do next?
| Pattern | Action |
|---|---|
| Strong and stable | Protect successful pages and continue monitoring. |
| Improving | Identify the keywords and pages driving progress, then build on successful changes. |
| Gradual decline | Narrow the chart by category and engine to locate the affected area. |
| Sudden movement | Check filters, annotations and tracking changes before editing content. |
| Flat at a weak position | Confirm the data is current, then investigate the most valuable keywords. |
| Competitor performs better | Select that competitor and run Analyse with AI for a focused comparison. |
| Engines move differently | Review the engine breakdown before treating the change as portfolio-wide. |
Analyse with AI
Analyse with AI examines the keyword portfolio within the current Average Position scope. It uses the selected date range, search group, category and competitor when the analysis starts.
- Set the filters to match the rankings under review.
- Select Analyse with AI below the chart.
- Keep the page open while the analysis processes.
- Review Summary and Priority Actions.
- Use a referral link when you are ready to continue in the recommended specialist tool.
- Expand Portfolio Details for the supporting data.
The analysis recommends where to investigate next. It does not edit or publish content.
Summary
Summary gives a plain-English account of movement across the selected keyword portfolio.
Priority Actions
Priority Actions surfaces the strongest items requiring attention. An action can include:
| Field | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Page URL | The ranking page linked to the action |
| Keyword | The search term under review |
| Engine | The search engine providing the ranking data |
| Search config | The tracked search configuration |
| Next Step | The Wheremore workflow best suited to the finding |
| Current State | The ranking movement or issue found |
| Recommended Change | The action to take next |
| Why it matters | Why the item deserves attention |
| Evidence | Supporting position band, volume or ranking signals |
| Priority | Immediate, Near-term or Can wait |
Next Step can direct the investigation towards Keyword Performance, Page Optimisation, Content Comparison or Keyword Cannibalisation. It is a routing recommendation, not confirmation that another workflow has been completed.
Review the evidence before making a change. A ranking pattern identifies what happened, but does not automatically prove the cause.
Continue in a specialist tool
When Wheremore identifies a suitable receiving tool, the action card includes a referral link such as:
- Investigate in Keyword Performance
- Investigate in Keyword Cannibalisation
- Investigate in Content Comparison
- Fix in Page Optimisation
The referral opens the receiving tool in its normal initial state. It does not create an Action Board item or automatically transfer the keyword, page URL, competitor or analysis. Review the action card before following the link so you can apply the relevant context in the receiving tool.
Wheremore does not manufacture a generic action when it cannot identify a sufficiently confident specialist destination. The number of priority actions can therefore be lower than the number of ranking movements in the portfolio.
Explore portfolio details
Select Portfolio Details to expand the evidence behind the report.
Portfolio Summary
Shows total keywords, improved, declined, stable, dropped and new keywords, plus the overall average-position change.
Position Bands compares the number of rankings at the start and end of the period across Top 3, positions 4–10, positions 11–20, positions 21+ and not ranked.
Engine Breakdown
Compares each search engine by keyword count, starting and ending average position, direction, declining rows, volatility, multi-URL patterns and page-one losses.
Engine differences are observed patterns. They do not automatically explain why rankings changed.
Competitor Landscape
Summarises tracked competitors and other domains visible in the search results. It can include their search engines, keyword coverage, average and best rank, rows above the tracked site and example keywords.
Search platforms and community sites can appear in this view. Their visibility matters, but they are not always direct editorial competitors.
Portfolio Review
Highlights the biggest drops, biggest gains, volatile keywords, multi-URL keywords and page-one opportunities. It also separates confirmed cannibalisation from multi-URL patterns that still require investigation.
Ask Wheremore about the analysis
When the analysis completes, select Chat about this analysis to open Ask Wheremore with the Average Position report and its supporting data already in context.
Useful follow-up questions include:
- Why was this keyword prioritised?
- Which keywords contributed most to the decline?
- Is this movement limited to one search engine?
- Which page should be investigated first?
- What evidence supports the recommended next step?
Ask Wheremore can also retrieve supported live workspace data during the conversation. Its analysis context and chat session are temporary; the chat session lasts for up to 60 minutes. See the separate Ask Wheremore guide for shared chat controls and session behaviour.
Troubleshooting
Select a search group to view average position
Select a search group available in the active workspace. If none appear, check workspace access and confirm that keyword tracking has been configured.
No position data matches these filters
- Expand the date range.
- Confirm the correct search group.
- Select All Categories.
- Confirm that tracked keywords have ranking data.
Error loading position data
Refresh the page and select the search group again. Record the workspace, search group and filters before contacting support if the error continues.
A competitor is missing
- Confirm that the correct search group is selected.
- Check that competitor tracking is enabled.
- Select All Competitors to check for available data.
- Confirm that the competitor ranks within the selected scope.
The chart looks reversed
Position 1 sits at the top of the vertical axis. An upward line means the position number is falling and rankings are improving.
Small dots appear on a line
Small dots mark carried-forward data. No fresh check occurred for that date, so the previous confirmed position is displayed for continuity.
An annotation is missing
Annotations are scoped to a workspace and search group. Return to the workspace and group used when the annotation was created.
Analysis does not start
- Confirm that a search group is selected.
- Check that the selected category contains keywords.
- Select Analyse with AI again.
Analysis times out or fails
- Select a shorter date range.
- Choose one relevant category.
- Run the analysis again.
- Contact support if repeated focused analyses fail.
No competitor landscape appears
No recent competitor data matched the selected keywords, search configuration or period. Ranking movement and portfolio analysis still run without competitor aggregation.
Chat about this analysis is missing
The chat control appears after a completed analysis has been stored successfully. Run the analysis again if the control does not appear, then contact support if the problem continues.
Frequently asked questions
Is Average Position the rank of one keyword?
No. It is an average across the tracked keywords and filters in the current view. Inspect individual keyword data when a specific ranking is required.
Why do ranking tools show different positions?
Results vary by location, device, search engine and check time. Small differences between tools are normal.
Why are positions different across search engines?
Each search engine ranks results independently. Compare each engine’s trend instead of expecting identical positions.
Can more than one competitor be compared?
Yes. Select All Competitors for the combined comparison, or select one competitor for a focused review.
Does the analysis change content automatically?
No. It identifies and prioritises actions for review.
Does the analysis require competitor data?
No. Ranking movement and portfolio analysis continue when no competitor landscape is available.
Does following a priority action add it to the Action Board?
No. Priority-action links open the relevant specialist tool. They do not create an Action Board item.
Does the referral prepopulate the receiving tool?
No. The receiving tool opens normally. Use the keyword, page, competitor and evidence shown in the Average Position action when continuing the investigation.
Why do analysis results change when filters change?
The filters define the analysis scope. A different date range, search group, category or competitor produces a different report.
Who can see the data?
The chart and analysis use the active workspace and the search groups available to the signed-in user. Access to another workspace or project does not transfer automatically.
Getting help
Record the workspace, date range, search group, category and competitor before contacting support. Include an exported chart, screenshot or displayed error so the issue is clear.