Top Improving Keywords
The Position Gains tab displays keywords that have improved in ranking between the two most recent checks—highlighting quick wins and momentum.
Quick start
1. Select a Search Group to filter results
2. Click the Position Gains tab
3. Review the top 10 improving keywords
4. Click View to see the ranking page
Understanding the display
The table shows keywords where the current position is better (lower number) than the previous check. Results are sorted by improvement size, with the biggest gains at the top.
Table columns
| Column | Description |
| Keyword | The search term that improved |
| Domain | The website being tracked |
| Engine | Search engine (Google, Bing, Yahoo) |
| Search Group | The tracking configuration grouping |
| Latest | Current ranking position |
| Previous | Position from the prior check |
| Move | Positions gained (always positive here) |
| URL | Link to the ranking page |
How improvement is calculated
Improvement equals the previous position minus the current position. A move from position 15 to position 8 shows as "+7" because the ranking improved by 7 positions.
Only keywords where both the current and previous positions are within the top 100 appear. Keywords that were not ranked or are now not ranked do not appear in this view.
What should I do next?
| Situation | Action |
| Large gain (+10 or more) | Investigate what changed. Document for future reference. |
| Small gain (+1 to +3) | Normal fluctuation. Monitor for sustained improvement. |
| Keyword entered page 1 | Protect momentum. Avoid major changes to the page. |
| Keyword reached top 3 | Significant win. Review what worked and apply elsewhere. |
| No keywords showing | No improvements since the last check. Review Position Drops. |
| Same keyword, multiple engines | Broad improvement. Content changes are resonating. |
Using the filters
Search group
Select a search group to focus on keywords within that tracking configuration. The search group dropdown at the top of the dashboard filters all tabs, including Position Gains.
Workspace
If workspaces are configured, Position Gains respects the active workspace selection. Only domains within the current workspace appear in results.
Reading the data
Example interpretation
A row showing:
• Keyword: "best running shoes"
• Latest: 4
• Previous: 12
• Move: +8
This means the page moved from position 12 to position 4—an improvement of 8 positions. The page is now on the first page of results and in the above-fold zone.
Why only 10 results?
The view is limited to the top 10 improvements to focus attention on the most significant gains. These are the keywords worth investigating and learning from.
Related tabs
| Tab | Shows |
| Position Drops | Keywords that declined since the last check |
| All Keywords | Complete keyword list with current positions |
| Lost Keywords | Keywords that dropped out of the top 100 |
| Opportunities | Keywords close to page 1 threshold |
Troubleshooting
No improvements showing
No keywords improved between the two most recent checks. This is normal—not every check produces gains. Check the Position Drops tab to see if keywords declined instead.
Table shows "N/A" for Previous
The keyword has only one data point. No previous position exists for comparison. Wait for the next ranking check to see movement data.
Error loading data
Refresh the page. If the problem persists, verify the search group selection is valid and contains tracked keywords.
Expected keyword not appearing
The tab shows only the top 10 improvements. If a keyword improved but does not appear, other keywords improved more. Additionally, keywords must have both positions within the top 100 to appear.
FAQ
What counts as "previous" position?
The previous position is from the ranking check immediately before the most recent one—not yesterday specifically. Check frequency depends on account configuration.
Can the same keyword appear multiple times?
Yes. If a keyword improved on multiple search engines, each engine shows as a separate row with its own improvement value.
Why do small fluctuations appear?
Small position changes (1–3 positions) are normal ranking behaviour. Search engines constantly test different result combinations. Focus on sustained trends rather than individual fluctuations.
Does this include keywords that gained visibility?
No. This tab shows only keywords that were already ranking (in the top 100) and improved position. Keywords that entered the top 100 from "not ranked" appear in the Opportunities tab instead.
Getting help
Contact support for persistent issues