Search Performance

Monitor and analyze your website's search performance with Google Search Console data

Search Performance Overview Search Performance is powered by Google Search Console integration and provides comprehensive insights into how your website performs in Google search results. Track clicks, [[gloss:impressions|impressions]], [[gloss:click-through-rate|CTR]], and [[gloss:average-position|average position]] for all your search queries. Google Search Console connection is required during onboarding. Search performance data typically has a 2-3 day delay from Google. Key Metrics Explained Total Clicks The total number of times users clicked through to your website from Google search results. This is a direct measure of [[gloss:organic-search|organic search]] traffic. Total Impressions How many times your website appeared in Google search results. High impressions with low clicks may indicate opportunity to improve titles and descriptions. Average CTR (Click-Through Rate) The percentage of impressions that resulted in clicks. Calculated as (Clicks ÷ Impressions) × 100. Industry average is 2-3% for organic results. Average Position Your average ranking position in search results. Position 1-3 typically gets 60%+ of clicks. Lower numbers are better (1 = first result). QueryCatch IQ Features Performance Overview Cards The top of your QueryCatch IQ dashboard shows four key metric cards: Current period totals for each metric. Percentage change from previous period. Visual indicators (green for improvement, red for decline). Click to filter data by that metric Performance Charts Interactive time-series charts showing: Daily trends for all four metrics. Comparison with previous period. Hover for exact values. Toggle metrics on/off. Zoom and pan capabilities Top Search Queries Table Detailed table of your top-performing search queries including: Query text and search volume. Individual metrics for each query. Sparkline charts showing trends. Change indicators from previous period. Click any query to open QueryCatch IQ analysis. Export functionality for further analysis Date Filtering & Comparisons Date Range Selection Quick presets: Last 7, 14, 28, 90 days. Custom date range picker. Maximum 16 months of historical data. Automatic comparison with previous period Period Comparisons Compare current period performance with: Previous period (default). Same period last year. Custom comparison period. Percentage and absolute changes shown Use comparisons to identify trends, measure impact of changes, and track seasonal patterns in search performance. Advanced Analysis Features Query Filtering Search within queries. Filter by minimum impressions. Filter by position range. Brand vs non-brand queries. Export filtered results Device Breakdown View performance segmented by device type: Desktop performance. Mobile performance. Tablet performance. Device-specific optimization opportunities Country Performance Analyze search performance by country to understand: Geographic distribution of traffic. Country-specific ranking performance. International SEO opportunities. Local search visibility Understanding Query Types Branded Queries Searches containing your brand name. These typically have: High CTR (30-60%). Position 1-2 rankings. High conversion intent. Lower competition Non-Branded Queries Generic searches without brand terms. Characteristics include: Lower CTR (1-5%). More competitive. Higher search volumes. Greater growth potential Long-Tail Queries Specific, detailed searches that often indicate high intent: 3+ word phrases. Lower search volume. Higher conversion rates. Easier to rank for Optimization Strategies Improving CTR Optimize meta titles for relevance and appeal. Write compelling meta descriptions. Use structured data for [[gloss:rich-results|rich snippets]]. Include target keywords naturally. Test different title formats Improving Rankings Focus on queries ranking 4-20 (page 1-2). Improve content quality and depth. Build relevant [[gloss:internal-linking|internal links]]. Optimize [[gloss:page-speed|page speed]] and Core Web Vitals. Target [[gloss:featured-snippet|featured snippets]] for position 0 Expanding Visibility Identify content gaps from low-impression queries. Create content for related queries. Target question-based searches. Optimize for voice search. Expand into new topic clusters Common Issues & Solutions Sudden Traffic Drops Check for algorithm updates. Verify no technical issues. Review recent content changes. Check for manual penalties. Analyze competitor changes Low CTR Despite Good Rankings Review and update meta titles. Improve meta descriptions. Check for [[gloss:serp|SERP]] features stealing clicks. Ensure content matches [[gloss:search-intent|search intent]]. Add schema markup High Impressions, Low Rankings Content may be ranking for many long-tail queries. Check average position by query. Focus on improving specific high-value queries. Consider creating dedicated pages Search Console data has a 2-3 day delay. Recent changes to your site won't be immediately reflected in the data. Best Practices Check search performance weekly to spot trends early. Focus optimization on queries with high impressions but low CTR. Monitor position changes for your money keywords. Use QueryCatch IQ for deeper analysis of important queries. Export data monthly for historical tracking. Set up alerts for significant changes. Compare mobile vs desktop performance regularly Combine Search Performance data with Google Analytics to get a complete picture of user behavior from search to conversion.