SEO Step Three: Track Your Progress and Adjust

Once you’ve set clear goals and chosen your tools, it’s time to do one of the most important parts of SEO—track your progress and adjust along the way.

SEO isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it strategy. It’s a long-term process that thrives on reflection, data, and small improvements over time. That’s where consistent tracking and thoughtful tweaks come in.

Why tracking matters

Your SEO tools can tell you how your content is performing, which pages are drawing traffic, and which keywords are helping you show up in search results. Without this data, you’re making decisions in the dark. With it, you can lean into what works and fine-tune what doesn’t.

What to track

Start simple. Here are a few important metrics to pay attention to:

• Keyword Rankings: Use tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Ubersuggest to track where your pages rank for your target keywords

• Organic Traffic: Log into Google Analytics to see how many people are visiting your site through search engines

• Click-Through Rates (CTR): Inside Google Search Console, you can check how often people click on your links after seeing them in search results

• Bounce Rate: This tells you if people are leaving your site right away or sticking around. If your bounce rate is high, it may be time to revisit your content or layout

• Conversions: Are people signing up for your email list, buying products, or booking your services? Those actions are the real goal of any SEO strategy

How often should you check your data?

Once a week is a good rhythm for a quick check-in. At the end of each month, take a deeper dive. Look at patterns. What blog posts are pulling in the most readers? Which keywords are gaining traction? Are people engaging with your content or bouncing away?

When to make adjustments

Use your data to guide small updates. For example:

• If a post is ranking but not getting clicks, try rewriting the title or meta description to make it more appealing

• If a page has high bounce rates, add more internal links or refresh the design for clarity

• If certain keywords are performing better than expected, create more content around those topics

SEO is not about making huge changes all at once. It’s about making small, strategic shifts over time based on what your audience is telling you with their actions.

Create a simple SEO tracker

If you’re a spreadsheet kind of person, create a monthly log for your top-performing posts, keyword rankings, and traffic numbers. If you prefer something visual, use a tool like Notion or Trello to organize your insights and next steps.

Here’s what you might include in your SEO tracker:

• Blog post title

• Target keyword

• Ranking position this month

• Organic traffic for the month

• Bounce rate

• Notes or action items

Trust the process

SEO takes time. It’s okay if you don’t see big changes right away. With consistent tracking and thoughtful updates, you’re building a foundation that will support your business growth for the long haul.

And remember, if you ever feel stuck or unsure what to tweak next, Mixie Design Co. is here to help guide you.

Want a free template to track your SEO efforts? Download the DIY SEO Tracker inside The Compass Collective. Just sign up on the Resources Page and you’ll be redirected!