Glossary

What is keyword tracking?

Keyword tracking is the practice of monitoring specific words and phrases — on search engines, social media, and forums — to see how often they appear, where they rank, and what people say around them. Done right, it drives higher search traffic, sharper content, and better brand awareness.

Jul 5, 2025

Why keyword tracking matters

SEO wins

Ninety-plus percent of clicks go to Google’s first page. Knowing where you rank (and why) tells you which terms need fresh content, better links, or a new angle.

Message-market fit

High-performing keywords reveal what prospects actually type or talk about. Build posts, ads, and landing pages around that language.

Brand pulse

Monitoring branded phrases shows how often people mention you and whether the sentiment is positive, neutral, or negative.


Core components

Component
What to watch

Search-engine rankings

Position of key pages for target terms on Google and Bing

Social mentions

Hashtags, product names, and problem phrases on LinkedIn, X, Reddit, and forums

Competitor overlap

Which keywords rivals own — and which gaps you can fill

Emerging trends

Rising queries that signal new demand, features, or pain points


Building a keyword tracking workflow

  1. Choose a scalable tool
    Manual checks don’t cut it once you track hundreds of terms. Platforms like PitchGhost automate scans, flag position shifts, and alert you when a keyword sparks a hot social thread.

  2. Prioritize high-value terms
    Look for keywords with solid search volume but manageable competition. Pair them with long-tail variations that capture purchase intent.

  3. Layer social signals
    Tracking only Google rankings misses real-time chatter. Set up alerts for key phrases on social so you can respond — or publish — while the topic is fresh.

  4. Refine and repeat
    Drop keywords that never move, add new ones each quarter, and adjust content or link-building tactics based on the data.


What the numbers say

  • Companies that update content based on rank-tracking data see an average 30% lift in organic traffic within six months.

  • Brands monitoring both search and social keywords report 2× faster response times to trending topics compared with search-only teams.

  • 70% of high-growth marketers list keyword tracking among their top three SEO investments for 2025.


Measuring success

KPI
What it tells you

Ranking position

Tells you if optimizations move the needle

Click-through rate (CTR)

Shows whether titles and meta descriptions compel clicks

Keyword frequency in social

Indicates buzz level and potential engagement volume


The Bottom Line

Keyword tracking turns raw search and social data into actionable insight. With an automated platform (such as PitchGhost) you can monitor content, catch brand mentions across four channels, and jump on trending topics before competitors do.

Key takeaways

  • Track rankings, mentions, and trends to guide content and SEO strategy.

  • Combine search data with social signals for a full view of demand.

  • Use dedicated tools to save time and uncover opportunities at scale.


Written by Ardana Izimova