In the ever-expanding world of SEO, it is necessary to know about the performance of the website.
If you use Google Search Console, it is increasingly crucial to know what is the average position in Google Search Console.
The average position in Google Search Console is a metric in the search performance report.
You need to use this metric to observe the average ranking of the set of keywords you use.
In this blog, we’ll discuss the average position on Google Search Console so that you can use it like a pro.
Google Search Console As a Performance Tracking Tool
Before you start checking the average position in Google Search Console, you need to have some knowledge about the tool.
So, basically, it is a free tool that you can use to monitor how well your website ranks in search results.
To use Google Search Console, you must first validate a website or what GSC calls a property. Once verified, you can view your site’s performance statistics.
It enables you to see these stats over time with keyword, page, and even device breakdowns.
To examine and create reports, you can integrate data into a software program or export data into spreadsheets.
Along with a variety of technical issues Google may encounter while crawling your website, it shows the pages it has indexed and is displaying in Google search results.
It’s a fantastic application that offers many amazing features on a budget.
To get information on how keyword research on Google Seach Console works, you can read our previous blog.
What are the Metrics for Google Search Console Average Position?
As we stated earlier, the average position in Google Search Console is a metric. This metric depends on a couple of different information.
To understand what average position means in Google Search Console, you need to know these factors.
Google Search Console data comes from the following metrics:
Total impressions: The number of times a Google search results page links to your website was clicked. Even if visitors don’t go all the way down, they still count as a click when they see a link to your website on a search results page. Nonetheless, to record an impression, a visitor must scroll to the link in search results with unlimited scrolling enabled.
Total clicks: The number of times a user clicks on a Google link to your website. Clicks made while navigating the Google platform are not tallied.
CTR: The ratio of clicks to impressions on your website is known as the average clickthrough rate. The number of clicks divided by the number of impressions yields the average clickthrough rate, which is then multiplied by 100. If the data gathered by the tool has no impressions, the CTR will be presented as a dash.
Average position: It refers to how your website’s pages rank on average in Google search results. Based on the website URLs for a single or multiple queries, you get the average ranking. Suppose the URL of the site takes the third position for a query, and for the other query, it occupies the seventh position. Then, to calculate the average position, you can use this formula: 5 ((3+7)/2).
Role of Average Position in Google Search Console
The average position is a vital parameter to monitor in Google Search Console (GSC) as it can indicate how well a webpage functions in terms of traffic and search visibility.
Below are the reasons that justify the importance of tracking average position in Google Search Console.
Finding Areas for Improvement: You can pinpoint places where your webpage may have trouble ranking effectively and implement adjustments to enhance functionality by examining your average position in the Google Search Console.
Let’s say your website has a poor average position. In that instance, to make it more enticing to Google’s algorithms, you may need to enhance its technical SEO or optimize its content.
Measuring the Success of SEO Activities: A great technique to monitor the success of your SEO efforts over time is to look at the average position. You can determine the success of your optimization efforts by keeping an eye on your average position for particular keywords or pages and making necessary adjustments.
Evaluating the Caliber of the Competition: The average position in Google Search Console tells you about the level of competition in your industry. It may be a sign of a less competitive market if your average position for a certain keyword is high. However, if your average position in Google Search Console for a term is low, it may indicate that your market is very competitive. That means you will need more devotion and work to rank well.
Variables That Affect The Average Position in Google Search Console
The average position in Google Search Console (GSC) may vary depending on a number of factors:
Content Relevancy and Quality
Your webpage’s average position in Google Search Console can be greatly impacted by the relevancy and quality of its content.
Websites that offer valuable, relevant, and high-quality content are ranked higher in search results by Google’s algorithms.
Your webpage may have a lower average position in Google Search Console and struggle to rank higher if it contains irrelevant, low-quality material.
To lay the foundation of a good content strategy, learn the difference between long-tail vs. short-tail keywords.
Domain Authority
Your average position on Google Search Console may also be impacted by the domain authority of your website.
Domain authority gauges the overall quality and authority of a website. It is one of the primary metrics used in marketing.
It depends on the site’s age, the quantity and caliber of external links leading to it, and the quality of content.
In general, websites with a high domain authority have a higher average position and are more likely to rank well in search results.
Internal and External Linking
The average position in Google Search Console of your webpage may also be impacted by the existence of links, both internal and external.
Links that lead from one page on your website to another are known as internal links.
External links lead to pages on your website from web pages on other websites.
Both kinds of links can raise your webpage’s average position by increasing its exposure and authority in Google’s view.
You can find ways to increase your search visibility and traffic by examining these variables and monitoring your average position over time.
To learn the best way to get links, read our blog on high-quality link building.
User Experience
The websites that offer a satisfactory user experience to the audience will have a better average position in the Google Search Console.
The elements of a good user experience include quicker site speed and straightforward navigation.
Related Blog: Strategies to Follow for Good Website Design
Average Query Position on a Particular Page
The average position is a helpful indicator to view a single query or the list of queries a page is ranking for.
This only applies to queries that receive little impressions for the particular period range you examine in the SERPs.
The average position in Google Search Console for very low impression inquiries can vary greatly.
In fact, it may not match what you see on Google because it is an average position and because of localization and personalization. That means different users will see the results in a different order.
Having said that, if this value increases or decreases for queries receiving a good amount of impressions every calendar day, you can be sure that the site is moving upward in the SERPs.
Average Position on Page
It represents the page’s average across all queries for which the page ranks. Even if your page may rank number one for the target keyword, the other keywords it ranks for will significantly lower its average position.
With the help of this information, website owners can decide if they need to improve their pages to improve their ranking.
Average Position of the Website
You may notice fluctuations in the average position of the website. To get the actual image of the factors causing it, you need to consider query metrics for specific pages.
The site average position by averaging all of the site’s searches, much like the page average position.
An improvement in the site’s average position may indicate an improvement in your rankings.
It also indicates that you no longer rank for many of the searches that your site used to rank for in the SERPs.
What is a Good Average Position in Google Search Console?
If the numeric representation of the average position in Google Search Console is in a range of 1-10, your website is performing great.
Depending on your business, the level of competition, and the particular keywords, the average position can change.
A lower average position often means that your website ranks better in search results on a regular basis.
Although the average position graph may provide insightful information, you should not use it as your only means of assessing your SEO performance.
Rather, pay attention to where your website appears for particular keywords. This will give you a more detailed idea of how visible you are for those kinds of searches.
Nonetheless, the ultimate objective has to be to achieve a high ranking for the keywords relevant to your industry.
Obsessing over hitting a certain average position is not a good direction to follow.
Instead, focus on improving your website for user purposes and offering useful, pertinent material.
Long-lasting results are more likely to come from an all-encompassing SEO approach.
Read More: 7 DIY SEO Software To Perform Better Online
Calculation of the Average Position
The method for calculating the average position using the page’s top link in search results in a Google Search Console help page is as follows:
If one query’s position comes at 2, return your property at places 2, 4, and 6.
Your site is in position 3 (the highest position) if a second query returns it at places 3, 5, and 9.
Between these two queries, the average position is (2 + 3)/2 = 2.5.
Ways to Increase the Average Position in Google Search Console
You can use the following tactics to raise your website’s average position on Google:
- Use meta tags, a clear heading hierarchy, and a good keyword strategy to optimize your website for search engines.
- Produce helpful and superior content for the audience you want to reach.
- Construct backlinks to your website from respectable websites.
- Use social media to increase traffic to and promote your website.
- Analyze and track the performance of your website using tools like Search Console and Google Analytics.
- Make sure your website loads quickly, is easy to use and is mobile-friendly.
- Utilize schema markup and structured data to help search engines comprehend the content of your website.
- Update the website and fix any broken links or 404 issues.
- Monitor your rivals and recognize their tactics.
Learn More: 10 SEO Examples to Implement in 2023: Learn How to Optimize Your Site
FAQs
What impact does keyword competition have on the average position in Google Search Console?
Analyzing the level of competition is helpful to boost traffic and visibility. For instance, the average position may increase when the competition is low.
What are the reasons behind the frequent ups and downs of average position in Google Search Console?
The site’s credibility, content relevance and quality, website user experience, and domain authority are the main reasons.
What does a number like 3.5 denote for the average position in Google Search Console?
It implies that the site mostly ranks number three on the first page of SERPs.
The Bottom Line
The average position in Google Search Console gives you a clue about your website’s performance.
Businesses and individuals wanting a strong online presence can see it as one element of a bigger SEO picture.
Monitoring your average position can give you important information about how well your web pages perform in search results. Also, it points out areas where you can increase traffic and visibility.
To get help with evaluating the performance of your website, consider reaching out to the experts at The Dreams Agency.