Domain vs Exact URL Tracking

Content Raptor lets you track the performance of either a domain or a single URL for your keywords.

Tip: If in doubt, use domain tracking. Then, add a target URL for each keyword. Only use exact URL tracking for domains that you don't own (e.g., guest posts and parasite SEO campaigns).

Use Domain Tracking for Most Projects

Domain tracking should be your default for most projects. It's easier to manage since you don't need to assign a URL for each keyword.

Detect Keyword Cannibalization

In most cases, you should only be targeting each keyword with a single page. That makes it easy for Google to pick which page to show, and making Google's life easier always helps your rankings.

Sometimes, though, the wrong page ranks for your targeted keyword. This happens when Google determines a different page on your site is a better match for the search intent — often because multiple pages target similar topics. That causes a couple of problems:

• The unintentionally ranking article may be targeted at the wrong audience or be higher in our sales funnel, resulting in fewer conversions.
• The unintentionally ranking article may be a poor match for searcher intent, which can degrade your UX metrics and cause Google to decrease your rankings for that search. Because of the Helpful Content Update, this can even also harm rankings across your entire website.

Use Exact URL Tracking for External Content

Exact URL tracking is ideal for articles on websites that you don't own. That makes it the right pick for:

• Parasite SEO
• Guest posts
• Forum posts

Target URLs Fill in the Gaps

Content Raptor lets you assign a target URL for each keyword. The combination of domain tracking and a target URL gives you the maximum amount of information about your ranking success.

There are three possible cases and what to do about each:

• Domain doesn't rank — Your site isn't appearing for this keyword at all. Focus on improving the target page's content (use the Content Optimizer), building internal links to it, and ensuring it's indexed.
• Domain ranks, but a different URL than your target — This is keyword cannibalization. To fix it: (1) add an internal link from the ranking page to your target page, (2) optimize the target page for the keyword, and (3) consider consolidating thin pages that compete for the same term.
• Target URL ranks — Your target page is ranking as intended. Monitor for position changes and optimize further if needed.

What's Next?

• Setting Up Your First Project — Create a rank tracking project
• Adding Keywords to Track — Add keywords to start tracking
• Understanding Your Rankings — Learn how to read ranking data