Annotations

Annotations are markers or notes that you can add to your keyword ranking charts to highlight important events, updates, or changes that may have affected your search rankings. They allow you to document and visualize significant moments in your SEO journey, making it easier to understand performance changes and share insights with your team or clients.

manage annotations

Why Annotations Matter

Annotations help you:

  • Track SEO changes: Document when you made website updates, content changes, or technical improvements
  • Monitor algorithm updates: Mark when search engines released major updates
  • Understand performance shifts: Identify potential causes when rankings suddenly change
  • Share insights: Communicate important events with team members and clients
  • Build institutional knowledge: Create a historical record of your SEO activities and their impacts

Getting Started with Annotation Management

Step 1: Access the Tool

  1. Log in to your dashboard
  2. Navigate to "Manage Annotations" in the configurations menu

Step 2: Understanding the Interface

The Annotation Management interface consists of two main sections:

1. Add Annotation Form

This is where you'll create new annotations with details about important events.

2. Annotations Table

This displays your existing annotations with options to enable/disable or delete them.

Creating Annotations

Step 1: Select a Domain

  1. From the "Domain" dropdown, select the website domain you want to add an annotation for
  2. This filters the keywords dropdown to only show keywords associated with the selected domain

Step 2: Select a Keyword

  1. After selecting a domain, choose the specific keyword from the "Keyword" dropdown
  2. The annotation will be visible on the ranking charts for this keyword

Step 3: Enter Annotation Details

  1. Name: Enter a brief, descriptive title for the annotation (e.g., "Updated Meta Titles")
  2. Description: Add more detailed information about what was changed or why this event is significant
  3. Date: Select the specific date when the event occurred using the date picker

Step 4: Save the Annotation

  1. Click the "Add Annotation" button
  2. The annotation will be saved and appear in the annotations table below
  3. By default, new annotations are created in a disabled state

Managing Your Annotations

Viewing Your Annotations

The annotations table displays all annotations you've created, showing:

  • Annotation name
  • Description
  • Associated keyword
  • Date
  • Status (enabled/disabled)
  • Delete option

Enabling/Disabling Annotations

Annotations must be enabled to appear on keyword charts:

  1. Find the annotation in the table
  2. Toggle the switch in the "Status" column:
    • ON (blue): The annotation will be visible on keyword charts
    • OFF (gray): The annotation is saved but hidden from charts

Deleting Annotations

If you no longer need an annotation:

  1. Find the annotation in the table
  2. Click the trash icon in the far-right column
  3. Confirm the deletion when prompted
  4. The annotation will be permanently removed

Viewing Annotations on Keyword Charts

Where Annotations Appear

Enabled annotations appear on the keyword ranking charts:

Keyword Summary Charts: When clicking on a keyword in the summary table


How Annotations Look on Charts

Annotations appear as labeled markers on your charts:

  • A vertical line marks the exact date of the annotation
  • A text label shows the annotation name
  • Hover over or click on an annotation to see more details

Best Practices for Using Annotations

What to Annotate

Consider adding annotations for:

  1. Website Changes:
    • Content updates or new pages
    • Site structure changes
    • Technical SEO improvements

    • Design or UX updates

      External Factors:

    • Search engine algorithm updates
    • Industry news or events
    • Competitor activities

    • Seasonal trends or holidays

      Marketing Activities:

    • New backlink acquisitions
    • PR campaigns or media mentions
    • Social media campaigns
    • Offline marketing efforts

Creating Effective Annotations

  1. Be specific: Use clear, descriptive names that immediately convey what happened
  2. Be consistent: Develop a naming convention for similar types of events
  3. Add context: Include enough detail in the description to understand the significance
  4. Be selective: Annotate meaningful events, not every minor change
  5. Use proper dates: Ensure the annotation date matches when the event actually occurred

Organizing Your Annotations

  1. Review regularly: Periodically check your annotations to ensure they remain relevant
  2. Disable when needed: Instead of deleting, consider disabling annotations temporarily
  3. Group logically: When making multiple changes, consider grouping them in one annotation

Using Annotations for Analysis

Identifying Cause and Effect

  1. Look for ranking changes that occur after specific annotations
  2. Compare performance before and after annotated events
  3. Identify which types of changes have the most positive impact

Frequently Asked Questions

How many annotations can I create?

There is no strict limit on the number of annotations you can create. However, for readability of your charts, it's best to focus on the most significant events.


Can I edit an annotation after creating it?

The current version doesn't support direct editing. To modify an annotation:

  1. Create a new annotation with the correct information
  2. Delete the outdated annotation

Will annotations affect my ranking data?

No, annotations are purely visual markers and notes. They do not affect your ranking data or calculations.


Can I share annotations with team members?

Annotations are visible to all users who have access to the same account. This makes them an excellent tool for team communication about SEO activities.


Do annotations appear on all charts?

Annotations are specific to individual keywords. An annotation will only appear on charts for the keyword it was created for.

Glossary of Terms

  • Annotation: A marker or note on a chart that identifies a significant event or change
  • Enabled Annotation: An annotation that is currently visible on charts
  • Disabled Annotation: An annotation that is saved but hidden from charts
  • Keyword Chart: A graph showing the ranking position of a keyword over time
  • Toggle: The switch that enables or disables an annotation

Conclusion

Annotations are a powerful tool for documenting your SEO journey and understanding the impact of your efforts. By consistently recording important changes and events, you create an invaluable historical record that helps you make better decisions about future optimizations.

Remember that the most effective annotations provide clear, concise information about significant events. Be selective about what you annotate, and focus on changes that are likely to impact your rankings or that you'll want to reference in the future.

As you build your library of annotations over time, you'll develop deeper insights into what works for your specific websites and keywords, allowing you to refine your SEO strategy based on historical evidence rather than guesswork.

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