Search Groups

Search groups are a powerful way to organize and track how your keywords perform across different search engines, locations, and devices. Each search group represents a specific configuration of settings that determines how your keyword tracking will be performed.


Think of a search group as a container that holds:

  • A specific set of keywords from your domain
  • Settings for which search engines to monitor
  • Location and language preferences
  • Device and operating system settings

Why Use Search Groups?

Search groups help you:

  • Organize keywords into logical collections for better analysis
  • Track performance across different search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo
  • Understand regional differences by monitoring rankings in different locations
  • Compare device experiences by seeing how rankings differ on mobile vs. desktop
  • Focus your analysis on specific subsets of keywords that matter to your business

Getting Started with Search Group Management

Accessing the Search Group Management Area

  1. Log in to your account
  2. Navigate to the "Manage Keywords" section from the configuration menu
  3. You'll see two main areas:
    • The search group creation form at the top
    • A table of your existing search groups below

Understanding the Search Group Table

The table displays all your existing search groups with the following information:

  • Domain: The website this search group is tracking
  • Search Name: The name you've given to this search group
  • Search Engine: Icons representing which search engines are being monitored
  • Location: Where the searches are being performed from
  • Language: The language setting for searches
  • Device: Whether searches are performed on desktop or mobile
  • OS: The operating system setting (Windows/Mac for desktop, Android/iOS for mobile)
  • Action: Buttons to enable/disable, edit, or delete the search group

Creating a New Search Group

Step 1: Enter Basic Information

  1. In the search group creation form, enter a unique Search Name
    • Choose a descriptive name that helps you remember what this group is tracking

    • For example: "US Mobile Google Rankings" or "Product Page Keywords"

      Select a Domain from the dropdown

    • This is the website whose keywords you want to track

Step 2: Configure Search Settings

  1. Select a Location
    • Click in the location field and start typing a country, state, or city name
    • Choose from the suggestions that appear

    • This determines where the searches will appear to come from

      Choose a Language

    • Select the language you want searches to be performed in

    • This affects search results since different languages may show different content

      Select Device Type

    • Choose between Desktop or Mobile

    • This is important because search rankings often differ between devices

      Choose the appropriate Operating System

    • For Desktop: Windows or Mac

    • For Mobile: Android or iOS

      Select Search Engines

    • Click in the search engines field and select one or more engines
    • Options include Google, Bing, and Yahoo
    • You can track the same keywords across multiple search engines

Step 3: Select Keywords

  1. Choose whether to search All Keywords or a specific selection:
    • Yes: Track all keywords associated with your selected domain

    • No: Select specific keywords to include in this search group

      If you selected "No" to searching all keywords:

    • A table of available keywords will appear
    • Use the filters at the top to find specific keywords:
      • Keyword Filter: Type to search for specific terms
      • Category Filter: Filter by keyword category
      • Include Filter: Show only included or excluded keywords
    • Toggle the switch next to each keyword to include or exclude it
    • Use the master toggle at the top to select or deselect all visible keywords
    • The counter at the bottom shows how many keywords are currently selected

Step 4: Create Your Search Group

  1. Review all your settings to ensure they're correct
  2. Click the Save button
  3. You'll see a confirmation message when your search group is successfully created
  4. Your new search group will appear in the table below the form

Managing Existing Search Groups

Filtering Your Search Groups

  1. Use the Domain Filter dropdown above the table to show only search groups for a specific domain
  2. Click All Domains to show search groups for all domains

Enabling or Disabling a Search Group

  1. Find the search group you want to enable or disable in the table
  2. Toggle the switch in the Action column
  3. Enabled search groups will actively collect data, while disabled ones will not

Editing a Search Group

  1. Find the search group you want to modify in the table
  2. Click the edit icon (pencil) in the Action column
  3. The form will be populated with the current settings
  4. Make your desired changes:
    • Update location, language, device settings
    • Change search engines
    • Modify keyword selection
  5. Click Save to update your search group
  6. To cancel without saving changes, click the Cancel button

Deleting a Search Group

  1. Locate the search group in the table
  2. Click the delete icon (trash) in the Action column
  3. Confirm the deletion when prompted
  4. The search group will be permanently removed

Best Practices for Search Group Management

Strategic Grouping

Create focused search groups based on:

  • Geographic regions: Separate groups for different countries or cities
  • Device focus: Different groups for mobile and desktop
  • Content types: Group keywords related to specific product categories or sections of your site
  • Business objectives: Create groups aligned with specific marketing campaigns or initiatives

Naming Conventions

Use clear, consistent search group names that:

  • Indicate the domain if you manage multiple websites
  • Specify the location if you track different regions
  • Mention device type if it's device-specific
  • Include purpose or content focus

For example:

  • "Website.com - US Desktop"
  • "Blog Keywords - Mobile - Google"
  • "Product Pages - Global"

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I track the same keywords across different search engines?

Yes! You can create separate search groups for the same keywords across Google, Bing, and Yahoo, or include multiple search engines in a single group.


Why might I want different search groups for desktop and mobile?

Search engine rankings often differ significantly between desktop and mobile devices. Tracking them separately gives you more accurate insights into how users on different devices find your content.


Does changing my search group settings affect historical data?

Editing a search group's settings will only affect future data collection. Your historical data remains intact based on the previous settings.


What's the difference between deleting and disabling a search group?

  • Disabling: Temporarily stops data collection but preserves all historical data
  • Deleting: Permanently removes the search group data and prevents future data collection

Troubleshooting

My search group isn't collecting data

Check the following:

  • Ensure the search group is enabled (toggle switch is on)
  • Verify you've selected at least one search engine
  • Check that you've included keywords (or selected "Yes" for all keywords)
  • Confirm your account has sufficient credits or quota for data collection

I can't find certain keywords in the selection table

If you can't find specific keywords:

  • Use the keyword filter to search for parts of the keyword
  • Check if the keyword is associated with a different domain
  • Verify that the keyword exists in your account (you may need to add it first)

The location I want isn't available

If you can't find a specific location:

  • Try searching for a larger geographic area (city → state → country)
  • Check for alternative spellings or official names
  • Some very specific locations may not be supported; choose the closest available option

I accidentally deleted a search group

Unfortunately, search group deletion is permanent. In the future, consider disabling search groups rather than deleting them if you might need them later.

Glossary of Terms

  • Search Group: A configuration setting that defines how keyword tracking is performed
  • Domain: The website whose keywords are being tracked in the search group
  • Location Code: The technical identifier for a geographic location
  • Search Engine: The platform where searches are performed (Google, Bing, Yahoo)
  • Device Type: Whether searches are performed on desktop or mobile devices
  • Keywords: The specific search terms being tracked within a search group

Conclusion

Effective search group management helps you organize your keyword tracking and gain more precise insights into your search performance. By creating focused, well-organized search groups, you can better understand how your content performs across different search engines, locations, and devices.

Remember that search groups are flexible tools that should evolve with your business needs. Regularly review and update your search groups to ensure they continue to provide valuable data that supports your marketing and content strategies.

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