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URL-Level Position Tracking | Rank Tracker

Compare the page you expect to rank for each keyword with the page that actually appears in search results to detect cannibalization.

Written by Mike

Make Sure the Right Page Ranks for Every Keyword

The URLs report compares the page you expect to rank for each tracked keyword (Target URL) with the page that actually appears in search results (Actual URL). Use it to catch ranking cannibalization, verify landing page targeting, and prioritize pages that need optimization.

What you can achieve:

  • Detect ranking cannibalization: See where the wrong page ranks for a keyword — a common issue when multiple pages on the same site compete for the same query.

  • Verify landing page targeting: Confirm that each keyword drives traffic to the intended page, not an unrelated one that Google selected instead.

  • Prioritize optimization work: Filter by URL mismatch and sort by traffic volume to find the highest-impact targeting issues to fix first.

Getting Started

  1. Navigate to Rank Tracker → [your project] → URLs in the left sidebar.

  2. Set target URLs for your keywords by clicking Enter target URL next to each keyword.

  3. Use the quick filters to switch between: All keywords, Matched URLs, Mismatched URLs, and No target URL set.

  4. Sort by Position or Traffic to prioritize which mismatches to address first.

  5. Click on any URL in the Actual URL column to open that page directly.

Key Metrics Explained

  1. Keywords: All tracked keywords in the project.

  2. Target URL: The page you have designated as the intended ranking page for that keyword.

  3. Actual URL: The page currently appearing in search results for that keyword. Highlighted in red if it does not match the Target URL.

  4. Position: The current ranking position for the keyword based on the Actual URL.

  5. Traffic: Estimated organic traffic for the keyword based on position and search volume.

Pro Tip: Fix the Highest-Impact URL Mismatches First

A mismatch on a high-volume keyword means your best content is not getting the credit it should — fix those first.

  1. Apply the Mismatched URLs filter.

  2. Sort by Traffic descending.

  3. The top rows are the highest-traffic keywords where the wrong page is ranking.

  4. Fix targeting by strengthening internal links to the correct page, adjusting on-page optimization, or using canonical tags where appropriate.

⚠️ Important: Target URLs must be set manually for each keyword. Without a Target URL, the Mismatched filter cannot flag a problem. Set target URLs when you add keywords to the project to get complete mismatch tracking from day one.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is a URL highlighted in red?
​A: Red means the Actual URL (the page ranking in Google) does not match the Target URL you set for that keyword. This may indicate cannibalization, weak internal linking, or misaligned on-page optimization.
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Q: Can I assign the same target URL to multiple keywords?
​A: Yes. One page can be the target for multiple keywords — for example, all keywords targeting a single product or service page.
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Q: Does the Actual URL update automatically?
​A: Yes. The Actual URL field updates on each Rank Tracker position update. Frequency depends on your project's update schedule.
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Next Steps

  • Project Overview — See current positions and ranking movements for all tracked keywords.

  • Positions History — Review how positions have changed over time for the keywords with URL mismatches.

  • Competitors — See which domains compete for your tracked keyword set and how they trend.

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