rank-tracker

Rank Tracker

Tracks keyword positions, SERP feature ownership, and AI visibility over time.

Quick Start

Set up rank tracking for [domain] targeting these keywords: [keyword list]

Analyze ranking changes for [domain] over the past [time period]

Skill Contract

Expected output: a ranking report or delta summary plus the standard handoff summary for memory/monitoring/.

• Reads: current rankings, prior baselines, target keyword list, locale/language/device/engine, snapshot/source refs, observation times/windows, stable page/content bindings, and any user-provided or tool metrics.
• Writes: a user-facing monitoring deliverable and reusable summary.
• Promotes: significant changes, confirmed anomalies, follow-up actions, and pending decisions to memory/open-loops.md.
• Done when: every tracked keyword shows a current, context-matched position vs baseline with a labeled delta, or Unknown/NEEDS_REFRESH with its reason; each observation cites its source ref, observed time, window, locale/language/device/engine, evidence label, and ranking page ref; conflicts remain visible; and biggest movers and likely causes are named.
• Primary next skill: performance-monitor when recurring monitoring should become automated.

Handoff Summary

Emit the standard shape from skill-contract.md §Handoff Summary Format.

Data Sources

All integrations optional (see CONNECTORS.md). With tools, pull rankings from ~~SEO tool, impressions from ~~search console, traffic from ~~analytics, and AI citations from ~~AI monitor. Without tools, ask for positions, volumes, competitor data, and SERP feature status.

Zero-dependency measurement loop (no paid tool needed): never narrate a ranking movement you did not measure — record each check as a snapshot and let the ledger compute the delta. python3 "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/connectors/ledger.py" record <domain> --source rank --data '{"<keyword>": <position>, ...}', then ledger.py diff <domain> --source rank for the change since the last check and ledger.py trend <domain> --source rank --field "<keyword>" for the series. Record real Search Console positions when connected, or the positions the user provides at Tier 1. A ranking delta is a week-scale, confounded outcome — attribute it against a control (a holdout keyword/competitor), not against zero; see references/measurement-protocol.md. See scripts/connectors/README.md.

Decision Gates

Stop and ask the user when:

• No target keywords are provided and none can be inferred from CLAUDE.md or prior monitoring records — offer: (1) supply a keyword list, (2) track the domain's top known terms, (3) cancel.

Continue silently (never stop for):

• No prior baseline exists — record the current run as the baseline, label all positions as the first snapshot, and proceed (do not invent a "previous" position).
• Missing optional tool data (SERP features, AI citations) — mark N/A and proceed.

Instructions

When a user requests rank tracking or analysis:

1. Set Up Keyword Tracking — configure domain, market/locale, device, language, engine, update frequency, priorities, competitor watchlist, and stable page refs. Apply the SEO/GEO Evidence and Cycle Control Profile.
2. Record Current Rankings — output a position table where every row cites its source (tool export / user-provided / estimated), with position ranges, ranking URLs, feature ownership, and movement vs baseline.
3. Analyze Ranking Changes — highlight biggest wins, declines, stable terms, new rankings, lost rankings, likely causes, and recovery ideas; each delta labeled against its baseline.
4. Track SERP Features — compare ownership of snippets, PAA, image/video packs, local packs, and related feature shifts.
5. Track GEO / AI Visibility — monitor AI Overview presence, citation rate, citation position, and trend; mark each value Measured (from an ~~AI monitor) or N/A if unobserved.
6. Compare Against Competitors — report share of voice, head-to-head comparisons, and threat levels.
7. Generate Ranking Report — output overall trend, key wins, concerns, opportunities, SERP feature changes, GEO visibility, and recommendations, with each metric carrying its source tag.

Label every metric Measured, User-provided, Calculated, Estimated, Proxy, or Unknown; never present an estimate or proxy as measured. An applicable missing metric is Unknown with its reason. A stale or locale/language/device/engine-mismatched position is NEEDS_REFRESH, not a current ranking; N/A is only for a genuinely non-applicable field.

Reference: See Ranking Analysis Templates for the complete output templates for all seven steps.

Example

A ranking report names the biggest winners, biggest drops, and next actions, with each position carrying its source tag and labeled delta against baseline.

Rank Change Quick Reference

Response Protocol

Change	Timeframe	Action
Drop 1-3 positions	Wait 1-2 weeks	Monitor — may be normal fluctuation
Drop 3-5 positions	Investigate within 1 week	Check technical issues and competitor changes
Drop 5-10 positions	Investigate immediately	Run a full diagnostic: technical, content, links
Drop off page 1	Emergency response	Comprehensive audit + recovery plan
Position gained	Document and learn	Identify what worked and replicate

Reference: See Tracking Setup Guide for tracking setup, root-cause taxonomy, CTR benchmarks, SERP feature impact, and algorithm-update assessment.

Save Results

Ask "Save these results?" If yes, write to memory/monitoring/ — see Skill Contract §Save Results Template.

Next Best Skill

Initial setup (no baseline) → performance-monitor. Subsequent runs (baseline exists) → Terminal. Visited-set rule applies per skill-contract.md.