Tips and Tricks for Using ChatGPT to Track Keyword Rankings

Katie Schieder
Katie Schieder Director of Inbound Marketing & Content

ChatGPT has become a powerful tool for various SEO-related tasks, including tracking keyword rankings. While it isn’t a replacement for professional SEO tools or agencies, it can serve as a helpful assistant for smaller-scale or budget-conscious projects. Here are some tricks and tips for making the most of ChatGPT when it comes to keyword ranking:

1. Use ChatGPT for Keyword Brainstorming

ChatGPT is excellent for generating keyword ideas related to your niche. By providing it with a topic or industry, you can ask it to suggest a list of keywords that are commonly searched. For instance:

Prompt Example:

“Generate a list of 20 long-tail keywords related to eco-friendly home products.”

This approach ensures you have a diverse set of keywords to explore for your content strategy.

2. Organize and Prioritize Keywords

ChatGPT can help you organize keywords into categories based on intent (e.g., informational, transactional, or navigational) or relevance to your audience. By doing so, you can prioritize which keywords are worth tracking.

Prompt Example:

“Categorize these keywords into transactional, informational, or navigational intents: [list of keywords].”

3. Conduct Competitor Analysis

Although ChatGPT cannot directly analyze competitors’ websites, it can guide you on how to identify gaps or opportunities based on competitors’ rankings. For example, you can ask for strategies to identify low-competition keywords or target underserved areas in your niche.

Prompt Example:

“How can I find keywords my competitors are targeting but aren’t well-optimized for?”

4. Generate Content Ideas to Target Specific Keywords

Once you have your keywords, ChatGPT can provide content ideas tailored to those keywords. This ensures your content strategy aligns with your target terms and ranking goals.

Prompt Example:

“Suggest five blog post topics to target the keyword ‘vegan meal prep for beginners.'”

5. Create Placeholder Ranking Reports

Although ChatGPT doesn’t provide live data on keyword rankings (like tools such as Ahrefs or SEMrush), you can use it to generate templates or placeholder reports to manually track your progress. Simply ask it to create a ranking-tracking spreadsheet with fields like:

  • Keyword
  • Search Volume
  • Current Ranking
  • Target Ranking
  • Competition Score

Export this to a spreadsheet or tracking software to keep tabs on your rankings manually.

Prompt Example:

“Design a sample keyword ranking report template for 10 keywords.”

6. Ask for SEO Insights and Guidance

ChatGPT is a treasure trove of SEO knowledge. If you’re new to keyword tracking, you can use it to learn the best practices or troubleshoot ranking challenges.

Prompt Example:

“What are the best practices for improving keyword rankings on Google?”

7. Build Simple Keyword Strategies

For small-scale projects, ChatGPT can help you develop a step-by-step keyword strategy. For example, it can outline how to optimize content, add internal links, or improve on-page SEO for specific keywords.

Prompt Example:

“Create a step-by-step strategy to rank for the keyword ‘best travel backpacks for 2025.'”

Limitations of ChatGPT for Keyword Tracking

While ChatGPT offers a wealth of guidance, it’s important to note what it can’t do:

  1. Provide real-time ranking data.
  2. Analyze website performance directly.
  3. Track historical changes in rankings over time.

For live keyword tracking and advanced insights, you’ll need dedicated SEO tools.

When to Use an SEO Agency for Keyword Tracking and Strategy

While ChatGPT is a great assistant for DIY SEO tasks, larger-scale projects require more precision, strategy, and expertise. If you’re managing a growing business, working in a competitive niche, or handling multiple websites, an SEO agency is essential. Here’s why:

1. Advanced Tools and Analytics

Agencies use powerful SEO platforms like SEMrush, Ahrefs, and Google Analytics to deliver real-time data, deep competitor insights, and actionable recommendations.

2. Strategic Expertise

SEO agencies craft long-term strategies that go beyond keyword tracking. They analyze your target audience, optimize your site architecture, and build authority through backlinking, content marketing, and technical SEO.

3. Scalability

Agencies have the bandwidth to manage large-scale campaigns. Whether you’re optimizing for hundreds of keywords or targeting multiple regions, they ensure your efforts remain organized and effective.

4. Continuous Monitoring and Adaptation

SEO is not a one-time effort. Agencies continuously monitor your keyword rankings, traffic, and conversion metrics, adapting your strategy to changes in algorithms or market trends.

5. Time and Cost Efficiency

Handling SEO in-house can be time-intensive and costly without the right expertise or tools. By outsourcing to an agency, you gain access to experienced professionals and high-end tools without investing in them directly.

Talk to Arc Intermedia for SEO and AEO Excellence

If you’re looking for a partner to elevate your SEO and AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) efforts, Arc Intermedia is the perfect choice. With years of expertise and a proven track record, they specialize in crafting comprehensive strategies that combine traditional SEO with cutting-edge AEO practices.

Arc Intermedia helps businesses:

  • Enhance their organic search visibility with advanced tools and techniques.

  • Optimize for voice search and featured snippets to dominate answer-driven queries.

  • Build robust content strategies tailored to your target audience and business goals.

  • Monitor and refine campaigns based on real-time data and emerging trends.

Partnering with Arc Intermedia ensures your business stays competitive in an ever-evolving digital landscape. Their team of experts provides customized solutions to meet your unique needs, helping you achieve measurable and sustainable growth.

ChatGPT is a fantastic resource for brainstorming, learning, and handling small SEO tasks like keyword brainstorming and strategy development. However, as your business grows, it’s crucial to transition to a more robust and strategic approach with an experienced SEO agency. These agencies bring the expertise, tools, and insights needed to ensure your keyword tracking and overall SEO efforts yield maximum ROI.

Combining ChatGPT’s capabilities with the professional services of an agency like Arc Intermedia offers the perfect balance of efficiency and strategy, empowering you to dominate the search rankings in your niche.