2025 is all about model constructing. At Ahrefs, we’ve already been doing that for over a decade, however there’s by no means been a greater time for us to ramp issues up.
After writing an article on 11 methods to measure model consciousness, I figured now’s additionally the proper time for us to get a clearer image of the place we stand at the moment, so we now have one thing strong to measure towards when these model wins come rolling in 😉
I wanted a dependable technique to monitor Ahrefs’ model efficiency—recurrently and over time.
Fortunately for me, we have already got a Looker Studio Template hooked as much as all our major instruments through the API, which made it simple to create a dwell, auto-updating dashboard of the important thing natural model metrics I cared about.
Beneath, I present you precisely learn how to replicate this on your personal model.
I created a high-level view of how “seen” the Ahrefs model is in natural search.
I began off by taking part in round with current information in Ahrefs’ pre-made Looker Studio templates.
This gave me an thought of learn how to configure the information, till I finally discovered my favourite model evaluation datapoints.
Right here’s a fast snapshot of the information I analyzed:
- Branded visitors over time and Share of Voice (SoV) for branded key phrases
- High pages and the way they’re contributing to branded visitors
- Branded key phrase efficiency (quantity, CPC, rating)
- The situation and high quality of branded backlinks
- New/misplaced branded backlinks
- Branded SERP characteristic possession
Listed here are 7 steps to measuring your personal natural model efficiency in Looker Studio.
The simplest technique to create your personal LS dashboard is to adapt certainly one of our three templates.
Web site Explorer is greatest for preserving tabs on complete natural visitors, paid visitors, natural key phrases, and backlinks.
Rank Tracker is beneficial for overview stats and project-level evaluation. It helps you monitor SoV towards opponents, SERP Characteristic possession, and positions throughout a selected set of key phrases.
Web site Audit is beneficial whenever you wish to go deep into the technical search engine marketing aspect of issues. It provides you indexability insights, on-page content material points, and core net vitals standing updates.
I principally wished to observe broad model metrics, so I began off with the Web site Explorer template, after which fed in Rank Tracker information to home-in on a few of our most vital key phrases.
To adapt a template, simply click on on the three dots on the suitable and click on “Make a copy”.
Then underneath “New information supply” click on “Create information supply”…
…and seek for your chosen Ahrefs information connector.
Select your undertaking, and depart all different fields clean—you’ll be able to regulate them in a while within the precise report. 
The exception to this rule is should you’re including “Rank Tracker” as a knowledge supply. On this case, you’ll want to pick out a “System sort” earlier than you’ll be able to “Join”.
On the subsequent display, hit “Add to report”.
At this level, you’ll be able to add different information connectors like Rank Tracker or Web site Audit, so that you’ve got extra dimensions, metrics, and parameters to play with.
Click on “Add information”, seek for Ahrefs once more, then choose your connector, and repeat the configuration above.
If you wish to isolate model efficiency, you want to have the ability to filter your entire information.
However not all Ahrefs fields and charts may be segmented on this manner (e.g. Natural visitors charts, High pages historical past charts).
Tip
For that motive, each datapoint I included in my dashboard was chosen as a result of it may be filtered.
On every web page, I segmented our total efficiency, utilizing regex and accommodates filters, utilizing “enter containers” to restrict evaluation to our model identify and any variants/misspellings.
Tip
To use these filters, ensure you have “Allowed” our pre-configured parameters. You may’t filter sure charts or information with out these parameters. I’ve made this error a few occasions! To examine, head to “Knowledge Sources” on the suitable, and click on the pencil icon.
Then scroll right down to “Parameters”. If any are greyed out, click on on the three dots and choose “Present”
For instance, I used the “Key phrase accommodates” parameter to filter our Rank Tracker information by model key phrase.
Each dimension, metric, area, and visualization I added to the dashboard was very a lot trial and error.
I like to recommend taking part in round with the information in the identical manner, till you construct what that you must see.
Utilizing the Rank Tracker information supply, you’ll be able to monitor a bucket of your Most worthy key phrases.
Observe an Ahrefs undertaking that’s a combination of name and non-brand phrases, then use “Tags” or filters to focus simply on model phrases.
Or, arrange a brand new undertaking monitoring solely your model key phrases.
When you’re taking a look at model phrases, choose the “scorecard with compact numbers” view, to see high-level metrics on the high of your report.
If you’re configuring these “scorecard” numbers, ensure you use our opponents historical past fields.
This manner you’ll be able to shortly spot-check your model positions, SERP options, share of voice, and visitors, and monitor any development or decline with “sparkline” visuals.
Lastly, arrange an “Is your web site filter” to observe solely your web site, and sift out any opponents you monitor in your undertaking.
Now that you just’ve tracked your self-selected model key phrases, monitor those driving visitors to your high pages.
You may plug into our “High pages” information through the Web site Explorer template.
Simply as you probably did for Rank Tracker, add scorecard stats and deltas on the high of the report to grasp your total, month-over-month efficiency.
Deal with these metrics as a place to begin, then see what’s driving model efficiency on the web page degree.
To take action, arrange desk information under utilizing a collection of dimensions decided by “High web page” fields.
You’ve tracked a customized set of name key phrases, your high web page model key phrases—now assess all of your model key phrases.
Pull in information from the Natural Key phrases report. This allows you to see all the key phrases your model is displaying up for (not simply those you manually monitor)—nice for recognizing breakout phrases.
Arrange quick-glance stats of visitors, CPCs, positions, and search quantity information, utilizing “Natural key phrases” fields as your metrics.
Then create a pie chart to visualise your SERP Characteristic possession.
1. Add “Key phrase URL characteristic” because the dimension
2. Add “Key phrase” because the metric
3. Add “Key phrase” as the kind characteristic (by descending)
4. Add a filter “Key phrase URL take away blanks” (Exclude → Key phrase URL characteristic → Is Null)
Then construct a easy desk of key phrase efficiency information, together with metrics like quantity, key phrase issue (KD), positions, visitors, and visitors development, so you’ll be able to see the information behind efficiency peaks and troughs.
The way in which third events reference your model issues greater than ever, if you wish to stand out in AI and search.
Observe how third-party websites are referencing your model utilizing Web site Explorer’s Backlinks report.
Begin with big-picture metrics:
- Whole model hyperlinks
- New vs. misplaced branded hyperlinks
- Web acquire over time (New model hyperlinks – Misplaced model hyperlinks)
Then visualize the standard of those hyperlinks. Arrange pie charts of your branded hyperlinks damaged down by area score (DR).
Tip
Notice down your proportion of DR > 60+ branded backlinks every month—it is a good technique to assess the expansion of high-authority hyperlinks.
You may also monitor your in-content hyperlinks so that you’re not specializing in non-relevant html or picture hyperlinks.
And monitor hyperlink languages, to deduce what number of model references are coming out of your goal areas.
Then, examine efficiency on a link-by-link foundation, by including in table-detail under, together with:
- Model referring domains
- Model anchors
- Particular person model backlinks
Lastly, kind these tables by visitors to get a fast thought of the place your most organically seen model hyperlinks are coming from.
As soon as your dashboard’s up and operating, there are a number of sensible methods to begin placing the information to use.
first step is to report in your model efficiency during the last 12 months and use these stats as your benchmark metrics.
From there, monitor efficiency every month—evaluating towards your benchmarks and noting any development or decline. If something attention-grabbing jumps out, share it along with your group.
Past that, listed here are 5 extra methods you should utilize this information:
1. Benchmark model efficiency
Examine your model visitors, hyperlinks, and SERP visibility towards complete efficiency, to see how a lot of your natural success comes from branded exercise.
Simply use these “key phrase accommodates” and “regex” filters to trace model efficiency, then depart them clean to gauge complete efficiency.
For instance, we discovered that our branded hyperlink acquire in Q1 this 12 months was 160% increased than our complete hyperlink acquire.
This perception tells us that the Ahrefs model has attracted greater than double the quantity of hyperlinks this 12 months, in comparison with our total common.
2. Monitor model traits over time
Observe how your model presence evolves month-to-month.
For instance, from our LS dashboard, I seen that our model key phrase visitors has grown by 28% this quarter.
In case you revisit information recurrently, you’ll be able to search for patterns and correlations, like whether or not an increase in excessive authority hyperlinks correlates with visitors spikes.
This information is usually a case for extra model funding—or a warning when metrics dip.
Tip
Feed a PDF of your month-to-month Looker Studio reviews to ChatGPT and ask for assist figuring out any traits or correlations.
3. Observe model positioning shifts
In case you’re repositioning your model (at Ahrefs, for example, we’re transferring in the direction of turning into a “market intelligence” software), watch how key phrase and content material efficiency adjustments.
Monitoring development key phrases can present you in case your model messaging is headed in the suitable path—or if there’s a mismatch between the way you wish to be seen and the way your viewers really sees you.
Your “High pages” and “Branded backlinks & anchors” reviews can provide you a greater thought of how strongly customers join your model with sure subjects.
4. Measure marketing campaign affect
Use the dashboard to see if model campaigns, PR, or partnerships are transferring the needle.
After we revamped the Ahrefs Academy final month, we will see associated Academy pages have been a few of our high visitors drivers this month.
5. Take a look at model content material optimizations
In case you’re experimenting with together with your model identify extra incessantly alongside related phrases, concepts, and options—like in titles, meta descriptions, or on-page copy—you should utilize the dashboard to see whether or not it’s bettering your branded key phrase efficiency.
Wrapping up
We’re residing in a brand-first period. Model is more and more a high funnel and backside funnel play—it drives each discovery and conversions.
With out model consciousness, you may be invisible in search, LLMs, and purchaser discussions.
You may’t optimize what you don’t measure. With AI reshaping the panorama, it’s essential to observe your model presence now.
Have a go at creating your personal model consciousness report with Ahrefs Looker Studio template, and let me know the way you get on.
