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 right time for us to get a clearer image of the place we stand at the moment, so we have now one thing strong to measure in opposition to when these model wins come rolling in 😉
I wanted a dependable method to observe Ahrefs’ model efficiency—usually and over time.
Fortunately for me, we have already got a Looker Studio Template hooked as much as all our principal instruments through the API, which made it simple to create a stay, auto-updating dashboard of the important thing natural model metrics I cared about.
Under, I present you precisely learn how to replicate this in your personal model.
I created a high-level view of how “seen” the Ahrefs model is in natural search.
I began off by enjoying round with present knowledge in Ahrefs’ pre-made Looker Studio templates.
This gave me an concept of learn how to configure the info, till I finally discovered my favourite model evaluation datapoints.
Right here’s a fast snapshot of the info 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 placement and high quality of branded backlinks
- New/misplaced branded backlinks
- Branded SERP function possession
Listed here are 7 steps to measuring your personal natural model efficiency in Looker Studio.
The best method to create your personal LS dashboard is to adapt one in all our three templates.
Web site Explorer is finest for retaining tabs on complete natural visitors, paid visitors, natural key phrases, and backlinks.
Rank Tracker is helpful for overview stats and project-level evaluation. It helps you observe SoV in opposition to opponents, SERP Function possession, and positions throughout a particular set of key phrases.
Web site Audit is helpful once you wish to go deep into the technical website positioning facet of issues. It provides you indexability insights, on-page content material points, and core internet 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 knowledge 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 fitting and click on “Make a copy”.
Then beneath “New knowledge supply” click on “Create knowledge supply”…
…and seek for your chosen Ahrefs knowledge connector.
Select your undertaking, and go away all different fields clean—you’ll be able to alter them in a while within the precise report. 
The exception to this rule is for those who’re including “Rank Tracker” as an information supply. On this case, you’ll want to pick out a “Gadget kind” earlier than you’ll be able to “Join”.
On the following display screen, hit “Add to report”.
At this level, you’ll be able to add different knowledge connectors like Rank Tracker or Web site Audit, so that you’ve extra dimensions, metrics, and parameters to play with.
Click on “Add knowledge”, 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 all your knowledge.
However not all Ahrefs fields and charts could be segmented on this approach (e.g. Natural visitors charts, High pages historical past charts).
Tip
For that purpose, 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 incorporates filters, utilizing “enter packing containers” to restrict evaluation to our model title and any variants/misspellings.
Tip
To use these filters, ensure you have “Allowed” our pre-configured parameters. You possibly can’t filter sure charts or knowledge with out these parameters. I’ve made this error a few occasions! To examine, head to “Knowledge Sources” on the fitting, 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 incorporates” parameter to filter our Rank Tracker knowledge by model key phrase.
Each dimension, metric, discipline, and visualization I added to the dashboard was very a lot trial and error.
I like to recommend enjoying round with the info in the identical approach, till you construct what you want to see.
Utilizing the Rank Tracker knowledge supply, you’ll be able to monitor a bucket of your most useful 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 model phrases, choose the “scorecard with compact numbers” view, to see high-level metrics on the prime 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 progress 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 observe in your undertaking.
Now that you simply’ve tracked your self-selected model key phrases, monitor those driving visitors to your prime pages.
You possibly can plug into our “High pages” knowledge through the Web site Explorer template.
Simply as you probably did for Rank Tracker, add scorecard stats and deltas on the prime 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 stage.
To take action, arrange desk knowledge under utilizing a collection of dimensions decided by “High web page” fields.
You’ve tracked a customized set of name key phrases, your prime web page model key phrases—now assess all of your model key phrases.
Pull in knowledge from the Natural Key phrases report. This allows you to see the entire key phrases your model is displaying up for (not simply those you manually observe)—nice for recognizing breakout phrases.
Arrange quick-glance stats of visitors, CPCs, positions, and search quantity knowledge, utilizing “Natural key phrases” fields as your metrics.
Then create a pie chart to visualise your SERP Function possession.
1. Add “Key phrase URL function” because the dimension
2. Add “Key phrase” because the metric
3. Add “Key phrase” as the type function (by descending)
4. Add a filter “Key phrase URL take away blanks” (Exclude → Key phrase URL function → Is Null)
Then construct a easy desk of key phrase efficiency knowledge, together with metrics like quantity, key phrase problem (KD), positions, visitors, and visitors progress, so you’ll be able to see the info behind efficiency peaks and troughs.
The best way 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:
- Complete model hyperlinks
- New vs. misplaced branded hyperlinks
- Web achieve 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 ranking (DR).
Tip
Be aware down your proportion of DR > 60+ branded backlinks every month—it is a good method to assess the expansion of high-authority hyperlinks.
You may also observe 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, type these tables by visitors to get a fast concept of the place your most organically seen model hyperlinks are coming from.
As soon as your dashboard’s up and working, there are just a few sensible methods to start out placing the info to use.
A very good first step is to report in your model efficiency during the last yr and use these stats as your benchmark metrics.
From there, observe efficiency every month—evaluating in opposition to your benchmarks and noting any progress or decline. If something attention-grabbing jumps out, share it along with your group.
Past that, listed here are 5 extra methods you need to use this knowledge:
1. Benchmark model efficiency
Evaluate your model visitors, hyperlinks, and SERP visibility in opposition to complete efficiency, to see how a lot of your natural success comes from branded exercise.
Simply use these “key phrase incorporates” and “regex” filters to trace model efficiency, then go away them clean to gauge complete efficiency.
For instance, we discovered that our branded hyperlink achieve in Q1 this yr was 160% increased than our complete hyperlink achieve.
This perception tells us that the Ahrefs model has attracted greater than double the quantity of hyperlinks this yr, 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 observed that our model key phrase visitors has grown by 28% this quarter.
In case you revisit knowledge usually, 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 knowledge 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 shifting in direction of turning into a “market intelligence” device), watch how key phrase and content material efficiency modifications.
Monitoring progress key phrases can present you in case your model messaging is headed in the fitting 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 may give you a greater concept of how strongly customers join your model with sure matters.
4. Measure marketing campaign impression
Use the dashboard to see if model campaigns, PR, or partnerships are shifting the needle.
After we revamped the Ahrefs Academy final month, we are able to see associated Academy pages have been a few of our prime visitors drivers this month.
5. Take a look at model content material optimizations
In case you’re experimenting with together with your model title extra regularly alongside related phrases, concepts, and options—like in titles, meta descriptions, or on-page copy—you need to use the dashboard to see whether or not it’s enhancing your branded key phrase efficiency.
Wrapping up
We’re residing in a brand-first period. Model is more and more a prime 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 possibly can’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.
