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 as we speak, so we have now one thing stable to measure in opposition to when these model wins come rolling in 😉
I wanted a dependable strategy to monitor Ahrefs’ model efficiency—repeatedly 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 reside, auto-updating dashboard of the important thing natural model metrics I cared about.
Beneath, I present you precisely the right way 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 taking part in round with present information in Ahrefs’ pre-made Looker Studio templates.
This gave me an thought of the right way to configure the info, till I ultimately 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 individual natural model efficiency in Looker Studio.
The best strategy to create your individual LS dashboard is to adapt considered one of our three templates.
Website Explorer is greatest for retaining tabs on whole natural visitors, paid visitors, natural key phrases, and backlinks.
Rank Tracker is helpful for overview stats and project-level evaluation. It helps you monitor SoV in opposition to opponents, SERP Characteristic possession, and positions throughout a selected set of key phrases.
Website Audit is helpful while you wish to go deep into the technical web optimization facet of issues. It provides you indexability insights, on-page content material points, and core net vitals standing updates.
I principally wished to watch broad model metrics, so I began off with the Website Explorer template, after which fed in Rank Tracker information to home-in on a few of our most essential key phrases.
To adapt a template, simply click on on the three dots on the suitable and click on “Make a copy”.
Then beneath “New information supply” click on “Create information supply”…
…and seek for your chosen Ahrefs information connector.
Select your challenge, and depart all different fields clean—you’ll be able to modify them afterward within the precise report. 
The exception to this rule is in the event you’re including “Rank Tracker” as a knowledge supply. On this case, you’ll want to pick out a “Machine sort” 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 information connectors like Rank Tracker or Website 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 whole information.
However not all Ahrefs fields and charts could be segmented on this manner (e.g. Natural visitors charts, High pages historical past charts).
Tip
For that cause, 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 bins” to restrict evaluation to our model title and any variants/misspellings.
Tip
To use these filters, be sure to have “Allowed” our pre-configured parameters. You’ll be able to’t filter sure charts or information with out these parameters. I’ve made this error a few instances! To test, 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, discipline, and visualization I added to the dashboard was very a lot trial and error.
I like to recommend taking part in round with the info in the identical manner, till you construct what you should see.
Utilizing the Rank Tracker information supply, you’ll be able to monitor a bucket of your most useful key phrases.
Observe an Ahrefs challenge that’s a mix of name and non-brand phrases, then use “Tags” or filters to focus simply on model phrases.
Or, arrange a brand new challenge 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, be sure to use our opponents historical past fields.
This fashion 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 watch solely your web site, and sift out any opponents you monitor in your challenge.
Now that you just’ve tracked your self-selected model key phrases, monitor those driving visitors to your prime pages.
You’ll be able to plug into our “High pages” information through the Website 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 degree.
To take action, arrange desk information under utilizing a sequence 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 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 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 information, together with metrics like quantity, key phrase issue (KD), positions, visitors, and visitors progress, so you’ll be able to see the info 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 Website Explorer’s Backlinks report.
Begin with big-picture metrics:
- Complete model hyperlinks
- New vs. misplaced branded hyperlinks
- Internet 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 score (DR).
Tip
Notice down your share of DR > 60+ branded backlinks every month—this can be a good strategy to assess the expansion of high-authority hyperlinks.
It’s also possible to 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, test 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 working, there are a number of sensible methods to begin placing the info to use.
A great first step is to report in your model efficiency during the last yr and use these stats as your benchmark metrics.
From there, monitor 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 workforce.
Past that, listed here are 5 extra methods you should utilize this information:
1. Benchmark model efficiency
Evaluate your model visitors, hyperlinks, and SERP visibility in opposition to whole 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 whole efficiency.
For instance, we discovered that our branded hyperlink achieve in Q1 this yr was 160% increased than our whole 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 developments 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.
When you revisit information repeatedly, 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 developments or correlations.
3. Observe model positioning shifts
When you’re repositioning your model (at Ahrefs, as an illustration, we’re shifting in the direction of changing 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 suitable route—or if there’s a mismatch between the way you wish to be seen and the way your viewers truly 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 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
When you’re experimenting with together with your model title extra often 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 enhancing your branded key phrase efficiency.
Wrapping up
We’re dwelling 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’ll be able to’t optimize what you don’t measure. With AI reshaping the panorama, it’s crucial to watch your model presence now.
Have a go at creating your individual model consciousness report with Ahrefs Looker Studio template, and let me understand how you get on.
