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 in the present day, so we’ve one thing strong to measure in opposition to when these model wins come rolling in 😉
I wanted a dependable option to monitor Ahrefs’ model efficiency—commonly and over time.
Fortunately for me, we have already got a Looker Studio Template hooked as much as all our predominant instruments through the API, which made it straightforward to create a reside, auto-updating dashboard of the important thing natural model metrics I cared about.
Under, I present you precisely the way to replicate this to 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 concept of the way to configure the information, till I ultimately 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
- Prime 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 option to create your individual LS dashboard is to adapt considered one of our three templates.
Website Explorer is greatest for protecting 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 monitor SoV in opposition to rivals, SERP Function possession, and positions throughout a particular set of key phrases.
Website Audit is helpful while 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 largely needed to observe 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 necessary key phrases.
To adapt a template, simply click on on the three dots on the proper and click on “Make a copy”.
Then below “New information supply” click on “Create information supply”…
…and seek for your chosen Ahrefs information connector.
Select your challenge, and go away all different fields clean—you may modify them in a while within the precise report. 
The exception to this rule is if you happen to’re including “Rank Tracker” as a knowledge supply. On this case, you’ll want to pick out a “Machine sort” earlier than you may “Join”.
On the subsequent display, hit “Add to report”.
At this level, you may add different information connectors like Rank Tracker or Website Audit, so that you’ve 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 might be segmented on this means (e.g. Natural visitors charts, Prime 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 comprises filters, utilizing “enter containers” to restrict evaluation to our model identify and any variants/misspellings.
Tip
To use these filters, be sure to have “Allowed” our pre-configured parameters. You possibly can’t filter sure charts or information with out these parameters. I’ve made this error a few instances! To verify, head to “Knowledge Sources” on the proper, 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 comprises” parameter to filter our Rank Tracker information by model key phrase.
Each dimension, metric, subject, 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 means, till you construct what it’s essential to see.
Utilizing the Rank Tracker information supply, you may monitor a bucket of your Most worthy key phrases.
Monitor an Ahrefs challenge that’s a mix of brand 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 rivals historical past fields.
This manner you may rapidly 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 website, and sift out any rivals you monitor in your challenge.
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 “Prime 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 know 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 beneath utilizing a sequence of dimensions decided by “Prime web page” fields.
You’ve tracked a customized set of brand 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 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 information, together with metrics like quantity, key phrase problem (KD), positions, visitors, and visitors development, so you may see the information 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.
Monitor 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 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 ranking (DR).
Tip
Observe down your share of DR > 60+ branded backlinks every month—this can be a good option 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, verify efficiency on a link-by-link foundation, by including in table-detail beneath, 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 a number of sensible methods to start out placing the information to use.
An excellent 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 development or decline. If something attention-grabbing jumps out, share it together 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 in opposition to complete efficiency, to see how a lot of your natural success comes from branded exercise.
Simply use these “key phrase comprises” and “regex” filters to trace model efficiency, then go away them clean to gauge complete efficiency.
For instance, we discovered that our branded hyperlink acquire in Q1 this yr was 160% larger than our complete hyperlink acquire.
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 tendencies over time
Monitor 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.
Should you revisit information commonly, you may search for patterns and correlations, like whether or not an increase in excessive authority hyperlinks correlates with visitors spikes.
This information could be 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 tendencies or correlations.
3. Monitor model positioning shifts
Should you’re repositioning your model (at Ahrefs, for example, we’re transferring in direction of turning into a “market intelligence” instrument), watch how key phrase and content material efficiency modifications.
Monitoring development key phrases can present you in case your model messaging is headed in the proper path—or if there’s a mismatch between the way you wish to be seen and the way your viewers truly sees you.
Your “Prime pages” and “Branded backlinks & anchors” reviews can provide 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 transferring the needle.
After we revamped the Ahrefs Academy final month, we will see associated Academy pages have been a few of our prime visitors drivers this month.
5. Check model content material optimizations
Should you’re experimenting with together with your model identify extra steadily 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 possibly can’t optimize what you don’t measure. With AI reshaping the panorama, it’s vital to observe your model presence now.
Have a go at creating your individual model consciousness report with Ahrefs Looker Studio template, and let me know the way you get on.
