Quick Start
This guide covers every SE Ranking feature:
- Getting Started — Create account and basic setup
- How to Use Keyword Researcher — Find high-value keywords with strong ranking potential
- How to Use Backlink Checker — Analyze your link profile and find opportunities
- How to Use Website Audit — Discover technical issues holding back your rankings
- How to Use Content Idea Finder — Generate topic ideas that drive traffic
- How to Use Local Marketing — Manage your local SEO presence across platforms
- How to Use On-Page SEO Checker — Get actionable recommendations for any page
- How to Use SERP Competitor Analysis — Spy on competitor strategies and outrank them
- How to Use SEO Report Generator — Create professional reports for clients
- How to Use Lead Generator — Capture leads directly from your website
Time needed: 5 minutes per feature
Also in this guide: Pro Tips | Common Mistakes | Troubleshooting | Pricing | Alternatives
Why Trust This Guide
I’ve used SE Ranking for over two years and tested every feature covered here. This how to Use SE Ranking tutorial comes from real hands-on experience — not marketing fluff or vendor screenshots.
I’ve tracked over 5,000 keywords and audited dozens of websites using this platform.
SE Ranking is one of the most powerful all-in-one SEO tools available today.
But most users only scratch the surface of what it can do.
This guide shows you how to use every major feature.
Step by step, with screenshots and pro tips.
SE Ranking Tutorial
This complete SE Ranking tutorial walks you through every feature step by step, from initial setup to advanced tips that will make you a power user.
SE Ranking
Track rankings, audit your site, and research competitors — all from one dashboard. SE Ranking gives you enterprise-level SEO tools at a fraction of the cost. Start your 14-day free trial today.
Getting Started with SE Ranking
Before using any feature, complete this one-time setup.
It takes about 3 minutes.
Watch this quick overview first:
Now let’s walk through each step.
Step 1: Create Your Account
Go to seranking.com and click “Try for Free” in the top right corner.
Enter your email address and create a secure password.
You can also sign up using your Google account for faster access.
No credit card required for the 14-day trial.
You get full access to all features during the trial period.
✓ Checkpoint: Check your inbox for a confirmation email.
Step 2: Add Your First Project
Click “Create Project” from the dashboard.
Enter your website URL and project name.
The project setup wizard guides you through each step.
✓ Checkpoint: You should see your project in the left sidebar.
Step 3: Add Your Target Keywords
Click “Keywords” in your new project.
Enter up to 10 keywords you want to track.
Choose your target location and search engine.
✅ Done: You’re ready to use any feature below.
How to Use SE Ranking Keyword Researcher
Keyword Researcher lets you find high-value keywords with strong ranking potential and search demand.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Watch Keyword Researcher in action:
Now let’s break down each step.
Step 1: Enter Your Seed Keyword
Click “Keyword Research” in the left menu.
Type your main topic or seed keyword in the search box.
Step 2: Filter by Metrics
Set filters for search volume, keyword difficulty, and CPC.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: You should see a list of related keywords with metrics.
Step 3: Export Your Keywords
Select the keywords you want to target.
Click “Export” to download as CSV or add to your project.
✅ Result: You have a list of keywords ready for content planning.
💡 Pro Tip: Use the “Questions” tab to find long-tail question keywords for FAQ sections.
How to Use SE Ranking Backlink Checker
Backlink Checker lets you analyze any website’s link profile and find link building opportunities.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Watch Backlink Checker in action:
Now let’s break down each step.
Step 1: Enter a Domain
Click “Backlink Checker” in the left menu.
Enter any domain you want to analyze.
Step 2: Review the Backlink Profile
See total backlinks, referring domains, and domain trust.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: You should see charts showing link distribution by type.
Step 3: Find Link Opportunities
Click “New & Lost” to see recent link changes.
Use “Backlink Gap” to find sites linking to competitors but not you.
✅ Result: You have a list of link building targets.
💡 Pro Tip: Export competitor backlinks and reach out to the same sites for guest posts.
How to Use SE Ranking Website Audit
Website Audit lets you discover technical SEO issues preventing your site from ranking higher.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Watch Website Audit in action:
Now let’s break down each step.
Step 1: Start a New Audit
Select your project and click “Website Audit.”
Click “Run Audit” to start scanning your site.
Step 2: Review the Health Score
Check your overall site health percentage.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: You should see issues categorized by severity.
Step 3: Fix Priority Issues
Click on any issue to see affected pages and how to fix it.
Start with critical errors, then move to warnings.
✅ Result: You have an actionable list of technical fixes.
💡 Pro Tip: Schedule weekly audits to catch new issues before they hurt rankings.
How to Use SE Ranking Content Idea Finder
Content Idea Finder lets you generate topic ideas based on what’s already ranking.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Watch Content Idea Finder in action:
Now let’s break down each step.
Step 1: Enter Your Topic
Go to “Content Marketing” and click “Content Idea Finder.”
Type a broad topic you want to cover.
Step 2: Analyze Top Content
Review the top-performing articles for your topic.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: You should see content gaps and subtopics to cover.
Step 3: Create Your Content Brief
Select the subtopics you want to include.
Click “Create Brief” to generate an outline.
✅ Result: You have a data-driven content outline ready to write.
💡 Pro Tip: Check competitor word counts and aim for 10-20% more to be more thorough.
How to Use SE Ranking Local Marketing
Local Marketing lets you manage your local SEO presence across Google and other platforms.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Watch Local Marketing in action:
Now let’s break down each step.
Step 1: Connect Your Business Profile
Click “Local Marketing” in the left menu.
Connect your Google Business Profile.
Step 2: Audit Your Listings
See your NAP consistency across directories.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: You should see any inconsistencies flagged in red.
Step 3: Track Local Rankings
Add your target local keywords.
Monitor your map pack positions over time.
✅ Result: You have full visibility into your local SEO performance.
💡 Pro Tip: Respond to reviews directly from SE Ranking to save time switching platforms.
How to Use SE Ranking On-Page SEO Checker
On-Page SEO Checker lets you get actionable recommendations for any page on your site.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Watch On-Page SEO Checker in action:
Now let’s break down each step.
Step 1: Enter Your Page URL
Click “On-Page SEO Checker” in your project.
Enter the URL you want to analyze.
Step 2: Add Target Keywords
Enter the keywords you want this page to rank for.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: You should see an on-page score with specific recommendations.
Step 3: Apply the Fixes
Review each recommendation and fix issues one by one.
Re-run the check to verify improvements.
✅ Result: Your page is now better optimized for your target keywords.
💡 Pro Tip: Compare your page against the top 10 results to see what you’re missing.
How to Use SE Ranking SERP Competitor Analysis
SERP Competitor Analysis lets you spy on competitor strategies and discover their traffic sources.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Watch SERP Competitor Analysis in action:
Now let’s break down each step.
Step 1: Enter a Competitor Domain
Click “Competitive Research” in the left menu.
Enter your competitor’s domain.
Step 2: Analyze Their Traffic
See their estimated organic and paid traffic.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: You should see their top keywords and pages.
Step 3: Find Keyword Gaps
Click “Keywords” to see terms they rank for that you don’t.
Export these keywords for your content strategy.
✅ Result: You have a roadmap to compete for competitor traffic.
💡 Pro Tip: Add your top 5 competitors to track and get alerts when their rankings change.
How to Use SE Ranking SEO Report Generator
SEO Report Generator lets you create professional reports for clients or stakeholders.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Watch SEO Report Generator in action:
Now let’s break down each step.
Step 1: Choose Report Type
Go to “Reports” in your project.
Select a template or create a custom report.
Step 2: Select Your Modules
Choose which data sections to include.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: You should see a preview of your report layout.
Step 3: Schedule or Export
Set up automated weekly or monthly delivery.
Export as PDF or share via link.
✅ Result: You have professional reports ready to share with clients.
💡 Pro Tip: White-label your reports with custom branding for agency clients.
How to Use SE Ranking Lead Generator
Lead Generator lets you capture leads directly from your website using an SEO audit widget.
Here’s how to use it step by step.
Watch Lead Generator in action:
Now let’s break down each step.
Step 1: Create Your Widget
Click “Lead Generator” in the left menu.
Customize the widget colors and form fields.
Step 2: Install on Your Site
Copy the embed code provided.
Here’s what this looks like:
✓ Checkpoint: The widget should appear on your website.
Step 3: Manage Incoming Leads
View all leads in your SE Ranking dashboard.
Export or connect to your CRM for follow-up.
✅ Result: You’re capturing leads while offering free SEO audits.
💡 Pro Tip: Place the widget on high-traffic pages to maximize lead capture.
SE Ranking Pro Tips and Shortcuts
After testing SE Ranking for over two years, here are my best tips.
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Quick search any domain | Ctrl/Cmd + K |
| Switch between projects | Ctrl/Cmd + P |
| Refresh current data | Ctrl/Cmd + R |
| Export current view | Ctrl/Cmd + E |
Hidden Features Most People Miss
- Rank Tracker Groups: Organize keywords by page or intent to track performance by content cluster. Create custom groups for blog posts, product pages, and landing pages separately.
- API Access: Automate reports and data pulls for custom dashboards on Pro plans and above. Connect to Google Sheets or your own analytics platform.
- Scheduled Audits: Set weekly audits to catch new issues automatically without manual checks. Get email alerts when your health score drops.
- Notes Feature: Add context notes to any keyword or ranking change. Perfect for tracking algorithm updates or SEO changes you’ve made.
- Looker Studio Integration: Connect SE Ranking data directly to Google Looker Studio for custom client dashboards with your branding.
SE Ranking Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake #1: Tracking Too Many Keywords at Once
❌ Wrong: Adding 500 keywords to your project on day one without prioritization.
✅ Right: Start with 20-50 priority keywords and expand as you learn what matters.
Mistake #2: Ignoring the Website Audit
❌ Wrong: Focusing only on keywords while technical issues tank your rankings.
✅ Right: Run a full audit before any SEO campaign and fix critical issues first.
Mistake #3: Not Setting Up Competitors
❌ Wrong: Tracking only your own site without monitoring competitor movements.
✅ Right: Add 5-10 competitors to see when they outrank you and why.
SE Ranking Troubleshooting
Problem: Rankings Not Updating
Cause: SE Ranking updates daily but checks at different times depending on your plan.
Fix: Wait 24 hours or manually refresh from the project settings. Check that your project status is “Active” in the dashboard.
Problem: Website Audit Not Crawling All Pages
Cause: Your robots.txt may be blocking the crawler or pages are orphaned without internal links.
Fix: Check your robots.txt and sitemap, then re-run the audit. Increase the crawl limit in audit settings if needed.
Problem: Can’t Connect Google Analytics
Cause: Third-party cookies blocked or insufficient Google account permissions.
Fix: Enable cookies, use a different browser, or re-authorize with admin access. Make sure you’re using GA4 not Universal Analytics.
Problem: Keyword Data Shows Zero Volume
Cause: The keyword may be too niche or the wrong location is selected.
Fix: Try broader keyword variations or check that your target country matches your audience.
📌 Note: If none of these fix your issue, contact SE Ranking support via live chat.
What is SE Ranking?
SE Ranking is an all-in-one SEO platform that helps you track rankings, audit websites, and research competitors.
Think of it like having Ahrefs, Screaming Frog, and Google Search Console in one dashboard.
Over 800,000 marketers use SE Ranking worldwide.
The platform scans over 7 billion pages daily and maintains a database of over 3 trillion backlinks.
Watch this quick overview:
It includes these key features:
- Keyword Researcher: Find keywords with search volume, difficulty, and CPC data.
- Backlink Checker: Analyze any site’s link profile and find opportunities.
- Website Audit: Scan for 120+ technical SEO issues with fix instructions.
- Content Idea Finder: Generate topics based on what’s ranking in search.
- Local Marketing: Manage your Google Business Profile and track local rankings.
- On-Page SEO Checker: Get page-specific recommendations against top competitors.
- SERP Competitor Analysis: See competitor traffic, keywords, and strategies.
- SEO Report Generator: Create branded reports for clients automatically.
- Lead Generator: Capture leads with an embeddable SEO audit widget.
For a full review, see our SE Ranking review.
SE Ranking Pricing
Here’s what SE Ranking costs in 2026:
| Plan | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | $52/month | Solo bloggers and small sites with up to 500 keywords |
| Pro | $95.20/month | Freelancers and small agencies managing multiple clients |
| Business | $207.20/month | Large agencies needing API access and 5+ team seats |
Free trial: Yes, 14 days with no credit card required.
Money-back guarantee: Not explicitly offered, but the free trial lets you test fully.
Annual discount: Save 20% when you pay annually instead of monthly.
Add-ons available: Content Marketing ($29-99/mo), Local Marketing ($23-1,150/mo), AI Search ($89-345/mo).
💰 Best Value: Pro plan — includes 3 team seats, 2,000 keyword tracking, and historical data at a competitive price point.
SE Ranking vs Alternatives
How does SE Ranking compare? Here’s the competitive landscape:
| Tool | Best For | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| SE Ranking | All-in-one SEO at affordable pricing | $52/mo | ⭐ 4.2 |
| Surfer SEO | Content optimization and NLP analysis | $79/mo | ⭐ 4.5 |
| NeuronWriter | AI content writing with SEO guidance | $19/mo | ⭐ 4.2 |
| MarketMuse | Enterprise content strategy | Contact | ⭐ 4.3 |
| Frase | Content briefs and research | $45/mo | ⭐ 4.3 |
| Scalenut | AI content at scale | $20/mo | ⭐ 4.1 |
| Page Optimizer Pro | On-page optimization scoring | $37/mo | ⭐ 4.1 |
| Dashword | Content briefs for teams | $99/mo | ⭐ 3.9 |
Quick picks:
- Best overall: SE Ranking — most features for the price
- Best budget: NeuronWriter — powerful AI writing at $19/mo
- Best for beginners: Scalenut — simple interface with AI assistance
- Best for content teams: Frase — efficient brief creation workflow
Looking for SE Ranking alternatives? Here are the top options:
- 🚀 Surfer SEO: Best for content optimization with real-time NLP scoring and SERP analysis.
- 💰 NeuronWriter: Budget-friendly AI writer with built-in SEO recommendations and competitor analysis.
- 🏢 MarketMuse: Enterprise content intelligence with topic modeling and content inventory audits.
- ⚡ Frase: Fast content brief creation with AI-powered research and outline generation.
- 🧠 Scalenut: AI content platform with keyword clustering and automated article generation.
- 🔧 Page Optimizer Pro: On-page SEO scoring tool with detailed optimization instructions.
- 👶 Dashword: Simple content brief tool designed for teams and agencies.
- 🎯 Outranking: SEO content workflow with AI writing and SERP-based recommendations.
- 📊 WriterZen: Keyword research and content planning with topic discovery features.
- 🌟 Content Harmony: Content brief platform with search intent analysis and scoring.
- ⭐ Rytr: Affordable AI copywriting tool for quick content drafts and variations.
- 💼 GetGenie: WordPress AI plugin with SEO content templates and keyword analysis.
- 🔥 Rankwell: SEO content assistant with optimization scoring and competitor insights.
For the full list, see our SE Ranking alternatives guide.
⚔️ SE Ranking Compared
Here’s how SE Ranking stacks up against each competitor:
- SE Ranking vs Surfer SEO: SE Ranking wins for rank tracking and site audits, Surfer wins for content optimization.
- SE Ranking vs NeuronWriter: SE Ranking offers more tools overall, NeuronWriter is cheaper for AI writing.
- SE Ranking vs MarketMuse: SE Ranking is more affordable, MarketMuse offers deeper enterprise features.
- SE Ranking vs Frase: SE Ranking has broader SEO tools, Frase excels at content briefs specifically.
- SE Ranking vs Scalenut: SE Ranking wins for technical SEO, Scalenut wins for AI content generation.
- SE Ranking vs Page Optimizer Pro: SE Ranking is more complete, POP focuses purely on on-page analysis.
- SE Ranking vs Dashword: SE Ranking offers rank tracking and audits, Dashword is simpler for briefs only.
- SE Ranking vs Outranking: SE Ranking has better rank tracking, Outranking has stronger AI writing.
- SE Ranking vs WriterZen: SE Ranking wins for backlink analysis, WriterZen wins for keyword discovery.
- SE Ranking vs Content Harmony: SE Ranking is more versatile, Content Harmony specializes in briefs.
- SE Ranking vs Rytr: SE Ranking is a full SEO suite, Rytr is only for AI copywriting.
- SE Ranking vs GetGenie: SE Ranking works standalone, GetGenie is WordPress-specific with limited SEO tools.
- SE Ranking vs Rankwell: SE Ranking has more established data, Rankwell is a newer lighter option.
Start Using SE Ranking Now
You learned how to use every major SE Ranking feature:
- ✅ Keyword Researcher
- ✅ Backlink Checker
- ✅ Website Audit
- ✅ Content Idea Finder
- ✅ Local Marketing
- ✅ On-Page SEO Checker
- ✅ SERP Competitor Analysis
- ✅ SEO Report Generator
- ✅ Lead Generator
Next step: Pick one feature and try it now.
Most people start with Keyword Researcher.
It takes less than 5 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is SE Ranking?
SE Ranking is an all-in-one SEO platform that combines rank tracking, website audits, keyword research, backlink analysis, and competitor research. It’s designed for agencies, freelancers, and in-house marketing teams who need enterprise-level features at an affordable price.
Is SE Ranking accurate for keyword tracking?
Yes, SE Ranking provides accurate rank tracking across five search engines with daily updates. It tracks positions for any location and device type, making it reliable for both local and national SEO campaigns.
Is SE Ranking better than Ahrefs?
SE Ranking is more affordable and includes more tools in its base plans, including local SEO and content marketing features. Ahrefs has a larger backlink database and better-known brand, but costs significantly more. For budget-conscious users, SE Ranking delivers excellent value.
Does SE Ranking offer a free trial?
Yes, SE Ranking offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required. You get full access to all features so you can test the platform thoroughly before committing to a paid plan.
Is SE Ranking good for keyword research?
Yes, SE Ranking’s Keyword Research tool provides search volume, keyword difficulty, CPC data, and related keyword suggestions. It also shows questions people ask, making it useful for content planning and finding long-tail opportunities.
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