How to Unlock Your “Not Provided” Keywords in Google Analytics

Are you looking for a way to see ‘not provided’ keywords in Google Analytics?

Google Analytics is a powerful tool that shows how people discover and interact with your website. However, when you try to view which keywords they use to find your site, you often see ‘not provided’ in Google Analytics.

In this article, we’ll show you how to unlock your ‘not provided’ keywords in Google Analytics.

What is Keyword ‘Not Provided’ in Google Analytics?

Google Analytics collects information about your website visitors and display them in easy to understand reports. However, Google introduced a more secure search experience for users in 2011.

To protect users’ privacy, Google adopted Secure Socket Layers (SSL) to encrypt searches of visitors that are logged in to their Google account.

Because of this, if you try to find out which keywords your visitors use to find your website, then you’ll see ‘not provided’ in the Google Analytics report.

As a marketer and business owner, finding out the search terms people use to visit your site is extremely valuable. You can use this data to optimize your WordPress SEO and skyrocket your traffic by targeting the keywords that actually drive traffic to your site.

You can also use those keywords to generate new content ideas and answer questions that people may have about your brand.

That being said, let’s find out how you can unlock not provided keywords in Google Analytics.

Unlock Not Provided Keywords with Google Search Console

The easiest and most reliable way to see which keywords your visitors use in search engines is by using Google Search Console (previously called Google Webmaster Tools).

It is a free tool that helps you measure your site’s traffic from search engines, index web pages, find and fix issues, and improve your overall SEO.

You can start by simply visiting the Google Search Console website. After that, you’ll need to connect your WordPress website.

The free All in One SEO plugin makes it easy for you to do that.

If you need help, then please refer to our detailed tutorial on how to add your WordPress site to Google Search Console.

Once you’ve added your website, the next thing to do is connect Google Search Console with Google Analytics.

First, log in to your Google Analytics account and then click the ‘Admin’ option (gear icon) at the bottom left corner of the menu.

After that, you’ll need to click the ‘All Products’ option under the Property column. Now navigate to the Search Console section and then click the ‘Link Search Console’ button.

Next, you can click the ‘Add’ button to add Google Search Console.

On the next screen, you’ll need to select a Search Console property from the dropdown menu that you’d like to link to Google Analytics.

Next, you’ll need to select the Google Analytics property that you’d like to connect with Google Search Console and click the ‘Continue’ button.

A popup will now appear which will confirm the connection between the Google Analytics and Google Search Console. You can go through the properties once more and make changes if you want.

Next, go ahead and click the ‘Associate’ button.

Once that’s done, you can head back to the Google Analytics Search Console settings page. Now refresh your page and your Google Search Console will be connected to Google Analytics.

Go ahead and click the ‘Save’ button to store your settings.

Next, you can view your not provided keywords in Google Analytics by navigating to Acquisition » Search Console » Queries.

The report will show the number of clicks your website got in Google search results. Besides that, it will also show you the number of impressions for each of your keywords.

Impressions are the number of times any URL from your website appeared in the Google search results and was viewed by a user.

Other metrics you’ll see will include the click-through rate (CTR) and average position of your keywords. The average position metric shows where your search query is ranking on Google.

How to View ‘Not Provided’ Keywords in WordPress

Do you want to uncover your not provided keywords and see the Search Console report inside your WordPress dashboard?

Using MonsterInsights, you can view your Search Console report in the WordPress admin area and discover the top Google search terms without having to leave your website.

MonsterInsights is the best Google Analytics plugin for WordPress on the market. The plugin makes it super easy to set up and use Google Analytics. You can get insights to grow your business, track your site’s performance, and make data-driven decisions.

It also helps in setting up advanced tracking such as eCommerce conversions rate, link click and button click tracking, custom dimensions, and more without the need to edit code.

Note: We’ll be using the MonsterInsights Pro license for this tutorial as it includes the Search Console report and advanced tracking features. There is also a free version, but you won’t be able to view your top search terms.

First, you’ll need to install and activate the MonsterInsights Pro plugin on your website. For more details, you can check out our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Once the plugin is active, you’ll need to connect it with your Google Analytics account. If you need help, then simply follow our guide on how to install Google Analytics in WordPress.

Next, you can navigate to Insights » Reports from your WordPress admin panel and then select the ‘Search Console’ tab.

In the report, you can view the top 50 Google search terms that people use to find your website. Besides that, you’ll notice more metrics including clicks, impressions, click-through rate, and average position of each keyword.

Use Semrush to Unlock Keywords Not Provided

Another way you can find out which keywords people enter in search engines to find your site is by using Semrush.

It is a popular SEO tool that’s used by professionals, SEO experts, bloggers, marketers, and businesses of all sizes.

Semrush lets you do keyword research, see which keywords your competitors rank for, uncover backlink opportunities, perform site audits, and much more.

By connecting Google Search Console and Google Analytics with Semrush, you can easily unlock not provided keywords.

First, you’ll need to sign up for a Semrush account.

When you’re logged in, simply head over to the ‘Projects’ section from the menu on your left. You’ll now need to create a project by clicking the ‘+ Create Project’ button.

Next, a popup will appear where you’ll need to enter the URL of your website and add a project name. When you’ve done that, simply click the ‘Create Project’ button.

After that, Semrush will show you different tools you can set up in your project. Go ahead and select the Organic Traffic Insights option by clicking the ‘Set up’ button.

On the next screen, you can click the ‘Connect Google account’ button to integrate Google Analytics and Google Search Console.

Next, go ahead and choose your Google account to connect with Semrush.

After that, click the ‘Allow’ button so Semrush Organic Traffic Insights can access your Google account.

Now select your Google Analytics account, property, and view. Then choose your Google Search Console property and click the ‘Select database’ option.

Next, you can choose your location and which devices you’d like Semrush to record organic traffic insights from. You can select all devices or choose a desktop, mobile, or tablet.

Once that’s done, simply click the ‘Go to Organic Traffic Insights’ button.

Semrush will now unlock your not provided keywords. All you have to do is click on the blue number under GSC in the Keywords column for any landing page and view the search queries people use on Google.

We hope that this article helped you learn how to unlock your not provided keywords in Google Analytics. You may also want to check out our guide on how to choose the best hosting platform, or our expert comparison of the best email marketing services for small business.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How to Unlock Your “Not Provided” Keywords in Google Analytics appeared first on WPBeginner.

September 16, 2021 at 05:26PM

How to Improve WordPress Search with SearchWP (Quick & Easy)

Do you want to improve your WordPress search with SearchWP?

By improving WordPress search, you can show your users the most relevant results to improve content discoverability and make more sales.

In this article, we’ll show you how to improve your WordPress search with SearchWP easily.

What is SearchWP?

SearchWP is the best custom search plugin for WordPress, used by over 30,000 websites. It lets you improve your WordPress site search to deliver more relevant results to your visitors.

This plugin puts you in complete control of your WordPress search algorithm. You can create your own relevance scale and adjust the algorithm without writing any code.

SearchWP also lets you make any part of your site searchable, including PDF documents, custom tables, ACF files, text files, custom fields, WooCommerce products, and more.

You also get access to detailed search metrics to see what your visitors are searching for and the types of content they’re finding.

This gives you actionable insights to improve your existing content and plan new content.

Plus, SearchWP automatically integrates with all major WordPress plugins like WooCommerce, bbPress, Meta box, Easy Digital Downloads, and more.

Beyond improving your default WordPress search, it has more features like redirection after a search is performed, excluding specific content from search, keyword stemming, support for multiple search engines, and more.

With that said, let’s show you how to set up SearchWP properly to improve your WordPress search.

How to Install and Set Up SearchWP

The first thing you need to do is activate and install the SearchWP plugin. For more details, see our step by step guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Upon activation, you need to visit the Settings » SearchWP page and then click on the ‘License’ menu option.

Then, enter your license key in the ‘License’ box and click the ‘Activate’ button.

You can find this information in your account on the SearchWP website.

Once you’ve done that, you need to click on the ‘Engines’ menu option.

This brings you to a screen where you can set your search engine settings. Think of it like creating your own Google search algorithm for your website.

With SearchWP, you need to create a site-wide search engine before you can customize your search further.

You can adjust your search engine settings by clicking on the ‘Posts’, ‘Pages’, ‘Media’, or other available drop downs.

Every section has ‘Attribute Relevance’ sliders that change how the search engines value and rank content. For example, if you want to value the post title higher than the content, then you can adjust the slider accordingly.

After you’re done customizing your default search engine settings, make sure to click the ‘Save Engines’ button to create your first search engine.

Once the initial index is created, SearchWP will replace the default WordPress search with your new improved search. If your theme already has a search box, then you don’t need to make any changes.

If you don’t already have a search box on your website, then it’s easy to add one. Simply navigate to Appearance » Widgets and click the ‘+’ icon to bring up the widget block menu.

After that, type ’Search’ into the widget search box.

Then, select the ‘Search’ block.

This will insert a search form into your sidebar.

You can customize the title of your search form and add optional placeholder text if you prefer.

Make sure you click the ‘Update’ button to save your changes.

Now when your visitors use your search form, they’ll be using the improved SearchWP search.

There are all kinds of ways you can customize the search experience on your site with SearchWP, so let’s take a look at a few of them below.

How to Make PDF Files Searchable in WordPress

If you upload a lot of PDF content to your website, then you can allow your users to search the text in the PDF files to find what they’re looking for.

SearchWP quickly indexes the PDF content you’ve added to your media library and displays the files in search results.

To make sure your PDFs are searchable, go to SearchWP » Settings to bring you to the engines page.

Then, in the ‘Media’ section, you’ll find a slider called ‘Document Content’. You need to make sure this is enabled.

For some users, this option won’t be enabled yet.

To turn this on, click on the ‘Add/Remove Attributes’ button.

This brings up a popup where you can manage the attributes for how your media is searched.

Simply check the ‘Document Content’ box and then click ‘Done’.

Now, you can adjust the slider settings to give weight to your PDF content.

Then, make sure you click the ’Save Engines’ button.

Now, your visitors will be able to search through your PDF content and find relevant results.

When your visitors click the PDF result it will take them to a page where they can view the entire PDF document.

Add a Search By Category Feature to WordPress

If you have multiple categories of content on your WordPress website, then you might want to let users search for a single category at a time.

You can do this by adding a category select drop down to your search forms.

For more details, see our guide on how to search by category in WordPress.

Add a Live Ajax Search Function to WordPress

Another feature you’ve probably seen is live Ajax search, also called instant search. This adds a drop down autocomplete feature that’s common in search engines like Google.

Instant search helps your visitors to more quickly find what they’re looking for, which can keep them on your website longer.

SearchWP makes it easy to add this feature to your website.

For more details, see our guide on how to add live Ajax search to your WordPress site.

Add a Smart Product Search to Your Online Store

If you run an online store, then you want to make sure your visitors can find the products they’re looking for.

SearchWP makes it easy to improve your WooCommerce product search and make more sales.

You can fully customize your WooCommerce search engine and give weight to the product attributes that matter most.

For more details, see our guide on how to make a smart WooCommerce product search.

Create a Custom Post Type Search Form in WordPress

With SearchWP, you can create all kinds of advanced search forms, like a custom post type search form.

To do this, you’ll create a separate search engine that only searches through a single post type. For example, here is a search form that will only search through coupon posts.

For more details, see our guide on how to create advanced search forms for custom post types in WordPress.

SearchWP is a very flexible and valuable WordPress search plugin. You can create completely custom WordPress search engines that deliver more relevant results for your visitors.

We hope this article helped you learn how to improve WordPress search with SearchWP. You may also want to see our picks of the best live chat software for small businesses and our guide on how to get a free business email address.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How to Improve WordPress Search with SearchWP (Quick & Easy) appeared first on WPBeginner.

September 15, 2021 at 03:00PM

How to Rank New WordPress Content Faster (In 6 Easy Steps)

Do you want to rank new WordPress content faster?

Sometimes search engines take some time to index new content, so your WordPress site may not show up in search results or get much traffic at first.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to easily rank new WordPress content faster with practical tips.

Why Is It Important to Rank New Content?

As a WordPress website owner, you’ll miss out on a ton of traffic if you don’t work on ranking your content from day one.

When you do, your content can gain higher search rankings and get more traffic from the start. Later on, your rankings will continue to improve as your site gets more credibility in search engines.

However, many websites struggle to get more organic traffic to their content right away.

Luckily, there are some easy to implement WordPress SEO best practices that can help. Simply follow the steps below to rank your new content and start getting more traffic right away.

That being said, let’s take a look at how to easily rank your new WordPress content faster.

1. Install All in One SEO for WordPress

First thing you need to do is install and activate All in One SEO for WordPress. For more details, see our step by step guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

All in One SEO (AIOSEO) is the best WordPress SEO plugin on the market. It allows you to easily optimize WordPress SEO without any special skills.

Note: There is a free version of All in One SEO available as well. However, we recommend using the premium version to unlock its full potential.

Upon activation, the plugin will launch a setup wizard which will walk you through the process to get started. Simply follow the on-screen instructions and you’ll be all set in a few clicks.

Setting up AIOSEO will automatically take care of many important search engine optimization tasks. For instance, if an older blog post is missing an SEO title or description, then the plugin can automatically generate those for you.

However, there’s a lot more that you can do with the plugin that will further boost search rankings for your new content.

For step-by-step instructions and more tips, see our complete guide on how to set up All in One SEO.

2. Add Your Website to Google Search Console

Google Search Console is a free tool provided by Google to help website owners monitor their website performance in search results.

It allows you to track search rankings and get notified when Google is unable to crawl or index any page on your website. You’ll also be able to notify Google of any new content you publish automatically by using a sitemap.

First, you need to visit the Google Search Console website and click on the start now button.

Next, you need to provide your website URL and click on the continue button.

Now, you’ll be asked to verify ownership of your website. There are several ways to do that, but we will show the HTML tag method because it is the easiest one.

Click on the HTML tag to expand it and then copy the code inside it.

All in One SEO for WordPress comes with a built-in tool to easily add this code to your website. Simply switch to the admin area of your WordPress website and go to the All in One SEO » General Settings page.

From here, you need to switch to the Webmaster tools page and click on the Google Search Console box to add your search console verification code.

Don’t forget to click on the Save Changes button to store your settings.

You can now switch back to the Google Search Console tab and click on the Verify button.

That’s all! You’ve successfully added your website to Google Search Console.

3. Add XML Sitemaps to Google Search Console

An XML sitemap is a file that lists all your website content in an XML format, so search engines like Google can easily discover and index your content.

WordPress comes with its own basic XML sitemaps, which you can find by adding wp-sitemaps.xml at the end of your website address (for example, https://ift.tt/37UYwRo).

However, if you are using AIOSEO, then it generates its own XML sitemaps that are more powerful. It includes XML sitemaps, video sitemaps, news sitemaps, and RSS sitemaps as well.

AIOSEO sitemaps are also completely customizable, so you can decide exactly which content to include. You can even use your sitemap to help hide specific pages from Google.

You can view and manage your sitemaps by visiting All in One » Sitemaps.

To view your sitemap, simply click on the Open Sitemap button, or you can just add sitemap.xml at the end of your website domain (for example, https://ift.tt/2pqahKF).

Next, login to your Google Search Console account dashboard and then click on the Sitemaps menu from the left column. After that, you need to add ‘sitemap.xml’ in the the ‘Add a New Sitemap’ field.

Click on the Submit button to continue.

Add RSS Sitemap to Google Search Console

All in One SEO also comes with an RSS Sitemap feature which contains your most recent blog posts.

Search engines recommend adding an RSS sitemap to your site, too. It is a smaller file and search engines can access it more frequently to look for new content.

First, you need to visit All in One SEO » Sitemaps page and switch to the RSS Sitemap tab.

From here you need to make sure that the RSS sitemap option is enabled. You can click on the Open Sitemap button to view it.

By default, the RSS sitemap URL has sitemap.rss added to your domain name (e.g. https://ift.tt/3zbTKJY).

Now you can switch back to Google Search Console dashboard and click on the Sitemaps menu. From here, add ‘sitemap.rss’ in the Add a New Sitemap option, and then click the Submit button.

That’s all. Google will now start using your sitemaps to find new content on your website more quickly.

4. Optimize Your New Content for Ranking

The first three tips mentioned above ensure that search engines can quickly find your content. Now let’s talk about how to prepare your new content for ranking faster in higher positions.

All in One SEO allows you to easily add a meta title and description to any post or page under the AIOSEO settings box below your content.

Below that, you can add the Focus Keyphrase that you want to rank for.
This allows All in One SEO to analyze your content for those focus keywords, and give you suggestions to improve your optimization.

You can view your overall SEO score at the top right corner of the screen.

Clicking on it will also show you actionable tips that you can apply to improve your content.

For more details, see our checklist on improving your blog posts for SEO.

5. Add Internal Links

An internal link is a link to another page on your own website. Internal linking to your own content has a huge impact on SEO.

To improve your SEO, it’s smart to make it a habit to add links to your most important content in any new content that you write. This can help to boost rankings for your older content.

However, it’s also important to add internal links that point to your new content when you publish it.

You can do this by editing your older articles to add links to your newer content whenever you publish. Many successful bloggers dedicate time to add internal links to new articles on a weekly or monthly basis.

6. Share Your Content

Another quick way to promote your new blog posts is by sharing them with your followers on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and more.

To get the most engagement on social media, you want to make sure that your content looks good on every platform.

That’s where All in One SEO comes in. AIOSEO makes it possible to control how your content looks when it’s shared on social media websites like Facebook and Twitter.

You can add Open Graph meta data to include proper thumbnail images for each article on your website.

For more details, see our complete social media cheat sheet for WordPress with step by step instructions on promoting your content on social media.

Bonus: Track Website Traffic

Finally, you need a way to make sure your new content is getting indexed and ranked properly.

The easiest way to track this is by using MonsterInsights. It is the best Google Analytics plugin for WordPress and allows you to easily monitor your website traffic and rankings.

First, you need to install and activate the MonsterInsights plugin. For more details, see our guide on how to install Google Analytics in WordPress.

Once you have set up MonsterInsights, you can view your website performance directly from your WordPress dashboard.

MonsterInsights also shows you your search engine rankings, so you can track the performance of your content and make sure it’s indexed properly.

We hope this article helped you learn how to rank your new WordPress content faster. You may also want to see our guide on how to start your own podcast, or our expert comparison of the best email marketing services for small business.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How to Rank New WordPress Content Faster (In 6 Easy Steps) appeared first on WPBeginner.

September 14, 2021 at 04:00PM