Intermediate
How to track mobile vs desktop rankings on Semrush
Quick Answer
Semrush allows you to track mobile vs desktop rankings by setting up separate campaigns for each device type in the Position Tracking tool. You can compare performance by switching between mobile and desktop views or creating custom reports that display both metrics side by side.
Prerequisites
- Active Semrush subscription
- Website domain verified in Semrush
- Basic understanding of SEO keywords
- Mobile-friendly website with content
1
Access Position Tracking Tool
Log into your Semrush account and navigate to Projects from the main menu. Select your project or create a new one, then click on Position Tracking in the left sidebar. This tool allows you to monitor keyword rankings across different devices and search engines.
Tip
If you haven't set up a project yet, you'll need to add your domain first before accessing Position Tracking.
2
Set Up Desktop Campaign
Click Set up tracking or the + Add Campaign button. Enter your target domain, select your target location and language, then choose Desktop as the device type. Add your target keywords either manually or by importing from a CSV file, then click Start Tracking.
Tip
Start with your most important keywords (20-50) to avoid overwhelming your tracking limits initially.
3
Create Mobile Campaign
Return to the Position Tracking dashboard and click + Add Campaign again. Use the same domain and location settings, but this time select Mobile as the device type. Import the same keyword list you used for desktop to ensure accurate comparison, then start tracking.
Tip
Keep keyword lists identical between campaigns to make meaningful comparisons between mobile and desktop performance.
4
Configure Tracking Settings
In each campaign, click the Settings gear icon to configure update frequency and competitors. Set both campaigns to update on the same schedule (daily or weekly) to maintain consistency. Add the same competitor domains to both mobile and desktop campaigns for comprehensive analysis.
5
View Mobile vs Desktop Rankings
Navigate between your campaigns using the campaign dropdown menu at the top of the Position Tracking interface. Click on Rankings to view current positions, then switch between campaigns to compare mobile and desktop performance for the same keywords.
Tip
Use the export feature to download data from both campaigns and create side-by-side comparisons in Excel or Google Sheets.
6
Analyze Performance Differences
Use the Devices tab within each campaign to see device-specific insights. Look for significant ranking differences between mobile and desktop, focusing on keywords where you rank significantly higher or lower on mobile compared to desktop. Pay attention to SERP Features that may appear differently on mobile.
Tip
Mobile and desktop SERPs often show different featured snippets, local packs, and other SERP features that can impact your visibility.
7
Set Up Custom Reports
Go to Reports in the Position Tracking tool and click Create Report. Select Custom Report and choose widgets that display ranking data from both campaigns. Include widgets for Position Changes, Top Keywords, and Visibility for both mobile and desktop data.
Tip
Schedule these reports to be sent weekly or monthly to stakeholders who need regular mobile vs desktop performance updates.
8
Monitor Mobile-First Indexing Impact
Create alerts in the Alerts section for significant ranking changes on mobile campaigns. Set thresholds for position drops of 3+ positions to catch mobile-first indexing issues early. Use the Position Changes report to identify trends in mobile vs desktop ranking divergence over time.
Tip
Since Google uses mobile-first indexing, mobile ranking changes often predict future desktop ranking changes.
Troubleshooting
Mobile and desktop campaigns showing identical results
Verify that you selected different device types during campaign setup. Check Settings > Device in each campaign to confirm one is set to
Mobile and the other to Desktop. If settings are correct, allow 24-48 hours for data differences to appear.Keywords not tracking or showing no data
Ensure keywords are properly formatted without special characters or excessive length. Check your keyword limits in Account Settings and verify your subscription allows tracking the number of keywords you've added. Remove any duplicate keywords between campaigns.
Significant ranking discrepancies between Semrush and manual checks
Verify your location settings match your manual search location in both campaigns. Clear browser cache and use incognito mode for manual checks. Remember that Semrush data updates daily while manual searches show real-time results, which can cause temporary discrepancies.
Cannot compare data between mobile and desktop campaigns
Export data from both campaigns using the Export button in the Rankings section. Use Excel or Google Sheets to merge the data with
VLOOKUP functions. Alternatively, use Semrush's My Reports feature to create custom dashboards displaying both datasets.Ready to get started with Semrush?
Put this tutorial into practice. Visit Semrush and follow the steps above.
Visit Semrush →