How reliable is GWT's keyword data & what is the most accurate way of determining keywords you currently rank for?

[inhouseseo]

I have been monitoring the query data (keywords, average position, CTR, etc.) in GWT, but sometimes the ranking data seems off.

I filter the dates for the past week, so it is the most recent. I manually check some of the rankings and they are way off.

Does anyone have feedback on this?

If you have access to multiple domain data, that would be great.

What is the most accurate way of determining keywords you currently rank for? I have also used keywordspy, and that is off too!

[inhouseseo]

Thanks. That was helpful.

[zeepartner]

aha, i see. You will either have to define those keywords yourself in order to track the rankings with a tool (but this of course will be confined to the keywords you discover).

Or, you use analytics to see what keywords bring traffic (but this again will be confined to the keywords that people actually use). Read this instruction here about how to track keywords rankings in analytics: http://www.blindfiveyearold.com/track-keyword-rank-in-google-analytics

[inhouseseo]

I know there are tools that help you keep track of keywords. What I want to know is the most accurate source for keywords I already rank for.

Specifically, I want to know all the keywords that I might be in position 20-50 for.

[zeepartner]

Well, a good call to check keyword rankings is SEOmoz' rank tracker: http://ranktracker.seomoz.org/

IMO the keyword data in GWT is rather useless... it might have some inspirational value, but i wouldn't trust those rankings. Also, i prefer looking at the traffic a given keyword generates (in analytics) instead of checking the rankings.

[cbielich]

Concerning keywords you currently rank for you are going to find that in Webmaster tools, under "Search Queries" That will give you the keywords how you are being found and what position you are ranking for that term.

What do you mean "seems off". If you are referring to position then you have to remember that Google also does custom searches so I always check my rankings on Google with a different browser and delete all saved data before I look. That way I know I am getting the default rankings. Also depending where you live also depends on ranking because of Google's Data houses and if they have updated their index's. GWT gives you the average based on all of the data houses.