How to Create New SEO Project on SE Ranking

beginner 8 min read Updated 2026-03-24

Quick Answer

Creating a new SEO project in SE Ranking takes 5-15 minutes: log in, add your website URL and name, select search engine/location/language, add 5-20 keywords (manually or via suggestions), add 3-5 competitors, optionally connect GA/GSC, then create and verify. Group keywords by intent for better tracking and start with mobile/desktop splits.

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Prerequisites

Active SE Ranking account (free trial available)
Live website domain or URL
List of 5-20 target keywords (or use suggestion tool)
Optional: GA/GSC credentials and competitor domains

Step-by-Step Instructions

Log in and Start New Project

Log in to your SE Ranking dashboard and navigate to the Projects section. Click Add website or Create Project to open the project creation wizard.

Follow the quick start guide if it's your first project for faster setup.

Enter General Site Information

Input the website URL (e.g., example.com), a descriptive project name (e.g., "Example SEO Project"), and specify the Target URL if tracking a specific page or subdomain (default is root domain). Add optional details like industry or notes.

Enable Advanced Settings

Toggle Advanced Settings at the top to unlock more options. Provide basic site data such as description, industry, custom tags, project groups, or colors for better organization.

Recommended for multi-project management; defaults have no tags or groups.

Select Search Engine, Location, and Language

Choose the primary search engine (e.g., Google; default often Google.com), set location/region (e.g., United States), and browser language (e.g., English). Use Add search engine for multi-region tracking like Google US Desktop/Mobile.

Start with primary country and English; add splits for accurate mobile/desktop tracking.

Add Target Keywords

In the Keywords step, enter keywords manually (e.g., seo tools, keyword research) or click Suggest keywords—search by domain, keyword, or region for ideas with volume, difficulty, and intent data. Group into Groups (e.g., by category like "Products") or Tags (e.g., "Informational"). Aim for 5-20 initially.

Group by search intent (informational, transactional) before saving for easier analysis.

Add Competitors

In the Competitors section, add 3-5 top competitors and direct competitors (e.g., competitor1.com) manually or via suggestions. This enables benchmarking for keywords, traffic, and backlinks.

Choose rivals with similar keyword strategies for accurate insights.

Connect Integrations (Optional)

Link Google Analytics (GA) and Google Search Console (GSC) by clicking Connect and authorizing. This populates traffic and analytics data in the Analytics & Traffic section after creation.

Skip if not ready; connect later via project settings.

Review and Create Project

Scroll to the bottom, verify all settings (e.g., keywords grouped, search engines set), then click Create Project or Add Project. You'll land on the Detailed tab with metrics like average position, traffic forecast, and visibility.

Verify and Customize Post-Creation

Access the new project from the Projects dashboard. Check Rank Tracker for rankings, Website Audit for issues, and Competitors tab for benchmarking. Add more keywords/groups via settings as needed.

Real-time data fetch starts immediately; monitor for first results.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Invalid domain error

Verify the website is live and publicly accessible; use exact URL without http:// or www if needed.

Missing or no keyword suggestions

Use the Suggest keywords tool with a seed keyword, domain, or region; ensure search engine/location is set first.

GA/GSC connection fails

Check credentials and account permissions; reconnect via project settings or use API key for automation.

No initial rankings or data

Wait 24-48 hours for crawl; add more keywords and verify search engine matches your target market.

Project not grouping keywords properly

Edit groups/tags before creating; post-creation, use project settings to reorganize.

Prices mentioned in this guide are pulled from current plan data and may change. Always verify on the official SE Ranking website before purchasing.

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