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Track SEO keyword position in Google SERP (Google Sheets + SerpAPI integration)

JosephJoseph
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2/3/2026
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This n8n workflow automates scheduled checks for your target keywords’ positions in Google’s organic search results using SerpAPI. It logs new positions in Google Sheets, compares them to previous rankings, and sends notifications via WhatsApp and/or email based on the movement.


Problem Statement & Target Audience

Who is this for?

This workflow is ideal for:

  • SEO specialists monitoring keyword rankings.
  • Website owners tracking performance.
  • Agencies managing multiple client campaigns.

It helps reduce manual effort by automatically checking rankings on a schedule and sending notifications only when there’s movement in position.


Pre-conditions & API Requirements

APIs & Services Used

  1. SerpAPI – Fetch Google search results

  2. Google Sheets API – To store and update keyword data

  3. Email API – To notify users of position changes

  4. WhatsApp API (e.g., Twilio, Ultramsg) – To send notifications

> Setup help for Google Sheets, Email, and WhatsApp is available via the Docs tab in each respective node in n8n.


Step-by-Step Workflow Explanation

🗓 1. Scheduled Trigger (Support Workflow)

  • Marks all rows in the sheet as "notchecked" in the checkstatus column.
  • This is the user-defined frequency trigger (e.g. weekly, daily).
  • Triggers the main workflow.

🚀 2. Main Workflow Trigger

  • Starts when a row with checkstatus = notchecked is found.

🔍 3. HTTP Node (SerpAPI Call)

  • Sends a request to SerpAPI for each keyword.
  • Fetches the current Google SERP for that keyword.

🧠 4. JavaScript Node (Parse Position)

  • Loops through the SERP results and finds the position of the target URL.
  • Extracts and returns the current rank.

✍️ 5. Google Sheets Node (Update Data)

  • Writes the new ranking into the spreadsheet.
  • Updates the currentposition and sets checkstatus to "checked".

🔀 6. Switch Node (Compare Rankings)

  • Compares previousposition with currentposition:
    • If rank has improved → send positive alert.
    • If rank has dropped → send negative alert.
    • If unchanged → no alert.

📩 7. Notification Nodes (WhatsApp / Email)

  • Sends a message to chosen channels when a change is detected.

Customization Guide

⏱️ Change Frequency

  • Adjust the supporting schedule workflow to change how often the tracker runs.

✉️ Edit Notification Content

  • Customize the WhatsApp and Email message content in their respective nodes.

🔗 Track Multiple URLs per Keyword (Advanced)

  • Extend the JavaScript logic if you need to monitor several pages for the same keyword.

🌐 Expand Search Engine Targets

  • SerpAPI also supports other search engines like Bing and Yahoo. Modify the request params to switch.

How to Set Up This Workflow

✅ Step 1: Use This Google Sheets Template

To get started quickly, make a copy of the template below:

👉 Google Sheets Template

This template includes the required structure:

  • keyword
  • Website_url
  • position
  • timestamp
  • checkstatus

> ⚠️ Be sure to make your own copy to edit and connect via the Google Sheets node.


🔐 Step 2: Configure Your APIs

  • SerpAPI: Get API key from serpapi.com/manage-api-key
    • Set credential type to Generic in n8n for compatibility.
  • Google Sheets, Email & WhatsApp: Use the instructions found in each node’s Docs tab to connect your accounts.

📦 Step 3: Import the Workflow

  • Both the main keyword tracking workflow and the supporting scheduler workflow are in one file

▶️ Step 4: The workflow will start

  • Since the check status columns will be 'notChecked' schedule workflow.
  • The update sheets node will update each processed row's checkstatus to 'checked' and the workflow will process the next row
  • the schedule trigger workflow will update checkstatus = notchecked and triggers the keyword tracking automatically.

🎉 Done!

From now on, your keyword positions will be monitored at the frequency you set. You’ll receive WhatsApp and/or email updates only when rankings change. in case you need customized workflows or wanna reach out here is my twitter and email.

n8n Workflow: Track SEO Keyword Position in Google SERP & Log to Google Sheets

This n8n workflow is designed to automate the process of tracking SEO keyword positions in Google Search Engine Results Pages (SERP) and logging the results into a Google Sheet. It allows for both manual execution and scheduled runs, providing flexibility for monitoring your keywords.

What it does

This workflow performs the following key steps:

  1. Trigger: The workflow can be initiated manually or on a schedule. It also includes a Google Sheets Trigger, though it is not currently connected in the provided JSON, suggesting it could be used to trigger the workflow based on sheet updates (e.g., new keywords added).
  2. Edit Fields (Set): This node is available for data transformation, allowing you to manipulate or set specific fields before they are used in subsequent nodes.
  3. HTTP Request: This node is intended to make an API call, likely to a SERP API service (e.g., SerpApi, as hinted by the directory name) to retrieve keyword ranking data for specified keywords and domains.
  4. Code: A Code node is included for executing custom JavaScript logic, which can be used for advanced data processing, formatting, or conditional logic based on the SERP API response.
  5. Switch: This node provides conditional branching, allowing the workflow to take different paths based on specific criteria. For example, it could route data to different actions based on whether a keyword's position has significantly changed.
  6. Google Sheets: This node is used to interact with Google Sheets, most likely to append or update rows with the retrieved keyword position data, including the date, keyword, URL, and rank.
  7. Gmail / WhatsApp Business Cloud: These nodes are available for notification purposes. They can be configured to send alerts (e.g., email or WhatsApp message) if certain conditions are met, such as a keyword dropping significantly in rank or reaching a target position.
  8. Sticky Note: A sticky note is included for documentation within the workflow, providing context or instructions for users.

Prerequisites/Requirements

To use this workflow, you will need:

  • n8n Instance: A running instance of n8n.
  • Google Sheets Account: To store and retrieve keyword data.
  • Google Sheets Credential: Configured in n8n to allow access to your Google Sheets.
  • SERP API Key: An API key for a SERP tracking service (e.g., SerpApi, Google Search API, etc.) to fetch keyword positions. This will be used in the "HTTP Request" node.
  • Gmail Credential (Optional): If you wish to send email notifications.
  • WhatsApp Business Cloud Credential (Optional): If you wish to send WhatsApp notifications.

Setup/Usage

  1. Import the workflow: Download the provided JSON and import it into your n8n instance.
  2. Configure Credentials:
    • Set up your Google Sheets credential in n8n.
    • Configure the HTTP Request node with your chosen SERP API endpoint and API key.
    • (Optional) Set up Gmail and/or WhatsApp Business Cloud credentials if you plan to use notifications.
  3. Define Keywords and Target Sheet:
    • Modify the "Google Sheets" node to specify the Spreadsheet ID and Sheet Name where your keywords are listed and where results should be written.
    • Adjust the "HTTP Request" node to dynamically fetch keywords from the Google Sheet or define them directly within the node.
  4. Customize Data Processing:
    • Utilize the "Edit Fields (Set)" and "Code" nodes to transform the data from the SERP API response into the desired format for your Google Sheet.
    • Implement logic in the "Switch" node to handle different scenarios (e.g., send an alert if a keyword ranking drops below a certain threshold).
  5. Schedule or Manually Trigger:
    • Use the "Schedule Trigger" node to define a recurring schedule for the workflow (e.g., daily, weekly).
    • Alternatively, use the "Manual Trigger" to run the workflow on demand.
  6. Activate the Workflow: Once configured, activate the workflow to start tracking your SEO keyword positions.

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