Set tracking frequency from daily to on-demand updates, balancing data freshness with credit usage.
When tracking keyword rankings in NitroShock, you control how often your positions are checked and updated. Set tracking frequency from daily to on-demand updates, balancing data freshness with credit usage. The right frequency depends on your SEO strategy, budget, and how quickly you need to respond to ranking changes.
Understanding your frequency options helps you optimize credit spending while maintaining the visibility you need into your search performance. Whether you're monitoring a competitive niche that shifts daily or tracking long-term trends for an established site, NitroShock's flexible scheduling adapts to your specific needs.
NitroShock offers three main tracking frequency options for your keywords: Daily, Weekly, and On-Demand. Each option serves different use cases and impacts your credit consumption differently.
You can set tracking frequency at the keyword level, meaning different keywords within the same project can have different update schedules. This granular control lets you check high-priority keywords more frequently while tracking less critical terms on a lighter schedule.
To configure tracking frequency for your keywords:
The Schedule column displays each keyword's current tracking frequency, making it easy to see your configuration at a glance. You can modify frequencies at any time without affecting historical data.
Most SEO professionals use a combination of frequencies across their keyword portfolio. A typical strategy might include:
This mixed approach balances comprehensive coverage with efficient credit usage. You maintain tight visibility on critical rankings while still monitoring your broader keyword landscape.
Daily tracking automatically checks keyword positions every 24 hours, providing the most current ranking data available. This frequency is ideal for competitive keywords where positions fluctuate regularly and immediate awareness of changes drives your SEO decisions.
Consider daily frequency for keywords that meet these criteria:
Daily tracking gives you the fastest possible detection of ranking changes. If a competitor overtakes you or a content update causes a drop, you'll know within 24 hours rather than waiting for a weekly check.
When you set keywords to daily frequency, NitroShock automatically queues rank checks approximately every 24 hours. The system staggers checks throughout the day to distribute load and avoid triggering rate limits from search engines.
You'll see a timestamp in the Rank Tracker interface showing when each keyword was last checked. Daily keywords typically show timestamps within the past 24 hours, though the exact timing varies based on queue position.
Daily tracking consumes credits more frequently than other options. Each automatic check uses credits just like a manual refresh. Monitor your credit balance to ensure automated checks continue uninterrupted.
To maximize value from daily tracking:
Weekly tracking checks keyword positions once every seven days, providing regular updates while using approximately 85% fewer credits than daily tracking. This frequency strikes an effective balance for most SEO programs.
Weekly frequency works well for:
Weekly tracking provides sufficient data to identify trends, measure campaign impact, and catch significant ranking changes. Most ranking shifts develop over days or weeks rather than hours, making weekly checks adequate for strategic decisions.
Keywords set to weekly frequency are checked once per seven-day period. The system schedules checks to spread load evenly throughout the week. If you set 100 keywords to weekly tracking on Monday, the system might check 15 keywords each day rather than all 100 simultaneously.
Your Rank Tracker interface shows which day each keyword is scheduled for its next check. Historical data displays weekly snapshots, which is sufficient for trend analysis in most cases.
To get the most from weekly frequency:
Weekly tracking typically represents the best cost-effectiveness ratio for comprehensive keyword monitoring. You capture enough data points to track performance without consuming excessive credits.
On-demand tracking means NitroShock only checks keyword positions when you manually trigger a refresh. No automatic checks occur, giving you complete control over when credits are spent.
On-demand frequency is appropriate for:
On-demand tracking lets you maintain comprehensive keyword lists without the credit cost of automated checks. You can run manual refreshes monthly, quarterly, or whenever specific business needs arise.
To check on-demand keywords:
The system checks all selected keywords and updates your dashboard with current positions. Manual checks function identically to automated checks - you get the same comprehensive SERP data, competitor positions, and SERP features.
On-demand tracking enables several strategic approaches:
Portfolio Segmentation - Maintain a large keyword universe (500-1000+ keywords) with only 50-100 on automated schedules. Check segments of on-demand keywords monthly to maintain broad visibility.
Quarterly Reviews - Track comprehensive keyword sets relevant to quarterly business reviews. Check all keywords before preparing quarterly reports, then leave them on-demand until the next quarter.
Campaign Validation - Keep potential target keywords on-demand status. When launching a new content campaign or optimization effort, switch those specific keywords to daily or weekly tracking for the campaign duration.
Client Flexibility - For agency users, maintain all client keywords in the system but only track subsets actively. If a client asks about specific terms, check those keywords immediately without having paid for continuous tracking.
On-demand keywords still appear in your Rank Tracker interface with their last known positions. The data isn't deleted - it's simply not updated until you manually refresh.
Tracking frequency directly impacts credit consumption. Understanding the relationship between frequency choices and credit usage helps you optimize your monitoring strategy.
Each rank check uses credits, regardless of whether it's triggered automatically or manually. The total credits consumed depends on:
A keyword checked daily consumes approximately 7x the credits of the same keyword checked weekly over the course of a month. Daily tracking of 100 keywords costs roughly the same as weekly tracking of 700 keywords.
Before any rank check, NitroShock displays the exact credit cost:
This transparency ensures you always know exactly what you're spending. No surprise charges occur - you explicitly confirm every credit expenditure.
Track your credit usage in the Billing tab of your Account Dashboard:
Set up low balance notifications in your Settings to receive alerts when credits drop below a threshold you define. This prevents automated tracking from stopping unexpectedly.
To maximize your available credits:
Start Conservative - When adding new keywords, begin with weekly or on-demand frequency. Upgrade to daily only after confirming the keyword deserves that level of attention.
Review Monthly - Set a monthly reminder to review tracking frequencies. Downgrade keywords that have stabilized or proven less important than initially thought.
Seasonal Adjustments - Reduce tracking frequency during low-activity periods. If you run an e-commerce site with a holiday peak, track aggressively in Q4 but scale back in Q1.
Target Consolidation - If tracking the same keywords across multiple locations or devices, consider whether you need all combinations. Tracking desktop and mobile separately doubles credit usage.
Bulk Management - Use bulk actions to modify frequencies for multiple keywords simultaneously. Select keywords by filter criteria and update all at once rather than individually.
Plan your tracking frequency based on available budget:
These ratios balance comprehensive coverage with sustainable credit consumption. Adjust based on your specific keyword portfolio and business priorities.
Can I change keyword frequency at any time?
Yes, you can modify tracking frequency for any keyword whenever needed. Changes take effect immediately - upgrading to daily starts automatic checks within 24 hours, while downgrading stops automated checks after the next scheduled update. Historical data remains intact regardless of frequency changes.
Does tracking frequency affect ranking accuracy?
No. Whether you check daily, weekly, or on-demand, each rank check uses the same methodology and provides equally accurate position data. Frequency only determines how often you check, not the quality of data retrieved. A weekly check is just as accurate as a daily check - you simply get fewer data points.
What happens if I run out of credits with daily tracking enabled?
Automated rank checks stop when your credit balance reaches zero. Keywords remain in your system with their last known positions, but no new checks occur. You'll receive a low balance notification before this happens. Once you add credits, automated tracking resumes according to the schedule you configured.
Should I use the same frequency for all keywords in a project?
Not necessarily. Most effective tracking strategies use mixed frequencies within projects. Assign daily tracking to your most critical keywords, weekly to important terms, and on-demand to long-tail or research keywords. This approach maximizes insight on priority terms while maintaining broad visibility efficiently.
How do I know which frequency is right for a specific keyword?
Consider the keyword's business impact, competition level, and optimization activity. High-value, competitive keywords you're actively optimizing deserve daily tracking. Established rankings in less competitive spaces work well with weekly tracking. Research keywords and long-tail terms can stay on-demand until they prove their value or become optimization targets.
Now that you understand tracking frequency options, explore these related features:
Configure your tracking frequencies strategically in the Rank Tracker tab of your project dashboard, then monitor performance and adjust as your SEO program evolves.