Tracking SERP features: Search Console vs a rank tracker

Tracking SERP features: Search Console vs a rank tracker

Today's lesson: a SERP feature — any special box beyond the plain blue links — can come and go. How do you watch yours?

Picture your own diary versus a town newspaper.

1. Google Search Console is your diary: it's free and shows YOUR clicks and positions, but it won't tell you which feature you appeared in.
2. A rank tracker (like Semrush or Ahrefs) is the newspaper: it photographs the whole results page and flags 'you're in the image pack' or 'a featured snippet appeared'.
3. Use the diary to confirm traffic is real; use the newspaper to see WHY positions moved.

The tradeoff: Search Console is free and trustworthy but blind to features; trackers see features but cost money and only sample.

Try this: in Search Console, find one page where clicks dropped but position held — a feature likely stole the click. 🎓