Setting Up Your First Project
After logging in for the first time, your dashboard will be empty and ready for your first project. A project in SearchVector represents a website or domain you want to track and optimize.
What Is a Project?
A project is the central workspace for a single website. It contains:
- Tracked keywords — the search terms you're monitoring
- Rank tracking data — historical position data for your keywords
- GSC analytics — Google Search Console data for the domain
- Site audit results — technical SEO health reports
- Reports — generated insights and performance summaries
The number of projects you can create depends on your plan:
| Plan | Projects |
|---|---|
| Free | 1 |
| Pro ($29/mo) | 2 |
| Growth ($99/mo) | 15 |
| Custom | Unlimited |
Creating Your First Project
Step 1: Click "Create Project"
From your dashboard, click the "Create New Project" button. You'll also see this option in the welcome prompt if it's your first time.
Step 2: Enter Project Details
Fill in the following:
| Field | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Project Name | A friendly name for this project | "My Blog SEO" |
| Website URL | The domain you want to track | https://example.com |
| Industry | Your website's industry category | Technology, Health, E-commerce, etc. |
| Target Location | Primary geographic target | United States, United Kingdom, etc. |
| Language | Primary content language | English |
Use a descriptive project name you'll recognize easily, especially if you plan to manage multiple projects later. For example, "ClientName - Main Site" is better than just "Website".
Step 3: Add Keywords to Track
After creating the project, you'll be prompted to add keywords:
Option A: Manual Entry
- Type keywords one per line in the text box
- Click "Add Keywords"
Option B: Import from CSV
- Click "Import Keywords"
- Upload a CSV file with one keyword per row
- Map the columns and confirm
Option C: Use Keyword Research
- Click "Find Keywords" to open the Keyword Research tool
- Search for seed keywords related to your site
- Select keywords from the results and click "Add to Project"
Each keyword you add consumes credits from your monthly allocation. Free plan users can track up to 10 keywords.
Step 4: Connect Google Search Console (Recommended)
Connecting GSC unlocks powerful analytics:
- Click "Connect GSC" in the project setup wizard (or go to Settings → Integrations)
- Authorize with your Google account that has GSC access
- Select the property matching your project's domain
- SearchVector will begin importing your GSC data
What you get with GSC connected:
- Search query data — see what people search to find your site
- Click and impression data — track visibility and engagement
- Index coverage — monitor which pages Google has indexed
- Content gap analysis — discover keywords you're missing
Step 5: Review and Launch
Review your project settings and click "Create Project" or "Launch". SearchVector will:
- Start tracking your keywords immediately
- Run an initial site audit (if enabled)
- Begin syncing GSC data (if connected)
- Show your first rank tracking results within 24 hours
What You See After Project Creation
Once your project is created, you'll land on the Project Dashboard with these sections:
Rank Tracking Overview
- Current Rankings — where your keywords rank today
- Position Changes — movement since tracking started
- Top 3 / Top 10 / Top 100 — distribution of your keyword positions
- Trend Chart — visibility trend over time (populates as data accumulates)
Quick Actions
From your project dashboard, you can:
- Add More Keywords — expand your tracking list
- Run Site Audit — check technical SEO health
- View GSC Data — see search performance (if GSC is connected)
- Generate Report — create a shareable performance report
Project Settings
Access project settings by clicking the gear icon in the top right of your project:
- General — edit name, URL, industry, location
- Keywords — manage tracked keywords
- Integrations — connect/disconnect GSC, Google Ads
- Team — share project with team members
- Notifications — set up rank change alerts
Connecting Additional Integrations
Google Ads
If you run Google Ads campaigns for your website:
- Go to your project → Settings → Integrations
- Click "Connect Google Ads"
- Authorize and select the relevant ad account
- Campaign data will start syncing to your project
Apple Search Ads
For app developers tracking App Store campaigns:
- Go to Settings → Integrations → Apple Search Ads
- Click "Connect Account"
- Authorize via Apple's OAuth
- Select the apps to track
Project Management Tips
Begin with 5-10 of your most important keywords. You can always add more later as you understand how the tracking works.
Organize keywords by topic, landing page, or intent (informational, commercial, transactional) to make analysis easier.
GSC data gives you the most immediate value — you can see real search performance data from day one without waiting for rank tracking to accumulate.
Configure notifications for significant rank changes (e.g., drops of 5+ positions) so you can react quickly to issues.
Common Setup Questions
How long until I see rank tracking data?
Initial rank data appears within 24 hours of adding keywords. After that, ranks update daily.
Can I change my project URL after creation?
Yes, go to Project Settings → General and update the URL. Note that this will reset your rank tracking history for the new domain.
Can I track competitor keywords?
Yes! Use the Rank Tracking feature to add competitor domains alongside your own. You'll see side-by-side comparisons.
What if my site isn't indexed yet?
You can still create a project and start tracking keywords. SearchVector will show your position as "Not ranked" until your pages appear in search results. Use the Sitemap Analyzer to ensure your sitemap is properly configured for faster indexing.
Can I delete a project?
Yes, go to Project Settings → General → Delete Project. This permanently removes the project and all its data. This action cannot be undone.
What's Next?
Now that your project is set up:
- Explore the Dashboard — understand all the widgets and metrics
- Keyword Research — find more keywords to track
- GSC Analytics — dive into your search performance data
- Rank Tracking — monitor your daily ranking changes
- Site Audit — run your first technical SEO audit