How to use the template
- Pick a consistent period (monthly or quarterly) and always compare with the same previous period.
- Fill the numbers from your tools. Use Search Console for impressions, clicks and CTR; your rank tracker for positions; your audit for health; analytics or CRM for leads.
- Write the "What it means" column in plain language. A number without interpretation is noise.
- Write the summary last, in three sentences: what happened, why, what next.
- Keep bad news in. Explain drops and what you are doing.
- Download the CSV and paste into your report document, or use it as the source for slides.
If you use Bizsenti AutoSEO, generated reports already include many of these sections (rankings with separate organic and Google Maps columns, audit comparison, backlinks, traffic change and an action plan), and can be scheduled and white-labelled.
Principles of a report people read
- Lead with business outcomes, not positions.
- Keep it short: two to five pages for a monthly report.
- Use the same layout each month so changes are easy to spot.
- Explain terms once.
- End with next steps and owners.
- Do not hide the date range or the source of each number.
Metric definitions to include once in the report
Add a short glossary at the end of the first report so every later report can be shorter.
| Term | Plain-language definition |
|---|---|
| Impressions | How many times your site appeared in Google results |
| Clicks | How many times people clicked through from Google |
| CTR | Clicks as a share of impressions |
| Average position | Your average ranking across many searches, places and devices |
| Top 3 / top 10 keywords | Tracked keywords currently ranking in those positions |
| Maps 3-pack | Whether your business appears in the three local listings |
| Referring domains | Different websites linking to yours |
| Audit score | A summary of what the site audit measured; not a Google score |
A fictional example of the summary and commentary
This is an invented illustration to show tone, not real data.
Summary. "Organic clicks rose 14 percent compared with last month, mostly from the two service pages we rewrote. Nine tracked keywords moved up and three moved down, and the Maps listing entered the 3-pack for one local keyword. Next month we will fix the canonical issue found in the audit and publish the pricing guide."
Commentary under rankings. "The drops are all on informational keywords affected by the new featured snippet appearing for those searches. We will add a direct answer and a table to the affected pages."
Good commentary names a cause, states an action and uses plain language.
Variants for different clients
| Client type | Add | Drop |
|---|---|---|
| Local business | Maps positions, review count, calls and direction requests | Long technical sections |
| E-commerce | Revenue and orders from organic, top categories, indexing health | Generic blog metrics |
| B2B or SaaS | Demo or trial starts from organic, comparison page performance | Local signals |
| Publisher | Top articles, new vs returning organic users, content freshness | Maps |
Use the resource
Edit any cell, add or remove rows, then download. Fill the "This period" and "Last period" columns from Search Console, Analytics, your rank tracker and your audit.
| Section | Metric | Source | Last period | This period | Change | What it means / action | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Frequently asked questions
Should every report include every row?
No. Delete rows that do not apply and add rows that matter to the client.
How do I explain no change?
State it plainly, explain what is in progress and why results take time, and show leading indicators such as impressions or resolved audit issues.
Can I download this template?
Yes. Edit the table on this page and use the download button to get a CSV that opens in Excel or Google Sheets.
Are the numbers prefilled?
No. The template is deliberately blank so you can use your own data.
How long should an SEO report be?
Short enough to be read: a page or two of summary with supporting detail afterwards.
Can Bizsenti AutoSEO generate these reports automatically?
Yes. It generates PDF or CSV reports from your project data and can email and schedule them.
Automate the repetitive parts
Bizsenti AutoSEO handles tracking, audits and reporting so you can focus on decisions. 7-day free trial, no card required.
Start free trialSources and references
- Google Search Console Help: Performance report (Search results)
- Google Analytics Help: About Google Analytics 4
Written by the Bizsenti AutoSEO editorial team. Last reviewed November 2026. Third-party facts can change; check the linked sources for the latest.