Annotations

Annotations

Overview 

Annotations are timestamped notes that can be associated with a single date or a date range. They appear on data charts across the seoClarity platform, providing valuable benchmarks for your SEO analysis. Use them to record website changes, marketing campaigns, algorithm updates, or any event you wish to correlate with performance metrics. 

Background & Requirements

Annotations are available to all users and require no special setup.
Annotations vs. Events difference:
  1. Annotations are user-created, appear on timelines, and offer robust grouping and filtering options.
  2. Events are typically system-generated records of platform changes and do not appear on data charts. For correlating external events with performance data, annotations are the recommended tool.
Where to Create and View Annotations:
  1. Rank Intelligence
  2. Page Clarity
  3. Search Analytics
  4. Page Clarity Detail
  5. Keyword Detail 

Use Cases

Annotations help contextualize your data. Consider creating them for:

Global Annotations
  1. Dates when algorithm updates occurred
  2. Site UI or architecture changes
  3. Major changes in PPC investments that may cannibalize SEO
  4. Anomalies in data due to external events (COVID) or data errors (like Analytics issues)

-        Page tag / Keyword tag level annotations

  1. To record start and completion of tests
  2. Track changes that impact a group of pages or keywords. For example, template changes
  3. Track dates of URL migrations

-        Keyword or Tag level annotations

  1. Specific page level changes
  2. Keyword level observations of key dates 

Annotation Features Video

Watch this video for an overview of Annotations and how to create them:



Add Annotation

To get started, create an Annotation by selecting the blue Add Button > Annotation.

Add Annotation Box

The Add Annotation Box is also used for editing existing Annotations.


Date: Set the date or date range with which the Annotation should be associated.
Title: The name of the Annotation.
Description: A more detailed description of the Annotation (optional).
Group: Select a pre-set or user-created Group with which to associate the Annotation. Use the pencil icon to create new Groups.
Associated Element: Associate the Annotation with a variety of platform elements.
Submit: Create the Annotation.

Annotations Basics

Associate the Annotation with a variety of platform elements.
      
  1. Global level (Not linked to a particular Element. Select "None" when adding Associated Element)
  2. Page Tag or Keyword Tag level (for groups of pages or keywords)
  3. Page or Keyword detail level (for individual pages or keywords)
You can organize your annotations using Groups. Each Group is assigned a color, making it easy to identify different types of events at a glance on your charts. You can customize colors for your own Groups:

  1. Pre-defined Groups provided by the system
  2. Custom Groups that you create for your specific needs
  3. Choose whether to include or exclude annotations when generating dashboards, reports and PDF exports. 

Viewing Annotations

Annotations appear in charts as color-coded icons above the date axis, above the date with which they are associated. The icon displays the number of Annotations recorded for the date to which it points. You can view annotations relevant to your current chart in two ways:
  1. Click an Annotation icon on the chart's timeline. This will show details for annotations on that specific date and from that specific group.
  2. Click the Annotations dropdown tab beneath the chart. This is the best method to see all annotations for the chart's current date range and filtered elements.
Notes
Clicking an individual icon only shows annotations for that single date and group. For a complete view, use the Annotations tab.

The Annotations dropdown tab

Any Annotations that meet the criteria of the chart will display in a box beneath the chart after using one of the methods above for viewing Annotations.

Annotation Filters
  1. Date range selector: By default, the Annotations list box shows the date range of the chart with which it is associated. User may select a different range. This does not affect the date range of the chart or any other results shown on the page.
  2. Group selector: Select from pre-set Annotation Groups or any user created Groups. Click Update to filter the Annotations list by the selection. 
Annotation columns
  1. Date: The date associated with the Annotation
  2. Title: The title of the Annotation. Also will display the Description if any was created.
  3. Element: The Element (keyword, page, keyword tag, or page tag) associated with the Annotation, if any was specificed.
  4. Group: The Group to which the Annotation was assigned (if any)
Annotation inputs
  1. Add New: Opens a popover box allowing creation of a new Annotation
  2. Pencil icon: Opens the Annotation in a popover box allowing edits.
  3. Trash can icon: Deletes the Annotation. It will no longer appear anywhere in the platform. 

How Annotation Visibility Works

An Annotation's visibility is context-specific. Annotations will only appear on a chart if these two conditions are met:
  1. The chart's date range includes the date of your annotation.
  2. You have filtered the chart to show the specific Element (keyword, page, or tag) that the annotation is associated with.
This means:
For Tag-Level Annotations: You will not see annotations for a "Blog Posts" keyword tag unless you first filter the chart for that specific tag.
For Keyword-Level Annotations: You will not see an annotation for the keyword "seo software" unless you filter the chart for that exact keyword.
"Global" Annotations: Annotations created without any element association are saved in the system and are designed to appear on any chart. They are for central tracking purposes.
Notes
Annotations will only appear on charts that display data for their specifically associated Element (Global, Tag, Page, or Keyword). This ensures relevant context for your analysis.

Accessing Your Full Annotation History

To view the complete, historical list of every annotation you have ever created regardless of date, associated element, or group, navigate to Toolbox > Annotations. This central repository allows you to search, filter, and manage all your annotations from a single location.
 

How To Delete Annotations

Annotations can be deleted from two locations:
  1. The Central Repository: Navigate to Toolbox > Annotations.
  2. Within a Feature: Use the trash can icon in the annotation list beneath a chart in Rank Intelligence, Page Clarity, etc.

Summary

To effectively use annotations, remember this workflow:
  1. To Find Anything: Use Toolbox > Annotations to see your complete historical record, regardless of associations.
  2. To View on a Chart: Apply a filter for the element you wish to analyze, and its relevant annotations will become available.

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