Why Rank Tracking Tools Are Useless And What You Should Really Be Using Instead!
There’s loads of SEO rank checking tools on the web, with each one promising to deliver results when it comes to ranking your website on Google’s search engine results page for your chosen keywords.
Our team will explain why these tracking tools don’t always provide you with the best results, and by the end of this article, you’ll find out what you can use instead. The result? A higher ranking on the SERP, more conversions, and a boost in sales. Ready to find out more?
CHECKING YOUR SEO WEB RANKINGS
Most keyword ranking tools will scrape data from Google and provide you with a number showing where you rank on the SERP for a particular key phrase. Sounds great, right? Well, on paper, yes. But the reality is a lot different. You see, our team of geeks have discovered that these rank checking tools are pretty much useless. Yes, useless!
WHY THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS RANKING
Many years ago, SEO rank checking tools provided much more accurate data, and it was a lot easier to ascertain how well your website was performing. This is no longer the case today. You see, Google has grown in size and has a much more sophisticated algorithm. In short: there are loads of different variables that affect your search rankings. Here are some of them:
- Search history: Nowadays, a user’s search results page will include results from websites that they have visited in the past. Basically, this means that the SERP appears differently depending on who is using it any given time.
- Local SEO: Google will also show different results on the SERP depending on the location of the user. Results are tailored based on the search user’s geography.
- Social media: Google will give preference to a user’s friends if they have +1ed a page.
- Different devices: The search engine results page can appear differently depending on what device it is being accessed from, for example, a smartphone or tablet. Google Now will add even more personalization options for Android users.
You see, these factors can all affect the SERP, meaning a rank checking tool is unable to provide accurate results. One of your customers might see your website appear in the #1 position on Google for a particular search term, whilst someone else might see it at #5.
OTHER VARIABLES
Nowadays, it’s rare for a search user to use Google with no search history or cookies, and the search engine is becoming more sophisticated at offering personalized results based on an individual’s browsing history, location, device, and interests. These can all affect where your website appears on the SERP. So, where do you go from here?
THINK TWICE ABOUT USING A RANK CHECKING TOOL
Rank checking tools will often provide inaccurate information because there are so many variables that need to be taken into account when it comes to determining where your website will appear on the SERP. It’s also worth noting that your pages will probably rank for thousands of different keywords (as well as their synonyms), so the bigger picture will need to be taken into account.
Our team of geeks believe that you shouldn’t get too preoccupied when to comes to ranking for a few keywords or phrases without taking into account all the other variables. Focusing all your attention on just a few keywords can do you damage in the long run, especially if it means you neglect other aspects of your SEO.
GOOGLE ANALYTICS AND WEBMASTER TOOLS
It might come as a surprise to you that rank checking tools aren’t as effective as they used to be. But don’t worry – our team of geeks have found an alternative. Google Webmaster Tools and Google Analytics can be an effective way to gauge how well you are doing on the SERP without having to rely on keyword rank checking tools any longer. In fact, you’ll be able to track your SEO campaigns more accurately in the future.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Using Google Analytics, you’ll be able to find out the organic keywords that are bringing the biggest amount of inbound traffic to your website. You’ll also be able to track your most popular web pages, and monitor the content that really resonates with your readers. You’ll be able to use this information to decide which keywords and phrases you want to target next. Google Webmaster Tools can be just as effective. With their Search Queries feature, you’ll be able to find out which keyword queries attract the most visitors, generate the more impressions and clickthroughs, and explore the CTR for each keyword that you use. Discover the average position for your keywords and find out how Google is indexing your website. Having all this information at your fingertips can help you to attract new customers and generate new leads.
WHY RANK CHECKING IS A THING OF THE PAST
Our team of expert geeks have been following SEO for years. It’s time to get rid of old tools and look for better ways that provide you with more insight into how well your SEO campaigns are performing. Want to stay one step ahead of your competitors? Increase your bottom line? Boost sales? Google Webmaster Tools and Google Analytics can help you do exactly that – and then some. However, it’s still important to not become too engrossed in the ‘ranking game’ by focusing all your efforts on a few keywords and phrases.
FINAL WORD
Ranking tools aren’t necessarily bad, but they won’t always provide you with the information that you really need if you want to take your SEO to the next level. And as Google continues to update its search algorithms, these tools will become even more accurate. In order to improve your search rankings, you’re going to have to understand what attracts people to your website, and what they really want from you as a service provider. Google Webmaster Tools and Google Analytics are a great place to start for any SEO superstar in the making.