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Keyword tracker doesn't reflect Google search results?

Discussion in 'Keyword Tracker' started by BitSea, Sep 30, 2015.

  1. #1
    So I'm using DigitalPoint's keyword tracking tool to determine whether my SEO efforts are having an effect on a client's site, but it seems like the numbers it gives me aren't accurate.

    After entering a keyword and site, specifying "Google Canada" then updating the rankings, the keyword tracker reports that my site is being found 5th on Google Canada. However, if I manually search for my keyword on Google.ca, I'll find my site at number 8. I suppose this wouldn't be so bad if the difference in values were all that small, but the positions reported by the tracker can be off by a page or more.

    Did I perhaps misconfigure the keyword tracker? What is the difference between what the tracker sees when it searches Google Canada, and what my browser sees when I search Google.ca?
     
    BitSea, Sep 30, 2015 IP
  2. digitalpoint

    digitalpoint Overlord of no one Staff

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    #2
    There's going to be variation in Google search results based on all sorts of things... for example, your search history as a user. If you try the search from your computer in Incognito mode so Google doesn't know who you are, it will be closer, but they do other things that aren't specific to an individual (for example your geographical location). If you do the same search from your house and then the same search from a computer across town, you will get different results even then.

    Because Google search results aren't static and pretty much vary every time someone does the same query, the Keyword Tracker tool should more be used as a tool to measure relative changes... like are you moving up or down. A search ranking system will never report results exactly as someone else sees them because your location, search history and other things come into play, and Google tailors the results on a per query basis the best it can for the user.

    There's some info here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Personalized_Search
     
    digitalpoint, Sep 30, 2015 IP
  3. BitSea

    BitSea Active Member

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    #3
    Ah, I see. I had somehow gotten it into my head that these factors only affected the appearance of pay per click ads on Google. So I guess the take away is that I'll never be able to see the same results as the rank tracker, no matter how many tricks I use.

    Thanks for the info, and the timely response!
     
    BitSea, Oct 1, 2015 IP