Search results affected by being logged into Gmail

[pewsingh]

Hi there, I'm trying to optimise a website for someone and do a regular search in google to see how it is ranking. I noticed however that the position in google, on my computer, is dependant on whether I'm logged into my gmail account or not!

I'm sure this is to do with personalising my search but what doesn't make sense is that if I'm logged into gmail the website is at no.6,but if I'm not logged in it's at no.1.

I'm a bit confused and would like to know how do I get REAL search results that are unaffected by what I normally do on my computer.

How do you SEO guys know where really a website is ranking in google for a particular keyword?

Thanks

[Steve Crooks]

When you are signed into a google account and do a search on Google you will notice that next to each listing you get a few options like a speech bubble, up arrow and cross. These options allow you to make comments, move up the listings and remove them from the listings.

At some point I suspect that you or someone clicked the up arrow for your listing in question. You could try clearing your cookies and then logging in again to check. I suspect all will be normal again.