Competitor Organic Search results

Frostfire Gifts · 12-15-2008, 10:16 AM

Hi,

Is there a tool that can estiamte how much organic traffic a website receives from google?

thanks
Chris

danhughes · 12-15-2008, 10:44 AM

The ones that exists are really pretty crappy. They are estimates at best. This method is also just an estimate, but it's free, easy, and somewhat better that the tools I have seen. Short of bribing your competitors hosting company into giving you a copy of their traffic logs, this is the best way I have found...

If you are trying to get overall traffic.... figure out what keywords / phrases they are targeting. SpyFu and SEMRush are good for this. Both of them with give you the major keywords for free.

Take the keywords you found and put them into the adwords traffic tool. Select exact match for the results (exact match if far from perfect, but it's more useful that broad match). This will give you really pretty accurate traffic figures.

It's a fare bet that if they rank #1, and their page title and snipit look appealing, they are getting at 75% of the search volume as traffic.

Some things to watch out for...
Universal search (pictures, video etc) results can really screw with things. This is why it's a great idea to get your videos etc into the serps.

Double Indents.... When the site gets more than one listing and the second of their listings is indented.... It's a fare bet that the indented listing is one of the most clicked in that search result.

Page title and snipit.... If for some reason they are ranking without have anything relevant in their page title.... or with a crappy snipit then the number 2 listing could be getting some pretty good traffic.

HTH.... Dan

dburk · 12-15-2008, 12:37 PM

Hi Chris,

You can use Google's AdWords Keyword Tool to get very accurate numbers of searches for a keyword, but not for a website.

You can use Quantcast to get estimates of the traffic a website gets, but not how much comes from Google.

There are tools that provide this type of data for the website owner, but if you don't own the website you will not have access to this type of data.

Ryan6 · 12-15-2008, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danhughes

The ones that exists are really pretty crappy. They are estimates at best. This method is also just an estimate, but it's free, easy, and somewhat better that the tools I have seen. Short of bribing your competitors hosting company into giving you a copy of their traffic logs, this is the best way I have found...

If you are trying to get overall traffic.... figure out what keywords / phrases they are targeting. SpyFu and SEMRush are good for this. Both of them with give you the major keywords for free.

Take the keywords you found and put them into the adwords traffic tool. Select exact match for the results (exact match if far from perfect, but it's more useful that broad match). This will give you really pretty accurate traffic figures.

It's a fare bet that if they rank #1, and their page title and snipit look appealing, they are getting at 75% of the search volume as traffic.

Some things to watch out for...
Universal search (pictures, video etc) results can really screw with things. This is why it's a great idea to get your videos etc into the serps.

Double Indents.... When the site gets more than one listing and the second of their listings is indented.... It's a fare bet that the indented listing is one of the most clicked in that search result.

Page title and snipit.... If for some reason they are ranking without have anything relevant in their page title.... or with a crappy snipit then the number 2 listing could be getting some pretty good traffic.

HTH.... Dan

Great post Dan.

dburk · 12-15-2008, 01:37 PM

Hi Dan,

I like you thinking, but I have found that CTR based on position varies wildly based on the keyword and that, as you indicated, your page title and description is a major influencer. There's no way to know how much influence these factor effect CTR without direct measurement.

In other words, any estimate is simply a wild guess.

danhughes · 12-15-2008, 01:52 PM

Don, I 100% agree.... but this method helps me with lower volume niches that the likes of compete etc either don't pick up on or round the numbers off to some seriously crazy numbers.

WasabiHound · 02-26-2009, 11:20 PM

Hi

Dburk: you said there are some tools that you can use to measure traffic and CTR on your website. Can you recommend any?

Been reading heaps of SEO tips - most of which are in line with what I've learnt. Some of them aren't and I would still like to trial them but would like to test and measure - not just suck and see.

Is there a way of doing this or am I talking about some IM holy grail?

Advice from any quarter appreciated! Thanks

12-15-2008, 10:16 AM	#1
Frostfire Gifts Warrior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Competitor Organic Search results Hi, Is there a tool that can estiamte how much organic traffic a website receives from google? thanks Chris
	Gifts and Gadgets at GoFrostfire.com

12-15-2008, 10:44 AM	#2
danhughes Bullsh*t Vigilante War Room Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Cary, NC, USA. Posts: 112 Thanks: 10 Thanked 21 Times in 13 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Competitor Organic Search results The ones that exists are really pretty crappy. They are estimates at best. This method is also just an estimate, but it's free, easy, and somewhat better that the tools I have seen. Short of bribing your competitors hosting company into giving you a copy of their traffic logs, this is the best way I have found... If you are trying to get overall traffic.... figure out what keywords / phrases they are targeting. SpyFu and SEMRush are good for this. Both of them with give you the major keywords for free. Take the keywords you found and put them into the adwords traffic tool. Select exact match for the results (exact match if far from perfect, but it's more useful that broad match). This will give you really pretty accurate traffic figures. It's a fare bet that if they rank #1, and their page title and snipit look appealing, they are getting at 75% of the search volume as traffic. Some things to watch out for... Universal search (pictures, video etc) results can really screw with things. This is why it's a great idea to get your videos etc into the serps. Double Indents.... When the site gets more than one listing and the second of their listings is indented.... It's a fare bet that the indented listing is one of the most clicked in that search result. Page title and snipit.... If for some reason they are ranking without have anything relevant in their page title.... or with a crappy snipit then the number 2 listing could be getting some pretty good traffic. HTH.... Dan

12-15-2008, 12:37 PM	#3
dburk Senior Warrior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 4,482 Thanks: 137 Thanked 641 Times in 553 Posts Contact Info	Re: Competitor Organic Search results Hi Chris, You can use Google's AdWords Keyword Tool to get very accurate numbers of searches for a keyword, but not for a website. You can use Quantcast to get estimates of the traffic a website gets, but not how much comes from Google. There are tools that provide this type of data for the website owner, but if you don't own the website you will not have access to this type of data.
	Don Burk * Get Results - Outsource Your PPC Management * Get a Keyword Domain Name - www.SeriousNames.com

12-15-2008, 01:37 PM	#5
dburk Senior Warrior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 4,482 Thanks: 137 Thanked 641 Times in 553 Posts Contact Info	Re: Competitor Organic Search results Hi Dan, I like you thinking, but I have found that CTR based on position varies wildly based on the keyword and that, as you indicated, your page title and description is a major influencer. There's no way to know how much influence these factor effect CTR without direct measurement. In other words, any estimate is simply a wild guess.
	Don Burk * Get Results - Outsource Your PPC Management * Get a Keyword Domain Name - www.SeriousNames.com

12-15-2008, 01:52 PM	#6
danhughes Bullsh*t Vigilante War Room Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Cary, NC, USA. Posts: 112 Thanks: 10 Thanked 21 Times in 13 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Competitor Organic Search results Don, I 100% agree.... but this method helps me with lower volume niches that the likes of compete etc either don't pick up on or round the numbers off to some seriously crazy numbers.

02-26-2009, 11:20 PM	#7
WasabiHound Active Warrior Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Living in Sydney Posts: 45 Thanks: 13 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Social Networking	Re: Competitor Organic Search results Hi Dburk: you said there are some tools that you can use to measure traffic and CTR on your website. Can you recommend any? Been reading heaps of SEO tips - most of which are in line with what I've learnt. Some of them aren't and I would still like to trial them but would like to test and measure - not just suck and see. Is there a way of doing this or am I talking about some IM holy grail? Advice from any quarter appreciated! Thanks
	Neil