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Two Computers, One IP, One Keyword, Two Different Rankings

by V12
10 replies
  • SEO
    • |
Can anyone explain this?

When I check the ranking on Google UK for a certain webpage, on one PC the page is number one on page one. On a second computer which is connected to the same internet connection (WiFi), the same webpage is at position seven on the first page of Google UK. Same on my phone.

Why is this?
#computers #keyword #rankings
  • Profile picture of the author KirkMcD
    Are you logged in to Google on one of those pcs?

    You might want to read about Personalized Search:
    Official Google Blog: Personalized Search for everyone
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    • Profile picture of the author Jonathan Beaton
      Originally Posted by KirkMcD View Post

      Are you logged in to Google on one of those pcs?

      You might want to read about Personalized Search:
      Official Google Blog: Personalized Search for everyone
      This was my first thought.

      When you do a search, go to the URL and add "&pws=0" to very end of the URL string. This we depersonalize your results.
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      • Profile picture of the author DireStraits
        Well, they do personalise the results according to your previous activity, but that personalisation doesn't always end the moment you log out of your account, and it's not tied to your IP address, as far as I know.

        (It'd be silly to do this, because many people have a dynamic IP-address, assigned by their ISP each time they connect/reconnect - and that'd mean the next person to whom it's assigned would end up seeing your personalised results! :p)

        I believe a cookie is still stored on your computer with an identifier which prompts Google to retrieve your personalised results, regardless of whether you're logged in or not.

        Log out, clear all cookies, add the attribute outlined above to your URL when searching, and then see what happens.
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        • Profile picture of the author Jonathan Beaton
          Originally Posted by DireStraits View Post

          Well, they do personalise the results according to your previous activity, but that personalisation doesn't always end the moment you log out of your account, and it's not tied to your IP address, as far as I know.

          (It'd be silly to do this, because many people have a dynamic IP-address, assigned by their ISP each time they connect/reconnect - and that'd mean the next person to whom it's assigned would end up seeing your personalised results! :p)

          I believe a cookie is still stored on your computer with an identifier which prompts Google to retrieve your personalised results, regardless of whether you're logged in or not.

          Log out, clear all cookies, add the attribute outlined above to your URL when searching, and then see what happens.
          From my experience, local results are tied to the location of your IP address.
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          • Profile picture of the author DireStraits
            Originally Posted by Jonathan Beaton View Post

            From my experience, local results are tied to the location of your IP address.
            Oh yes, of course. They do use the IP address for "location targetting", but the effects of that would usually be identical on every computer on the same IP address - and rightly so, since unless they're behind some sort of VPN/proxy, they're likely to be in the same geographical area.

            But user-personalisation based on user-history is tied to and retrieved from your Google account, and it seems to remain active even after you log out - probably because some identifier becomes implanted within a cookie on your computer, and that happens to remain for a set duration of time (or until you delete them), regardless of whether you're still logged into your account or not.

            That's all I meant.
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      • Profile picture of the author V12
        Originally Posted by Jonathan Beaton View Post

        This was my first thought.

        When you do a search, go to the URL and add "&pws=0" to very end of the URL string. This we depersonalize your results.
        Thanks Jonathon. Mystery solved!
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  • Profile picture of the author V12
    Thanks for pointing that out but I only log in to Google to check email - always log out when finished - so it isn't that.
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    • Profile picture of the author yukon
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Opportunex View Post

      Thanks for pointing that out but I only log in to Google to check email - always log out when finished - so it isn't that.
      It could still be that.

      You still have Google cookies on your computer.

      Use Ccleaner (free).
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  • Profile picture of the author JasonB
    Do you have the customizations based on search activity disabled?

    Make sure its disabled on both computers then do a search again and see what you get.

    You can do so here: Web History
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  • Profile picture of the author mygold
    That's big problem. I am also face that problem some days before but it is solved by google. Please contact google help center.
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