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WARNING: Wordtracker (paid) results off...

by cozandeffect
13 replies
  • SEO
    • |
So I purchased the paid version of wordtracker, and recently came across some problems in my research.

The phrase "modern car rentals" in wordtracker shows only ten competitors, though when I search in google (with quotes) the number

skyrockets to 131. OK, maybe "skyrockets" is a bit of exaggeration, but still, it worries me.

Anyone else have this problem before? Which one should I trust?
#paid #results #warning #wordtracker
  • Profile picture of the author captivereef
    no keyword tool paid or free is going to be 100% accurate, there are to many variables.
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  • Profile picture of the author dburk
    Hi cozandeffect,

    I only see 16 pages returned when I do the same search "modern car rentals". And there are only 12 different websites in those results (counting this Warrior Forum thread).

    When I search allintitle:"modern car rentals" I get five results, but all from only three different websites.

    Sounds like their results are pretty close.
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    • Profile picture of the author cozandeffect
      Originally Posted by dburk View Post

      Hi cozandeffect,

      I only see 16 pages returned when I do the same search "modern car rentals". And there are only 12 different websites in those results (counting this Warrior Forum thread).

      When I search allintitle:"modern car rentals" I get five results, but all from only three different websites.

      Sounds like their results are pretty close.
      Thanks for your help dburk... however, when I type "modern car rentals" (with quotes) I still see 132 results.

      However, when I clicked on page two, suddenly the results drop to 15. Is this because the rest of the results are in the dreaded supplementary index? If so, which number should I consider as competition (132 or 15)?

      I know you're one of the top SEO guys here, so if you could explain this to me, I'd be forever grateful. Thanks!
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      • Profile picture of the author dburk
        Hi cozandeffect,

        Sounds like you are experiencing the effects of Google's Personalized Search feature.

        As Google's algorithm grows in sophistication, each and every person will experience a different set of results based on a number of factors, including the following:
        • Localized Results - Pages from local business will have precedence. (based on your IP)
        • Previous Search History - The types of websites you previously visited and length of your visit. (behavior metrics)
        Try this tool to see how the results will vary based on the searcher's location:

        https://adwords.google.com/select/Ad...ingPreviewTool
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        • Profile picture of the author cozandeffect
          Originally Posted by dburk View Post

          Hi cozandeffect,

          Sounds like you are experiencing the effects of Google's Personalized Search feature.

          As Google's algorithm grows in sophistication, each and every person will experience a different set of results based on a number of factors, including the following:
          • Localized Results - Pages from local business will have precedence. (based on your IP)
          • Previous Search History - The types of websites you previously visited and length of your visit. (behavior metrics)
          Try this tool to see how the results will vary based on the searcher's location:

          https://adwords.google.com/select/Ad...ingPreviewTool
          Thanks for the help. However, with the Ad preview tool I experience the same situation. There are 128 results, but only two pages. When I click to the second page, the results plummet to 14.

          How would the personalized search affect this?

          Thanks again,

          Coz
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      • Profile picture of the author askloz
        actually dburk, it's telling you that google only feels that those sites are relevant.

        Originally Posted by cozandeffect View Post


        However, when I clicked on page two, suddenly the results drop to 15. Is this because the rest of the results are in the dreaded supplementary index? If so, which number should I consider as competition (132 or 15)?
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  • Profile picture of the author askloz
    LMAO, I feel ya Don
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    • Profile picture of the author Texjd
      I run a series of reports at the beginning of each month that tracks Google's listings for myself and clients.

      In the past 2 months, everything is coming up different. Google is making changes to their algorithums almost every week. None of my tracking software is even close these days to actual searches from different IPs.

      If you want to really see the madness, do three searches in a row on the same term. In many cases on the third search, no ads. Do the same search through three different proxy servers (gives you different IPs) and you'll get three different results.

      Combine these new little wrinkles and the drop in overall searches and it's not a pretty picture. Research tools should be used as guidlines, there is no absolute in search results. But now it's crazy.

      And don't even get me started on Adsense tracking now. It's totally off the charts in Google's numbers and my website logs. I have no idea of what's going on there but I can tell you that something wierd is going on that defies logic.

      Until Google settles down, none of the research tools can do much about it. I'm sure they are not happy about this either.

      I've always relied on my own testing, but even it is suspect when Google starts dancing and you can't hear the music.

      In the mean time I'm working on my Yahoo and MSN results. At least I can see what's going on with them. And if you concentrate on the basics, providing valuable unique content, you can't go wrong in the long run.
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      • Profile picture of the author dburk
        Hi Texjd,

        I believe you are seeing the effects of personalized search. If you are searching a term you've searched previously, Google takes into account your behavior during past searches.

        Google is also using your IP location to customized the results with local website being given preferrential ranking. For example, if you searched for "shoe repair", local shoe repair stores are more likely to be displayed in your results.

        These changes have been happening for some time now and make some traditional SEO tracking methods nolonger valid. This could be a blessing in disguise. It forces us to look at traffic and conversions as the most meaningful metrics.
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  • Profile picture of the author askloz
    There's a video on the Google's personalized search results on youtube, they talked about it quite a few months ago, which can be turned off.
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    • Profile picture of the author Texjd
      The best article I've seen on Google personalized search issues is here:

      Will Personal Search Turn SEO On Its Ear? | WebProNews

      There's a video too, it's title is "Death of Ranking". One of the key elements that Goolge has always used is linking and according to the article, that will no longer be as important.

      It also discusses the new emphasis on Videos and how Google can now listen to the content and add that to the mix. And that many of these changes will start taking place in the first quarter of 2009 after being tested in Nov and Dec.

      Behavior search is the next big news. But I have to think that none of these changes will help Google in Adwords or Adsense, there to big cash cows.

      I have noticed some big changes in many of my keywords results, and this certainly can impact any of the popular tools we now use to determine popularity and competition.
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