Tracking SEO changes & Sucess

[downsouth]

How do you track the success (or failure!) of any changes you make on your sites?

what tools, reports or sites could be used to monitor keyword position over a few weeks or months?

[Kneoteric_eSolutions]

Depends on the campaign objectives and the metrics being used to track the success of a SEO campaign. If keyword rankings is you success metric, then any changes you do should have a positive impact on the rankings. There are several paid and free rank checkers, however do not seem to be fairly accurate. Personally I rely on manually checking the rankings.

If increase in targeted traffic is your success metric then it can be easily tracked using analytic.

[fisicx]

How do you track the success (or failure!) of any changes you make on your sites?

what tools, reports or sites could be used to monitor keyword position over a few weeks or months?

Use a search engine to see where you rank for those keywords. The problem is that users of the SE might not be looking for the same keywords as you so just because you rank well for rubber underpants doesn'rt mean anyone is looking for such item.

It's much better to simply build the most effective site you can and concentrate on converting those people who do visit.

[ForexPro]

There are tools available however none that I recommend as Fisicx said I do advise just checking the search engines yourself however depending where you check them they will vary. Sometimes due to the computer your on and sometimes due to Google themselves, it is predicted this year that google will be doing a lot of "dancing" whilst they test out there new systems that they are hoping to put in place which will bring back more personal results gathered from browsing history data.

Therefore watch out for your rankings not only on your own computer but check on other computers too, in different locations.

[Steve2507]

because you rank well for rubber underpants doesn'rt mean anyone is looking for such item.Now there's a phrase I hadn't thought about.:D Thanks for the tip.

[fisicx]

Now there's a phrase I hadn't thought about.:D Thanks for the tip.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b364/pitave/FETISHFART.jpg?t=1236608841

I DO ENJOY THE WEEKENDS!!

[Steve2507]

So that's who ate all the pies.

[The Dreaded Lurgy]

it looks like the charachter from ghostbusters that got left on the cutting room floor

[downsouth]

Thanks guys, no need for the picture of me tho!!! hehehehe

I am in the process of having some SEO reviewed, already noticed a minimal increase in visits, nowt to shout home about as of yet :-( also having the site redesigned (new zen layout to my requirements) so will see what happens, 2nd site in signature

Funny thing is had a good few sales for a site that only built in Jan 09, since feb nowt so conversions are low. Dont get that many visits currently 10-20per day, put that down to several things, new site not been fully indexed?, current design, lack of relevent SEO and products can be thought of as seasonal but looking to address the above prior to the summer to try and build a good base

Its conversions I'm really after

[OldWelshGuy]

I look at traffic and sales as the main metric, because when all said and done those are th only real metrics to use.

[WhiskyFive]

Short answer:
Google Analytics

Google Webmaster Tools

Rank Checker (save the results and build a spreadsheet over time to track keywords)
http://tools.seobook.com/firefox/rank-checker/
(It is a Firefox plug-in)

And when doing a manual search in Google use a "clean" browser with no cookies or history (purged before the search) - I tend to use Safari for this as it's nowt good for anything else ;-)

I also use Quirk Search Status to give me quick Alexa, Page Rank, Compete readings and regularly use the other tools as well.
http://www.quirk.biz/searchstatus/

Couldn't access your sites...are they down?

[fisicx]

Whiskey Five - all useful tools but none of them measure the success of the site. As has already been suggested you can track everything you like but it's only the conversions that count.

Incidentally, the rank checker is becoming increasingly irrelvant. Personal search, geotargeting and longtail are all affecting the SERPs so that what your see is rarely what I see.

[Idontbuy]

We use excel spreadsheets with 30 keywords in and optimize for those.
It takes 25 minutes to do the two sheets then once a month change the worst preformers, to see if it makes any difrence.
We have 27 on the first page at the mo on my computer and 19 on the other computer!!
Cheers
Pete

[sirearl]

We use excel spreadsheets with 30 keywords in and optimize for those.
It takes 25 minutes to do the two sheets then once a month change the worst preformers, to see if it makes any difrence.
We have 27 on the first page at the mo on my computer and 19 on the other computer!!
Cheers
Pete

Buy a better computer.:D

Earl

[Idontbuy]

:p (http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=101038)

http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=101038

[WhiskyFive]

Well, he did ask the question about tracking SEO changes so I advised on specific SEO tools.

Whiskey Five - all useful tools but none of them measure the success of the site. As has already been suggested you can track everything you like but it's only the conversions that count.

Google Analytics is more than sufficient to measure conversion rates (no.2 on my list).

But of course conversions aren't enough...because you could still be losing money with an OK conversion rate - so maybe ROI is more important?

Since we are splitting hairs here, does any of the above truly measure success?

Are Analytics, Accounting or SEO tools enough? Of course not.

What about having a whopping wedge of cash in your bank account after a record sales month?

For some people that is enough....but until you let Jesus into your heart, you can never know true success, for it is only by accepting His love that you can know you are really doing God's work...which is all the success any man should need.

Sorry - I just get a bit miffed that every time I post anything remotely sensible on this forum (which is admittedly rare) I get crucified by someone who seems to want to dispute it for the sake of it!

[barginboyrob]

you can use SEOelite to track your keywords over time, i use it its' pretty good for a general idea but not 100% accurate

[OldWelshGuy]

if you are just looking to track rankings, you can use webceo. it is crap as a marketing and SEO tol, but is great for reporting :D

[tb1234]

Sorry - I just get a bit miffed that every time I post anything remotely sensible on this forum (which is admittedly rare) I get crucified by someone who seems to want to dispute it for the sake of it!

Don't worry about it you answered the OP question.

Not all websites are transactional - many are informational with pretty basic KPIs including number of unique visitors and pageloads. Although it is probably fair to assume that most people in this community have transactional sites.

[downsouth]

Cheers again gents, will give those applications a go. Just got the webceo downloading.

Seriously though any thoughts on increasing conversions will be appreciated.

[fisicx]

Sorry - I just get a bit miffed that every time I post anything remotely sensible on this forum (which is admittedly rare) I get crucified by someone who seems to want to dispute it for the sake of it!

Apologies if you felt that way. Certainly wasn't my intention to crucify. Conversions as measured in many different ways - if your measure of success is getting the visitor to pick up the phone or send an email then analytics may not provide the answers you need.

[sirearl]

:p (http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=101038)

http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=101038

Get a different Boss.:D:D:D

oops I'll get me coat.........

Earl