Check My Search Rankings

Should I check my search rankings and how often should I check them.  I use to struggle with this; two ways to go or a combination of both, you decide.

Yes, Check Your Statistics

I have done a lot of reading and you have people that do IM that are very up on statistics.  They study what is going on with their site continuously and improve their site at the same time.  If they are  improving their sites, I would say it definitely has merit.

Also, you should do it, when you want to promote my app and get feedback from your clients.

Is it for you?  Then what do you study, well I guess that would best be answered by what you care about or what is in your control to improve once you receive your statistics.

• keyword phrases being searched
• traffic coming in
• traffic going out
• how much time visitors are spending on their sites
• the paths they take
• where they come from

Just to mention a few, you can get a variety of information pending the analytic tool that you are using, I personally use Google Analytics in combination with Googles Webmaster Tool

Should you include checking of your search rankings into your routine of variables to keep note.  I myself like to have a grasp on where my site sits on the search engines; I would say it is worth it, especially when the site is new and making its way up.  I use this Tool to check my position on google, it is not perfect but will give you a good indication.

This way you can keep track of what you are doing to the site and what effect you are having on you’re rankings.  As you make your way up the ranks more so at the beginning Google may have it on page 2 one day 6 the next then gone for a while, which is known as the Google dance.

Do not get too excited about this eventually it will settle out, as without this knowledge of the dance it can be very confusing when you find your site and then it is gone then back again, Google is just seeing where your site is going to settle, until you send it up the ladder through a kicking marketing campaign. 

 No, Spend Your Time On Other Areas

Let us look at the argument that stats mean nothing and are just about a waste of time.

 I don’t necessarily mean anything but statistics in general mean less than other aspects of online marketing or affiliate marketing. 

Many feel that there are so many other parts to a marketing campaign and they mean more than where you are sitting on Google.  Their reasoning is that all of the other aspects, article marketing, PPC, and or e-mails lists, quality content SEO optimization of your site is much more important then statistics and Google rankings.

Again, their argument has merit as you work on these aspects you will eventually get to page one, so spending more time on those campaigns is worthwhile. 

Spending more time on stats or content, more content will get you ranked faster and give you a better site.  How else do you know the  affect your content is having unless you keep stats?

In Conclusion

As you can see, both arguments have merit and can stand on their own.  Personally, I like to incorporate a bit of both into my routine, as I mentioned I like to keep track of certain things that my sites are doing.  To check my search rankings is the one part of the statistics that I do agree with and do on a regular basis.

You will get to know what is going to matter to you as you progress with your education and online marketing knowledge.

 Good luck with all your campaigns and I hope this helps, please leave a message and let me know, if this was helpful, thank you.

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