Hello,
I use PowerSuite as my primary SEO toolbox. I also use a number of other tools such as Raven, SEMoz etc although to a much lesser degree. When checking rankings, there has always been a difference of one or two places in the position of the keywords between each platform. However, in the past few months I have noticed a huge discrepancy between RT and others and it seems to be getting worse.
As an example, I have one client whom RT reports is sitting at #11 for two primary kws. When I check using SEOMoz, both kws are reported as holding position #4. Raven tells me one is at #4 with the other at #5.
When I search Google, I see both kws at #4. If I access Google via a proxy, I also see them at #4. This is after clearing all cookies and cache.
I have tried clearing historical data from my RT project. I have even tried setting up a new project with just those two kws but nothing seems to change the result I see in RT. I have checked all RT preferences and can see no reason why it is stubbornly reporting what is clearly an incorrect result.
Why do all other tools report similar results yet RT is the odd one out?
With this client, under the terms of their contract with me, I do not get paid until I get these two kws onto page 1. Unfortunately I used a RT report as my baseline for this client at the start of the project so until my RT reports show that the target kws are on page 1, I am working for free. This is very frustrating when I know for a fact I am already halfway up page 1!
Please help me get paid so my kids can have a happy Christmas
Please make sure you are not using a proxy in Rank Tracker (Preferences -> Search safety settings -> Proxy rotation), that might be altering the result. Also try disabling the "Search engine rotation" feature in Preferences -> Search safety settings..