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October 04, 2008
Recent Questions from Readers
Question: (Name withheld)
John, why does there seem to be so much instability in rank checking software these days? Is there no decent tool on the market that will allow you to consistently get the right information?
Answer: John Alexander
The short answer is there are some tools that are better than others, but there currently is something happening that will, in my opinion, make traditional rank checking methods completely obsolete. As you may have noticed, the trend is a reality already.
Question: (Name withheld)
Are you saying that statistical reporting will become obsolete too?
Answer: John Alexander
No, statistical reporting such as Google Analytics or traditional programs like Clicktracks or WebTrends should not be affected. I am only referring to "rank checking" tools.
Question: (Name withheld)
So you say that some rank checking tools still do work?
Answer:
Yes they work, but the challenge is not with the tool. That is to say it is not any particular rank checking tool's "fault" for the inaccuracies they are producing. There is something much bigger happening and many SEO Professionals are denying it because they don't understand why and they don't have the solution to address it.
Here is an article I wrote a while ago predicting the trend you are seeing now seeing:
Are Your Sales Dropping as Your SEO Rankings "Soar high?"
Here is another letter I got this week from a reader asking questions along the same lines:
Question: Readers name withheld:
Hello,
We oversee a Web site that ranks well for relevant phrases, but the
traffic has gone from growing and OK to almost non-existent in the
past 30 days. We (and our client) are very disturbed by this.
We have never seen this before. Can you suggest how/where we should
start to resolve this?
I just read your article that mentioned this scenario, but I did not
pick up on recommended actions.
Any help you can offer is most welcome.
Many thanks for your time.
Answer: John Alexander
We have been teaching in depth on solutions to this issue in our live SEO Workshops since late 2007.
Many Webmasters are in rejection of the idea that something like this can possibly happen. But it is in fact to become one of the biggest changes to affect the entire SEO industry since the days of PPC, and very few are prepared with a solution.
In the Workshop we certainly can show you why it is happening and why it will continue to happen it much greater magnitude, what you need to absolutely understand for the future. We have also have the specific solutions that you need to implement now, to keep your clients happy and profitable in the future.
As this issue continues to take place, I believe it will clean up many of the "fly by night" SEOs or the type of "less than reputable" services out there.
The trend will at the very least, make people more aware that they need to keep up to date with their skills.
In my opinion the trend is here to stay. It's going to become more evident until it is not possible for anyone to deny it is happening. Many long term legitimate marketers will also be caught up in the confusion.
Now is the time to come get caught up and you'll be able to apply solutions to address these and other issues if you can make it to our Baltimore SEO Mastery Workshop.
October 22-24
Baltimore Maryland - SEO Hands-on Workshop
Robin Nobles, John Alexander and Michael Marshall
http://www.searchengineworkshops.com/registration.html
Highest regards
John Alexander
http://www.SearchEngineWorkshops.com
Like the only REAL magic - the magic of knowledge.
Posted by John at October 4, 2008 12:32 PM