Rank Checking Deal?

[rogerd]

A client informed me that he had purchased a product called Dynamic Web Ranking, which seems to be similar to WPG's position check module. I immediately threw out the usual cautions about the perils of rank checking software. He informed me that the creators had "just signed a new contract" with Google. Knowing that the customer is always right, I mumbled a few more cautions & changed the subject.

Later, I checked the product's web site, and I found no mention of their supposedly preferred status. In fact, I found the rather dubious advice, "It is very important that to check your web site position constantly to aware the problem quickly if your position is dropped." The site also describes how long it would take to manually perform 6,000 searches vs. setting up the same searches in a few minutes with their program. Just what Google et al want to hear, I'm sure.

This kind of information reinforces my initial reaction that any special treatment of this software is unlikely. Nevertheless, there are a few web sites for checking link popularity and other measures that clearly auto-generate Google searches and must be operating with Google's permission (it would be too easy to ban their IP if not). Hence, Google seems to make exceptions, so I can't entirely dismiss the possibility of a deal.

Anyone have first-hand knowledge of this software and whether there is any reason why it wouldn't get you banned as quickly as any other auto-checker?

[SEO practioner]

Hi Rogerd

Personally, I stay away from all those so-called miracle software that promise you the moon and can't deliver zip. There is already too much of that crap around.

And to insinuate that Google approved that on top of it all? It takes a lot of nerve to say that. I doubt very much that Google would ever approve such a gimmick.

It's a bit like some other programs with "g..d" in their names... (!)

I don't beleive in any of that. I say, build a good site with lots of quality content, keep it up to date and the rest will take care of itself.

But, thats my personal view on it.

What do the others think about that?

Happy SEO everybody...

[Tony_Perry]

email the company and tell them you're hot to buy. Ask them if it's ok to use on GG and when they say yes, just ask them to put that in writting for your "peace of mind"

send copies of all correspondance to the client and expect his call when you're proved right!

and ooh, dont forget to charge him!

[rogerd]

Good suggestion, Tony. In the absence of anything definitive here, I figured that the only way to resolve it was to go direct to the source.

I wonder why Google and others seem to tolerate the link-pop checkers... I guess the load per user is nowhere near that of automated rank checking, and some percent of the users probably click through to the actual search results. This rank checker is another kettle of fish, though, particularly with their admonishment to check frequently with large numbers of search terms.

[Tony_Perry]

rogerd
we do use rank checking software because clients feel that's important to them (and clients pay the bills) but we NEVER use it on GG. we do GG manually or use the results from AOL which are very close!

we never use a link popularity tool on GG as it simply isn't worthwhile.

[rogerd]

The public link sites do produce rather dubious results... it's clear, though, that they must have tacit approval from the engines they query.

[driglaz]

page ranking software is a big time saver. it works. there have been many new companies developing this type of software with no standards.