As you probably know, Google is much larger than a server in a room somewhere. Google has data centers all over the place and as many of you have probably heard, each one can show different search results. Sometimes we think we rank better than we actually do because we rank better in the data center that’s closest to us (and also because Google uses cookies to track which sites we go to).
There are two different tools that I use to check rankings and I thought they might be useful to you guys.
The first is a checker that will check rankings on a bunch of different data centers: DCcheck.com. This is useful because you get a better idea of how you rank on a nationwide level.
The second is a checker that checks Google remotely: Scroogle.org. This one is also useful because it allows you to check Google without the bias that comes from Google placing cookies on your computer each time you click through to your own sites (and also from storing information based on your Google account).
Enjoy!
Tags: check google rankings
Thanks Court seems like this tool will be quite helpful. On a side note, I downloaded SEO Firefox tool from SEO tools, which is a tool you’ve recommended recently in a webinar.
Unfortunately the Google Pagerank doesn’t show up, leaving the question mark and doesn’t provide any results. Have you ever or anyone on your staff by chance experienced this problem before?
Thanks!
Did you try clicking on the question mark? There are different settings but if the question mark is there you usually have to click it to reveal PR.
Anyone know the estimated date for the next pagerank update?
Yep, I clicked the ? afterwards, the question mark disappeared and a screen appeared with a message from Google saying my ip was blocked. I uninstalled and reinstalled but still got the same results. SEO Quake gave me similar results.
Thanks for these other tools Court, I’ll make these work for the time being.
Thank you Court I knew of the several centers but I had not taken the time to look for a place to verify them all that is very helpful.
Sunshine, I get the question mark in both of the tools you’re using from time to time but it wasn’t always because of a blocked IP. Sometimes the add-on just seems to go brain dead. It happens a lot more often on my Mac than my PC.
If your IP is blocked, wait 6 to 24 hours before you try to use the tool again. In its default settings, these tools gather a hell of a lot of data, and google notices that you’re using automation and blocks your IP temporarily. I got a Google screen warning the first time it happened to me, and I admit it was rather disturbing.
I solved the problem by changing my settings in the tool to only give me what I absolutely need. In my case, I just want pagerank; I then use SEO Elite to check backlinks. Definitely you can turn off Alexa, WHOIS, and other metrics unless there’s a specific site you want to know about. The WHOIS and registration date in particular seem to use up a lot of search engine resources.
I get the question mark all the time, but just click on it and it discloses the pr. I’ve never had my IP banned, even temporarily.
Thanks Lorecee for that info. I was beginning to think I was the only one out here with that technical setback. I really appreciate your help.
I don’t mean to beat a dead horse here with this issue but my problem still persists; however, thankfully I did find an alternative solution just in case someone else might experience this problem.
http://seopen.com/seopen-tools/google-pagerank.php — (This site will display and provide pagerank information for ten search engine pages per listing once you’ve entered your search phrase)
Thanks again Lorecee & Mark
WARNING:
From what I can tell, DCcheck.com is UK (United Kingdom / British) results only. Sorry
Hey Court
Thanks for the infor on data centers. I wasn’t aware of how to check from different locations like that. Keep the content flowing.
Cheers,
Darrell Lischka
What about checking from other countries data centers? Is there a site that allows that?
Yes I was just about to ask about that.
Is there a center for each google extension .ca .fr .Au and so on.
Mireille
I’m getting a similar problem with the SEO Tool for Firefox. It worked for me without any problems for a few weeks, until this last week, my results always come up as Page Rank – And you can’t click on it to do anyting. It’s like it is saying the page has not yet been ranked…however, upon entering the age, you can see it does have page rank. Anyone else having this problem?
Cheers,
D
Thanks for this great post!
Datacentres are different for each locality..as whenever you search for any query you are taken up to the nearest datacentre..i use another more tool for this is that is also quite good one for checking rank in different datacenters..-http://www.serpanalytics.com/tools/dc
I am in Mexico and when I do a datacenter check my site comes up at around the 22 mark for my keyword, however if I use something like the ineedhits position checker I come up at 53, and also a friend said I was #50 in the states. Yet when I use these tools I’m back at 22 – weird!
If anyone wants to do me a favor in the states and search Cancun Vacations then look and see where sicancun.com is I would be eternally grateful1!!!
)
Hey I’m liking that Scroogle website, great for checking my serps. Although I’m not so fond of the results I’m getting now!
Yeah me too – Scroogle is definitely another good tool to have in your arsenal ready to attack top rankings!!
The product is as advertised on the internet
You definitely help people! Thanks!