6 replies to this topic

[braveheartdesign]

Had a conversation with a customer about what engines we will track to measure the success of an SEO campaign. A competitor had mentioned that they focused on over 100 engines and directories..I said that only 10 engines were important to focus on (general search).

So my question is what engines do you track rankings on or focus on?

David

[ccunltd]

David,

I may be a little short sighted, but I only worry about Google, Yahoo and MSN. In addition, being included in the appropriate categories on about.com has been good for us.

I figure, if rankings are good at those three, they must be good on the others. I do keep and eye our for the 'next big thing'. As Google was once in that category.

Jim

[Webmaster T]

Considering Google/AOL, Yahoo! and Msn make up almost 90%, add in ASK, to lesser extent wisenut and IMO, anything beyond that and you are in the realm of useless or inconsequential. 100 engines is just so they can charge more and look like they are providing a better service. Of the 100, likely 99% deliver less than 50 vistors a month, is that really worth spending hours to track? IMO, it only muddies the picture.

[braveheartdesign]

Hi Jim

The big three (yahoo, Google, MSN) probably cover 85+% of the engines, but wonder if anyone also tracks rankings on AOL or Ask Jeeves or Hotbot?

David

[ccunltd]

David,
Now that you mention it, I do keep and eye on Ask Jeeves. But don't give it a lot of attention as it is so small.

Jim

[SearchRank]

On a general scale where we are not concerned about international or specialty engines, I check as follows:

Google (AOL Search, Go.com, Netscape)

Yahoo (All the Web, Alta Vista, MSN, HotBot)

AskJeeves (Teoma)

LookSmart (WISEnut)

Lycos

That is not to mention all the directory placements that I track to ensure they remain and are not altered from the way we originally submitted or placed them.

[Jill]

Really it's only Google, Yahoo and Teoma as they power all the others that matter.

Jill