Frequently Asked Questions Home > Support > FAQ: Ranking Checker

General

1. Can I check rankings through the random proxy servers?
2. Can I import the list of competitors or should I add each one manually?
3. Can I see how many pages of my site are indexed by search engines?
4. Can I see the past ranking data?
5. Can you add more search engines for the `Indexed pages` and `Competitors Indexation` reports?
6. How can I check to see if my site is present in the sponsored results?
7. How can I exclude keywords that were not found by search engines from reports?
8. How can I recommend new search engines to the Ranking checker?
9. How can I specify the date to compare my current rankings to?
10. How can I use the same list of search engines in all reports?
11. How do I add and remove keywords?
12. How do I select search engines based on a language or country?
13. Is there a possibility to check rankings for multiple domains simultaneously?
14. What is the "Ranking score" report? Why do I need it?
15. What is the "Site`s snippets" report?
16. Why can`t I edit the misspelled keywords?
17. Why do I get incorrect results?

Q: Can I check rankings through the random proxy servers?

A: If you check 'Use proxy servers while querying search engines' and turn on the 'Use proxy servers retrieved by Web CEO from public proxy listings' option (File > Settings > SE requests > Connection), the program will get and use the proxy list without notification.

The list will be valid during the whole ranking scanning session provided it does not exceed two hours. However, if connection errors are encountered, and re-scanning is required, the program will update the list of proxies before initiating the re-scanning. The program will also update the list if you start a new report in two hours.

If you would like to use proxy servers of your own choice, you can check 'Enter proxy addresses manually' and type in the proxy addresses and ports.

Q: Can I import the list of competitors or should I add each one manually?

A: Yes, you can import the list of all your competitors. In the Profile manager go to the 'Add competition' tab and press the 'Import from' button. You can import the list from clipboard, from the text file or from another project, using the 'Advanced import' option.

Q: Can I see how many pages of my site are indexed by search engines?

A: Yes, you can. You can run two ranking reports to see it. The program gives you the number of pages that search engines have in their indices as well as their list.

The '2. Indexed pages' report gives you the list of pages indexed by at least one search engine. You can sort the list by clicking on the 'SEs total' to see the site pages in descending order.

The '4. Competitors' indexation' report gives you the numbers of your site's and your competitors' pages indexed by the major search engines.

Q: Can I see the past ranking data?

A: With the current Web CEO version, you can get the full information on all the results obtained since the first scanning under the "Site rankings" report.

To view this report, click the small black arrow next to the "History" button at the right-bottom corner of the "Site ranking" window. Choose "Advanced history" from the menu.

Note: you can apply filters to view the results, for example, to get the report for the definite set of search engines and keywords.

Q: Can you add more search engines for the `Indexed pages` and `Competitors Indexation` reports?

A: We can add all search engines that support syntax for querying pages from a certain domain (such as site:domain.net).

If you know of such search engines, click 'Suggest a Feature' in the Web CEO Support Center or contact support@webceo.com. We usually add new search engines within a week.

Q: How can I check to see if my site is present in the sponsored results?

A: With the current Web CEO version, you can get the sponsored results defined in the ranking report. To set the Ranking Checker, please do the following:

1. Go to Profile > Edit profile > "Set scan rules" tab
2. Make sure to check the "Include sponsored results" and "Highlight sponsored results with a special icon in a report" options.

After this the sponsored results will be marked with the special '$' icon. You can view all sponsored results separately with the help of the "Sponsored" filter available in the list of the filters.

Note: there are several types of sponsored results that search engines display:

- top sponsored results (shown at the top of the web (organic) results);
- sidebars (most often placed to the right of the web results);
- bottom sponsored results (shown at the bottom of the page under the web results).

Some search engines redirect the URLs of their sponsored results, so it is not always easy to find out the correct destination URL. The program can solve this task by following the redirects.

You should select "Follow sponsored links" in the Redirects settings window (File > Settings > SE requests > Safety and accuracy > Redirects > Custom redirects > press the "Setup" button and choose "Follow sponsored links & Redirect type check as Quick (server-side)"

However, the search engine may prevent the program from detecting the correct URL, so this method is not 100% accurate. If you select the "Deep (+ Meta refresh)" redirect type check, the program will find the correct destination URL, but it will click on the sponsored results, which is not good for you or your client's advertising budget.

Q: How can I exclude keywords that were not found by search engines from reports?

A: The Ranking Checker includes a number of preset filters assigned to help you viewing the reports conveniently.

In case you need to see only the ranked results, you should do the following:

- Click on the Filter button (the default filter is 'All Results', so unless you've changed it, the filter button is named 'All Results').
- Select 'Ranked' on the drop down list. The program will hide the non-ranked results.

Similarly, you can apply other useful preset filters such as 'In top 10', 'Changed', 'Added', etc., and even create filters according to your own criteria.

Q: How can I recommend new search engines to the Ranking checker?

A: Click 'Suggest a New Feature' in the Web CEO Support Center or contact support@webceo.com. We usually add new search engines within a couple of weeks.

Q: How can I specify the date to compare my current rankings to?

A: You can compare your current ranking results with the results of any previous scanning. Press the small black arrow next to the 'Previous' button and select the date of scanning you would like to compare your results to.

Besides, you can also compare your current results to the best results for a definite period. To do this, press the small black arrow next to the 'Best' button and select the period from the drop-down menu.

Q: How can I use the same list of search engines in all reports?

A: You can make a list of your favorite search engines and use it across profiles.

1. Click 'Edit profile' (or configure a new profile if you run the Ranking Checker for the first time).

2. On the 'Select search engines' tab, click the 'Favorites' button, select 'Organize favorites'.

3. In the 'Favorites Manager' window, check only those search engines you need. Press OK.

4. If you need another list of favorites, the in the 'Favorites manager' press 'Add' and name the new list. Then check the necessary SEs and press 'OK'. You can create as many lists as necessary, edit the created favorites lists and rename them.

All the favorites lists will become available on the 'Favorites' menu.

Q: How do I add and remove keywords?

A: To add a keyword, you should take the following steps:

1. Open Profile Manager: on the Profile dropdown list, select 'Edit Profile'.

2. Go to the 'Add keywords' tab. Here you can unselect the unnecessary keywords by removing checkmarks near them. To add new keywords, click 'Add', then enter the new keywords, each on a separate line. Click 'OK'.
You can also import keywords from your site's meta tags, from the text file, from clipboard or from another project.

To import keywords from another project, press 'Import from' > 'Advanced import'. You will be given a list of Web CEO tools where you can import keywords from.

- Select the necessary site/project from the drop-down menu.
- Double-click on the tool's name: you will be given a list of profiles.
- Define the profile you would like to import keywords from and press 'OK'.

Note: You can't edit misspelled keywords; you can only delete them and add correct ones. If you don't want to use some keywords in your current profile, just uncheck them. In case you want to delete some keyword(s) once and for all, you should right-click on a keyword and select 'Delete' from the popup menu, or else highlight a keyword and press the 'Delete' button.

Once again, when you delete a keyword this way, it will be permanently deleted from all profiles created within the selected project.

Q: How do I select search engines based on a language or country?

A: If you need region- or language-specific search engines, you can select them in an easy way:

1. In the 'Profile Manager' window, go to the 'Select search engines' tab.

2. Click on the 'Check' button, and then select the target country on the 'Check by country' menu (or the target language - 'Check by language'). Please have a look at the screenshot attached.

3. Check 'Only show selected', and the program will filter out all but your regional search engines.

Q: Is there a possibility to check rankings for multiple domains simultaneously?

A: Yes, you can add domains to be considered your site mirrors.

1. Click on the Profile button located on the toolbar above the report.

2. On the Profile dropdown list, select 'Edit Profile'.

3. In the Profile manager window, click on the '3. Set scan rules' tab.

4. Enter the domain masks, each on a separate line. You can use an asterisk (*mirror.com) to substitute multiple characters.

5. Click 'OK' to finish editing the profile.

As a result, the program will provide all found rankings in one report regardless the domain.

Q: What is the "Ranking score" report? Why do I need it?

A: The ranking score report is helpful to evaluate your site's visibility on search engines against your competitors'. It's especially valuable if such checks are made regularly, for example, once a month to see if your search engine visibility increases or decreases compared to your competitors.

The program queries SE for the given keywords, gets SERPs and then searches for your and your competitor sites' results on them. Then it calculates scores for the key phrases; the scores depend on the site rankings, key phrase competition and search engine importance.

The formula for the Ranking score is preset; however, you can change it according to your demands. Open the 'Profile Manager', move to the '5. Score settings' tab and click 'Formula'. You'll be able to modify the Search engine and Position weight. For example, you can give a greater importance to a regional search engine by increasing its weight. You can also edit the formula itself and use it to compare and evaluate sites.

Q: What is the "Site`s snippets" report?

A: The "Site's snippets" report presents you the more detailed data regarding the positions of your site: the URL of the page, the position of the page and its title and description shown on the search engine's results page. So, you can see how the search engine describes your page.

Q: Why can`t I edit the misspelled keywords?

A: You can't edit the misspelled keywords because it contradicts the program logic. The software keeps track of ranking changes related to each keyword; if you were to edit a keyword, its history would show false data. This is misleading, so you can only delete the keywords and add the correct ones. If you don't want to use some keywords in your current profile, just uncheck them.

In case you want to delete some keyword once and for all, you should right-click on it and select 'Delete' on the popup menu, or highlight a keyword and press the 'Delete' button.

Once again, when you delete a keyword this way, it will be permanently deleted from all profiles created within the selected project.

Q: Why do I get incorrect results?

A: We are extremely careful about the quality of our tools and do everything in our power to make them produce accurate results. However, there are circumstances that can affect the accuracy of reports. Below are the most likely reasons:

1. Search engines' instability.

Search engines may show a different number of links (even across a day) for technical reasons such as database updates, temporary switches to older backups or different databases because of maintenance, etc. You will see these variations if you repeat the search in your browser too.

2. Browser language.

Make sure you have set the same browser languages in Web CEO and your browser. Open the 'Settings' window in the 'File' menu and select 'Connection' on the 'SE Requests' tab. There you will see the language Web CEO uses, and will be able to change it.
If you use Internet Explorer 6.0, then in order to find out the selected language go to the Tools menu > Internet Options > General tab > Languages.

To resolve the cookies and browser language issues and have the program use your browser cookies and languages, select 'Settings' on the 'File' menu, then move to the 'SE requests' tab. Click 'Connections' and then check 'Use IE cookies and language settings when requesting search engines'.

3. IP-address of your PC or proxy server.

A search engine can switch you to its regional version automatically if you have a proxy server with an IP address that fits in the specific IP addresses range. Ensure that Web CEO and your browser use the same proxy server to connect to the Internet.

4. The Web CEO Search Engine Knowledge Base is outdated.

If none of the above solutions work, then Web CEO's search engine Knowledge Base may be out of date. Update the knowledge base. If this does not solve the problem, contact support@webceo.com giving us the URL of your site and the names of your selected search engines.