Monitoring for search engine optimization

If the ultimate goal of your SEO is profit then monitoring success might seem to be as simple as looking at your bank account. But that’s not enough.

Before your SEO delivers, you need to make sure you are investing in the right keywords by using a number of metrics that measure progress on the road to success, including:

• Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) ranking
• Site visitor numbers
• Response rates and profit
• Quality, relevant inbound links
• Target market and niche sizes
• The amount and quality of competition for target keywords and niches

The following articles will help you use those metrics:

1. What is Google Page Rank and how do I measure it? Posted by Mark Nunney on 15 August 2007

   Google PageRank is a rough guide from Google to the popularity of your site's pages according to its inbound links. Although quick, it’s crude and often gives the wrong impression so use alongside other metrics. Here's how to find out your site's Google Page Ranks.

2. Tracking your site visitor statistics Posted by Mark Nunney on 15 August 2007

   Use site statistics analysis software to monitor your site’s visitors, referrers, sales and other ‘wanted actions’ like newsletter sign-ups etc.

3. Using Alexa Rank to measure your site's performance Posted by Mark Nunney on 15 August 2007

   Alexa Rank ranks your site's popularity in visitor numbers as measured by those who have used Alexa’s toolbar. It's also great for spying on competitors' sites.

4. How to monitor your SERPs rankings Posted by Mark Nunney on 15 August 2007

   To get visitors from search engines, your website's pages need to be listed and seen on page one of Search Engines' Results Pages (SERPs). That means you need to track your sites' SERPs for target keywords. Here’s how.

5. How to find out how many pages on your site are indexed by Google Posted by Mark Nunney on 15 August 2007

   Every site owner needs to know that Google has indexed all their site's pages. Here's how to find out.

6. How to count your site's inbound links Posted by Mark Nunney on 15 August 2007

   Inbound links are links from other sites to yours, and they are crucial in all but the least competitive of markets (and even in those you need some links). You therefore need to know how many inbound links your site has.