Checking keyword rankings

[CsmBill]

I have 2 questions:

1. To check keyword rankings with firefox, i am choosing:

Tools>Options>Privacy>"clear all current history"

Timerange to clear: Everything

Check Boxes: Browsing and download history, form and search history, cookies, cache, active logins

Is there anything else I need to be doing?

2. Search results in my Niche are heavily localized. Is there any way to check rankings in another area? Ex: By default, our rankings are for Northeast NJ. Is there any way to check Baltimore, for example?

[FedeEinhorn]

Even setting your location and cleaning your cache will not show the same results from a person that is actually in that location. Google uses SEVERAL factors, including ip addresses.

I would suggest you open an incognito window / private window and then use a proxy/VPN provider to set your IP address as from that location, for example HMA (paid, but cheap).

Hope that helps.

[SEO5Team]

Hi Rahul,

Your first step for clearing your cache and browsing history is spot-on; this way, you ensure you are working with a clean slate for your searches.

For your second question, changing your location in the “search tools” feature on Firefox will indeed allow you to check rankings for your site in the location of your choice. As well, the Bright Local Search Rank Checker  has a free trial where you can look up a maximum of ten terms at a time in Google, Bing, and Yahoo to determine efficient keyword rankings in locations of your choice. Using both these tools in tandem will help give the most accurate information for your search results and ranking.

[Adam_Cochran]

Your doing everything right in clearing your cookies and making sure you are logged out of your Google account.

To change your search location simply click on the "search tools" button and you should see your city. If you click on that city you'll be able to enter another location and switch between them.

searchlocation.png