As an ex-professional search engine optimizer and author of several search engine optimization books, I'm often asked the same questions by clients and customers.
Here are some of the most frequently asked search engine software questions and answers.
Q: What the difference between WebPosition Gold, OptiLink and Arelis, and which one do you recommend?
A: Don't confuse Web Position Gold with OptiLink and Arelis. They are three different types of programs. Web Position Gold will help you optimize web pages, submit to search engines, and track search engine rankings. OptiLink is a link analysis tool for checking, monitoring, analyzing, predicting, and spying on your competitors' web page links, to reveal how web pages achieved their high search engine rankings. Arelis is primarily a link popularity building software program for finding and managing reciprocal link partners to increase web site link popularity ratings. Each one is the best in its class, and I recommend all three. Having said that, I would only recommend OptiLink for intermediate to advanced users.
Q: WebPosition Gold, Internet Business Promoter, and WebCEO all seem to offer similar features. Which program would you recommend?
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Q: A few days ago, I submitted my web site to the search engines using the WebPosition Gold demo. Why doesn't my site appear in the search engines? I'm waiting to see some results before I go ahead and buy the program.
A: I totally understand your desire to see results before investing in the program. The problem is that submitting your web site does not necessarily mean it will achieve a top ranking. It often requires some tweaking of your pages and building incoming links to get into the top rankings. It's not really something you can do with the alloted time allowed by the demo, as it typically takes at least 30-45 days for search engines to find and index your site. The demo is meant to show you what Web Position Gold is capable of, not produce top ranking results in a matter of days. Web Position Gold comes with a 45-day money back guarantee, so there's no risk in buying the program to give yourself another 45 days of testing time.
Q: I have some experience with search engine optimization. Would I learn anything new from your book, "Search Engine Optimization Strategies"?
A: That's a good question. I wrote the book for novices, although I think even intermediate optimizers should learn something new from my book, as it covers a lot of topics in detail. If you consider your search engine optimization knowledge to be above average to advanced, and you're doing better than me in the search engine rankings, then I would say you probably don't need to read my book. ;o)
Q: I've heard a lot about a book called, "GoogleCash." In the web site, it says I can make money promoting affiliate programs via Google AdWords and Overture. And I don't need a web site or product of my own. Is that really true?
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Q: Wordtracker looks like a useful service, but it's quite expensive. In your opinion, is it really worth it?
A: Yes it is. I love Wordtracker! I use it virtually every day. It's like my oracle. I never write a Google or Overture ad, or optimize a web page, without checking with Wordtracker first to see which keywords I should be targeting. Wordtracker tells me exactly what my customers are entering into search engines. If I had to give up all of my search engine software tools, Wordtracker would be the last one I would give up. It doesn't come cheap, but I think it's priceless.
Q: I came across the following in Google, "Don't use unauthorized computer programs to submit pages, check rankings, etc. Such programs consume computing resources and violate our terms of service. Google does not recommend the use of products such as WebPosition Gold that send automatic or programmatic queries to Google." What is this?
A: I totally understand your concern. But don't panic! The fact is all search engines say something similar. They don't want people to use software programs, such as Web Position Gold, to submit web pages and check rankings, because it consumes computing resources, which costs money. But the truth is that unless you use search engine software or some kind of automated tool, it would be very difficult to submit and track rankings of all but the smallest web sites. All serious web promoters use Web Position Gold or something similar. Google specifically mention Web Position Gold because more webmasters use it than any other, so it is in their interest to put people off using it.