Have you ever been tempted to Google your own business to see how it ranks for a particular keyword or phrase? After all, you’re investing time and money into SEO strategies, shouldn’t you be able to see the fruits of your labor?
While it may seem like a natural way to gauge your online performance, there are several important reasons why this is not the best approach. Leadhub completely understands the desire to see progress in real-time — our client’s successes are important to us too! But here's why you should resist the urge to search for your own business on Google.
The Pitfalls Of Googling Your Own Business
Before you hit that search button, think twice about Googling your company’s name!
Results Based On Search Behaviors
When you search for your own business, the results are tailored to your browsing history and location, providing a skewed and often misleading view of your online presence.
Even if your physical office is smack in the middle of your service area, the results on your phone or computer are NOT accurate representations of your business’ presence online.
Harmful To SEO And Ads
Googling your business or relevant keywords may seem like a good way to get a view of your SEO performance, but it can have damaging consequences. When you prompt Google to bring up your company on the SERP without clicking on the results, you can actually harm your website's reputation on Google.
By searching for yourself without clicking on yourself, you lower your click-through rate (CTR), thereby lowering your Ad Rank. With a lower Ad Rank, your ads will show less frequently to potential leads in auctions that really matter for your business.
Google gets paid when people click on an ad. If you see an impression but don’t click, Google might prioritize another advertiser in the next auction. Not to mention, if you do click on your ad, you’ll end up paying for the privilege to visit your own website.
Unreliable Performance Gauge
Your search results are not an accurate reflection of how others see your business online. It's essential to rely on more reliable metrics and tools, such as Google Search Console and SEO management tools, to assess your performance on a macro level.
A Better Way to Monitor Your Online Presence
This isn’t a ploy to keep you from seeing how well you’re ranking for those essential keywords — our team at Leadhub is happy to show you reports with the information you’re looking for.
Instead of Googling your own business, focus on using reliable metrics and tools to assess your online performance. Here are some alternatives the team at Leadhub uses:
- Google Search Console tracks impressions and clicks for any keyword that leads a searcher to your site organically.
- Google Analytics gives insights into your website's performance across different devices, channels and locations.
- SEMrush allows direct competitor research and rankings for specific tracked keywords.
By refraining from Googling your own business and adopting more accurate assessment methods, you can safeguard your online reputation and make informed decisions to enhance your digital presence.
Fast Marketing Answers — The Right Way
Remember, the key to effectively monitoring your online performance lies in utilizing reliable metrics and tools, rather than relying on personalized search results. Leadhub is here to help you navigate the complexities of online marketing and ensure that your business thrives in this digital landscape.
