At Alpha SEO, we provide reliable, geo-specific keyword ranking data through our proprietary SEO technology. Our dashboard is designed to give you a clear, unbiased view of your website’s performance — but it’s common to notice that the rankings shown there don’t always match what you see when searching on your own.
Here’s why this happens — and why the dashboard should be your go-to benchmark:
Google tailors search results for each individual based on:
Your Search History: If you’ve visited your own site often, it may appear higher than it does for the average user.
Click Behavior: Frequent clicks on certain domains influence how they’re shown to you.
Google Account Activity: If you’re logged into Gmail or YouTube, your search experience is even more personalized.
Because of this, your search rankings on your personal device may look higher (or occasionally lower) than what’s shown in the dashboard.
Your search results change depending on where you are when you search. Google uses your IP address and device location to localize results, especially for geographically sensitive keywords like "plumber near me" or "Toronto roofing services."
In contrast, we report rankings using specific geo-modified versions of your keywords — meaning we simulate searches from your target location(s) to ensure you’re seeing how customers in that area would likely find you.
We update your keyword rankings on a weekly basis using our proprietary tracking system. This creates a consistent, reliable snapshot of your SEO performance at that point in time.
While small variances are natural (especially around algorithm updates), there should not be dramatic differences between your dashboard and live results. If there are, it's usually due to personalization or temporary volatility in search results.
Using Incognito Mode or clearing your browser cache can reduce personalization, but it doesn’t eliminate all variables — especially those tied to your physical location. This is why even “private” searches may not exactly match the dashboard data.
Neutral & Depersonalized: Our rankings are pulled without influence from personal browsing behavior.
Geo-Specific: We track keyword positions as they appear in your target market, using geo-modified terms to reflect real-world visibility.
Consistent Over Time: Rankings are updated weekly, allowing you to clearly see trends, improvements, and opportunities.
Your dashboard is your most accurate and consistent source of truth when it comes to measuring SEO performance. If you ever have questions about how rankings are tracked or want to add new target locations or keywords, our team is here to support you.