Number of rows returned on the SEO Competition Matrix

[Cherrie Dejolde Bautista]

Hi! I entered my theme keyword phrase on the SEO Competition matrix to assess the strength of my competitors. The result was only 8 rows instead of 10 (for the top 10). These 8 rows did NOT have a single row with all GREEN boxes, just yellows and greens for the most part and a little of red.

Since Market Samurai only returned 8 rows, does that mean I can still proceed to use my theme keyword even without a single line of all green boxes? Am I correct in assuming since there's only 8 rows, I can easily be on the 9th or 10th row with this theme keyword?

I have attached a screenshot of the last 8 rows for your review.

PS
I searched the forum but did not find any that matches my exact question so I posted this. If there is one already, I apologize but I really did search first.

SEO Competition Matrix.jpg

[Caro :-)]

Hi Cherrie,

A couple of points I'd like to make.

First of all, you do need to find out what the top 10 are showing. So if you can not see it, possibly close MS down and restart it and go again to the SEO Matrix option (check you have everything checked properly). And if you don't see the ten, then contact Market Samurai support for further guidance.

You also haven't given any indication of what the SEOT, PBR and SEOC is either?

So how a matrix looks is not a stand alone situation. Yes very simply you want that row of green, and the higher up the top the better.

You also need to factor in does it have a high SEOT, so a position 7, 8 or 9 could still have decent traffic? And how well optimized are the websites in the top 8 etc.

So it's not just a linear thing.

I would also counsel against assuming because you can't see rows 9 or 10 that it means they'll be all green.

I completely appreciate the desire to move forward to the next stages. However if you don't do this part thoroughly and as taught, then all you're doing is setting yourself up for a lot of blood and sweat and inevitable tears when it doesn't pass the testing strategy.

You're doing yourself more good to really stick with the criteria as taught, as even then there's no guarantees it will be a keyword phrase that gets the final thumbs up.

Thank you too for searching first

Best

Caro

[Cherrie Dejolde Bautista]

Hi Caro,

Oh yes, I did the keyword research before I went and did the SEO Competition matrix. Attached is the screenshot for my keywords. The top entry was my theme keyword which I was reviewing at the SEO Competition matrix. SEOT=559, PBR=30%, SEOC=16,400 and SEOV=$855.63. It has definitely passed the keyword research filters. Though I have other keywords, this is the only one that seem to encompass all the other keywords and was the best candidate to be the theme.

I closed MS and did the SEO Competition Matrix again. Same 8 rows. My other keywords had 9 rows, 10 rows, and 8 rows. I also opened a ticket with MS to ask the same question in case there is a problem with the app and if it's suppose to be returning 10 rows always.

So with the keyword research filter screenshot attached, what would be the best way to treat this keyword phrase considering its SEO Competition Matrix issue?

Thank you in advance for helping me out.

Keyword Research.jpg

[Caro :-)]

I would wait until you get a response from MS. Or go and do a manual check on position 9 & 10 using SEO Quake (a free tool to use on browsers - remember to keep it off and only switch on when doing searches).

Then the rule of this forum is for you to do your assessment and present that, once you have all of the information you need.

It's akin to the analogy that the best way to fish is not for someone to show you, but to do it yourself. And either myself of one of the other moderators will offer their input to your analysis. But get all your info first.

And the analysis is to be not just parroting what you see, but also what you then interpret that to mean, with your conclusion based on that assessment

Best

Caro

[Afon]

I have had this also. Several times I have had seoc results for a possible theme keyword display less than 10 sites.

I contacted Market Samurai & they asked me to send them an example so that they could check it. I have sent them a couple of screen shots. I haven't heard from them about this yet, but it was only a few days ago.

I will try to post as soon as I can when I hear more.

Afon

[Cherrie Dejolde Bautista]

I have submitted the ticket last Thursday 12/8 and haven't heard anything back from Market Samurai. Hopefully, they are looking into it since you have a similar ticket opened, Afon. I will post an update once I hear from them as well. Thank you!

[Caro :-)]

Hi Cherrie,

What I would advise is first of all go into the Support area and confirm that your ticket has been raised. I do know of some people not doing the final submit, thinking they raised a ticket, and it wasn't actually submitted, which they see when they check.

If that is all confirmed, then I would send a reminder to it, as their normal turn around time is 72 hours max, and it has passed that from what you suggest.

Do not wait for weeks for a response. After 72 hours you're are within your rights to give them a polite nudge

Best

Caro :-)

[Afon]

This reply from Market Samurai :

"Hi Afon,
This is because Google is giving you video results, which are not displayed in Market Samurai.
You are seeing the correct results (as we intended).
In the future we may look at adding video results into SEO Competition."

Afon

[Schafir]

Afon, thanks for posting the MS response. Very useful to provide the resolution in the thread

[Cherrie Dejolde Bautista]

Thanks, Afon. I just got a similar response:

Hi Cherrie - sorry for the delay in getting back to you!
Generally if SEO Competition only shows 8 or 9 rows for the "top 10", this means that Google is including a non-website search result in the rankings for your keyword. This can be a Youtube video, a news item, a Places result or even something from Google Images.
Since these are usually not "competition" for your website, they're ignored at the moment. However we may be re-evaluating that design decision as Google has been putting Youtube results more and more in-line with regular searches lately and it's starting to get confusing for our customers!
Anyway, it doesn't mean that you can get into 9th or 10th place any more easily than you could for a keyword which does show 10 results. And your ultimate goal should still be #1 or #2 whenever possible, as they get the majority of the clicks.
Hope this helps - feel free to contact us if you need anything else!
- B