9 important standards SERP tracker users sometimes forget

The major features of a rank tracker are, of course, the most important by far. For example, the ability to track a diverse range of search engines, get local as well as mobile ranks, and white-label ranking report solutions are mandatory and well known. But then we have the other features that hide in their shadow and are almost never mentioned openly. These features should be of interest to every SERP tracker user, yet unfortunately they fly under the radar. The existence of these features and their quality can determine your overall user experience. So let’s begin:

Speed – This small detail is often neglected and goes unnoticed. It is important that the SERP tracker will have a light interface that loads fast; this becomes a real issue if you have a big quota of data you need to keep track of. Some SERP trackers simply load slowly, and it can be annoying. It might seem insignificant at first, but imagine the difference between a video loading immediately or needing to wait for it to buffer for a few minutes—not very fun, is it. It’s those little details that create a smooth and enjoyable experience. PRT is one of the fastest and smoothest systems on the market, and it’s because today’s industry standard is for data to load QUICKLY.

Price per keyword – Price as a whole is mentioned in the details of every plan, but price per keyword (PPK) isn’t. PPK is simply how much a single keyword costs to track. To find out, simply divide the overall price of the plan by the number of keywords you get to track. PPK translates to how much bang you get for your buck – is $249 really expensive, or do you get a keyword quota and a pack of features that others offer for $499? Not all SERP trackers are the same. Some appear decently priced, but when you zoom in on the details, you discover they actually charge you an arm and a leg in comparison to other equivalent tools. PRT currently has the most affordable PPK on the market by far. Check out our Price Per Keyword comparison chart:

Personal account manager – The quality of customer support for a tool says a lot about the tool itself and what to expect, and having an account manager available is the highest form of customer support. Sometimes SERP trackers offer great high-level paid plans, and the best value their users actually get for their money is filling out support tickets that get answered hours later. If you require a high-level plan, chances are you would need more personal and instant support since you probably have high-paying customers of your own to look after. Sometimes even small agencies or solo SEO experts would prefer a higher-level plan simply for the security of having a voice and a face to turn to. PRT’s Enterprise plans come with a dedicated AM attached to every account. PRT’s account managers are very attentive and knowledgeable, and there isn’t a single issue they won’t be able to help out with in regards to the PRT system. They can be with you every step of the way until you master the skill of rank tracking.

Accuracy – Accuracy is an issue few SERP trackers mention, simply because many of them are not that accurate! You won’t believe how many prominent tools offer accuracy rates as low as 67%. Accuracy is having an adequate rank-tracking algorithm able to determine actual unbiased ranks that are clean from personalization checks. Let’s say your strategy caused one of your websites to go up in rank for a certain keyword, but if you weren’t using an adequately accurate system, you wouldn’t even know about it… the SERP tracker you’re using only picks up on it a week later. Even worse, less accurate trackers might not alert you until after it rose significantly. Because of these detection inaccuracies, there may have been some kind of up and down oscillation that went undiscovered, or it may show you one that didn’t actually take place. Needless to say, bad accuracy can spell problems for strategy. PRT has a unique 100% accurate ranking algorithm, the only one currently on the market.

Clean system without redundant features – Some SERP trackers offer a tool full of diverse and unique features that are included in a paid plan, but have you ever wondered how many of those you actually need on a regular basis, or ever? SEO audits included in a paid plan are nice and all, but how often do you use them, and does that ability justify a big price difference between a comparable tool that doesn’t offer audits? These are questions that should be asked when you shop around for a SERP tracker. PRT stays true to its original purpose, and that’s tracking ranks and delivering fresh, accurate data. PRT does EVERYTHING to stay focused on the task at hand and is strictly SEO goal oriented, sparing you the unneeded features. (And this is one of the reasons the price is also genuinely affordable.)

Diverse language support – English comprises about 53% of the text on the internet. You, as an SEO expert, must know English at a decent-enough level to succeed. That isn’t necessarily the case for your colleagues and clients who may not be English speakers, but they would still need to be updated on their websites and campaigns. Having the ability to generate a ranking report in their first language is a clear advantage. In addition to English, PRT supports Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish and Turkish.

Migration Freedom – How easy is it to migrate from one SERP tracker to another? The answer is, it depends on the tool in question. There are several variables to look at, and the main questions to ask are:

• Is there a commitment involved, or are you free to leave whenever you please?
• Is there a money-back or refund policy?
• Is the part of the month you didn’t use refundable?
• Can the data you have be backed up and exported?
• Does your tool accept data imported from other SERP trackers?

There’s no need to state this, but if the tool you’re using is good, it shouldn’t need to tie you down. Good tools rarely lose users; they mostly gain them. PRT will never tie you down, and our account managers can help you import data easily to the system with bulk-add solutions.

API accessibility – A high-level feature offered only by the best SERP trackers: the ability to connect your unique tool or system to the raw data harvested and generated by the tracker. You might have an impressive platform of your own for your clients (or your company) which you worked long and hard to develop, and instead of having an additional system to work with, it’s most convenient to get the data directly onto your own system, which you’re already used to. PRT has great API access.

SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) levels – These have much to do with the aesthetics of the system: The tool you’re testing might have scored high on many points, but is it drowning in details and unpleasing colors with a SNR that’s way off? The data visualization should be clear and simple to follow. {Pic-Can you see the forest or are there just too many trees and worse still, you are not even trying to look for a forest?}

PRT has one of the best SNRs in the market, and our system is designed to deliver data with clarity and simplicity to its users: SEO agencies, experts and novices alike. Data that can be read in a few glances saves time and money and makes for an overall more pleasant experience.

So, now you know some extra points to consider when shopping for a new SERP tracker or if you just want to test your current SERP tracker against these points. PRT scores high on all those fronts, so feel free to check it out yourself!