Google Alert: Hurting my Site Rank

[cricketsodafloat]

Reading Google's website like the rest of the world:

Fiction: Automated "ranking checking" programs are a good way for webmasters to save time and measure their "online presence."
Fact: Automated "ranking checking" programs violate Google's terms of service. They use server resources that should be spent on answering user requests. We strongly request that you not use rank checking programs to check your position on Google.

I tried out Google Alert to check up on certain keywords once a day. I made it check the keywords I get the most hits on, and I could see if my site moved up any after my efforts.

Does using this service have any affect on my site ranking? I didn't think there was a way for Google to link it to my site.

Should I respect Google's request and stop this practice? I really enjoy knowing this information, and since I use the information, I don't think it is using google's servers in vain.

[flood6]

By Google Alert I assume you mean these guys? I don't know anything about them or how they do their service, but there is a free service at DigitalPoint that uses Google's API. This tool operates within Google's terms of service so it is unlikely it will have any effect on your site at all.

That said, it is unlikely that the tool you are using would have any negative effect on your site. There is another thread about how much Google knows about webmasters, but I think they know somewhat less than what is suggested in that thread. I doubt they know you are using that service and what site is yours; even if they did, it would be too easy to hurt a competitor if Google used that knowledge to "punish" your site in the SERPs.

[Duncan Pollock]

I'm sure it's the same sort of question as to whether using AdWords will affect your position in Google -- where the resounding answer is not one jot.
Admittedly, the Google Alert people aren't directly connected with Google, but neither, too, are the Digital Point folk.
I've used both Alerts and Digital for the past several months and, although I've done some moving up and down in Google (as many/most of us have done), I've absolutely failed to see any connection. Nor has my past-twelve-months' use of AdWords made any difference that I've been able to see.
Google is a law unto itself, as posts to WPW constantly maintain, but I've real difficulty in thinking it is "doing any evil" to people who are simply trying to monitor their SERPS. This is an entirely different exercise than any deliberate manipulation of them.
In any case, I'm fairly certain that the Alerts program has to be using Google's API facility with both knowledge and permission, because how else could there be a dependable basis for its reports?

Duncan

[cbp]

Does using this service have any affect on my site ranking?

No.

CBP

[greeneagle]

cricketsodafloat,
You are safe here too:
http://www.googlerankings.com/
Ken

[ctabuk]

Originally Posted by flood6

By Google Alert I assume you mean these guys? I don't know anything about them or how they do their service, but there is a free service at DigitalPoint that uses Google's API. This tool operates within Google's terms of service so it is unlikely it will have any effect on your site at all.

That said, it is unlikely that the tool you are using would have any negative effect on your site. There is another thread about how much Google knows about webmasters, but I think they know somewhat less than what is suggested in that thread. I doubt they know you are using that service and what site is yours; even if they did, it would be too easy to hurt a competitor if Google used that knowledge to "punish" your site in the SERPs.

I bet Google would love to know that these guys are using their name! If you read the disclaimer it denies being affiliated to Google. I use Google Alert and it is bought to me daily by Google!