When it comes to checking your “actual” search ranking on Google for your search terms, it helps to use this nifty tool a reader told me about.  Its called Scroogle.  Scroogle submits your search request to Google anonymously. The reason you want to be anonymous, is that if you have previously used your browser to enter the same search terms before, you may have “cookies” or little files left behind by Google to remember your search preferences.  Google uses these to try and  serve pages that fit within your previous preferences which supposedly gives you better search results.  The results you get when you search, may be (and often are) different from the results others see when they enter the same search term you did.

The tool is free (no download required) and it limits the results to the first one hundred.  But this fine, because if you don’t show up in the first one hundred, you have some work to do anyways.  Even if you do show up in the first one hundred, you have work to do.

Anyhow, this little tool is helpful but as always, it is just one piece of your SEO toolbelt.  Use occasionally, but there is no need to get all caught up in it.  Improve your site and keep developing content and you should see your site improve over time.