Google Search Console is a search engine optimization software solution offered by Google.
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Matrix
Score 6.1 out of 10
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Matrix is the Enterprise or Agency level search engine optimization platform formerly developed and owned by Barcelona based company Intelligent SEO which was recently (Jan. 2014) acquired by American company Insequent, Inc to expand their offerings. Matrix presents the full panoply of SEO features, like search ranking and tracking, keyword and backlink monitoring and suggestions, site audit, competitor tracking and head-to-head comparison with the home team, also a landing page generator, and…
Google Search Console is helpful to understand what terms customers search for and click onto your website from. However, it's not helpful if you're looking for deep competitive insight on search terms people are using and how that impacts your website.
I think that Matrix is a fairly good CRM tool for sales organizations to utilize to manage account lists and track progress to budget. Managers can encourage sales folks by utilizing the reports to track progress from current year to previous years, and see what changes need to be made. I don't feel like relying completely on the integration of other systems to give you a fail proof look at where you are to budget is a great idea with this software, but for a basic CRM tool, it does the trick.
More training resources would be an asset. A beginner is given the power to completely destroy a sites search results at the push of a button. Likewise it is a powerful tool to enhance search results also.
An option to take care of multiple versions of the same site simultaneously would be helpful. An option to use the same validation script across all versions and administer them simultaneously would be a time save (i.e. non-www, www, http://, and https:// versions of the same site).
I do think that completeness in which it integrates data from our traffic and order entry system could improve some. We have found instances where data isn't cleanly input and requires some manual clean up on the backside.
While the system itself is pretty user-friendly, sometimes the system itself seems a bit slow. For AE's whose time is rather valuable, this I know they find annoying at times.
Since I have the ability to see everyone's data and not just one AE's, I would like the managerial functionality a bit more comprehensive. Some of the reports are a bit cumbersome.
Google Search Console is a simple program that allows organizations to get a solid understanding of the way their site functions and how users land on it. It can be used for making critical business decisions regarding marketing budgets and that within itself is why it deserves a 10.
As with all Google software, your primary source of help is their forums, their knowledge base articles, or whatever tutorials you can find on the web. Often answers on their forums are not straightforward and may not address the actual issue you're experiencing. The KB articles are typically written like instruction manuals - for better or for worse. Tutorials on the web may vary, but the odds are good someone out there had the same questions as you and was kind enough to document their experience.
SEMRush is a supplementary tool we use to provide competitive analysis. While it does, or should, provide the same data that Search Console does, but I only fully trust Search Console when it comes to basic performance in Google for the sites we develop and own. SEMRush, and other products like it, does provide much more in-depth insights that can help drive business decisions, including site performance on other search engines, along putting organic and paid search performance in one spot. However, SEMRush costs money while Search Console is free.
I think they are doing the right things, staying in their lane. I never like it when companies try to be everything to everyone. It dilutes their effectiveness on their core values to me. I want them to drill down and focus on the things they are already doing and keep making them better.
Given that this is a free tool, the return on investment has been particularly high - we've identified and addressed a few site issues that could have meant a reduction in search traffic.
Our organic search traffic has been on the rise in part due to the insights gained from the search traffic analytics provided within the console.
I do think that Matrix has had a positive impact of requiring AE's to better manage their own business.
Since I don't directly deal with the contractual piece of Matrix, as far as what the actual ROI is, I can't speak to that. But I can say this, our organization has used this for at least the 6 years I've been there. It is used on a national level, so I do believe that it's roll up features are ones that can be utilized through the organization.
As far as our overall business objectives in the sales department, it certainly meets the needs of both the management team as well as the sales team to managing clients and annual budgets.
