Open site explorer varied results according to country

[Stevej24]

We have a global team and we have noticed something unusual.  When we do a "Compare link metrics" search in Open Site Explorer  in the US our client is beating the competition hands down.

When we run the exact same data in Canada, where our client is based, the client has the same metrics, but  a few of the competitors numbers are higher.

What could cause this variation? Both accounts are full versions, and not freebies.

[KLLC]

Hello Stevej24,

Same things are also happening with me. I found too variation in results in opensiteexplorer in different regions. Maybe they are using some technique like Google to show different results in different regions.

I am also finding a reason and also using pro account.

[ChiarynMiranda]

Hi Steve,

Thanks for writing in. You can't really specify localities in the Compare Link Metrics section of Open Site Explorer, but if you are checking your competitors using different TLDs, that would affect the metrics you are seeing for the competitors. If you can give me some exact examples of the sites you are comparing in that section, I can look directly into the issue you are seeing.

Our system isn't set to show different results based on different regions; it just shows different results based on the number of links to a domain, which would change between TLDs since example.com vs example.ca would be considered two different domains.

I look forward to hearing back soon.

-Chiaryn

[Stevej24]

This makes sense.  So now, I have typed in two searches.

one with www. for a competing site, and one without the www. and that did show a different result.  So perhaps that is our issue.

It is good to know it is not dependent on a location as we have a global client base.

Thanks!

--Steve

[ChiarynMiranda]

Glad to help, Steve! The www would definitely change the metrics you are seeing!

Let us know if you have any other questions.

-Chiaryn