Using SEO SpyGlass

Creating a New Project

When you first run SEO SpyGlass, it will automatically pop up a Wizard that will guide you through the process of creating a new competition research project. You can also open this screen by clicking the New button on the main toolbar.

Step 1: Select A Competitor To Analyze

You can let SEO SpyGlass find your competitor for you by entering a keyword related to your niche.

Or, you can enter a competitor's URL yourself and proceed to the next step. The URL you specify here can be your competitor's homepage, or any other Webpage on your competitor's site.

Important Note: Please make sure that the URL you specify here starts with http://

Step 2: Choose Search Engines To Be Used

Under Step 2 of the Wizard, you need to choose the search engines to use. Depending on the choice you make, SEO SpyGlass will use specific search engines to collect and analyze your competitor's Incoming Backlinks.

For optimum results, we recommend you choose as many search engines as possible (please note: the more search engines you choose the longer it'll to gather the backlinks). If for whatever reason you need to pick one, choose Yahoo!. Unlike Google, Yahoo! will show most of your competitor's backlinks.

The search engines you select here will be marked as your Preferred Search Engines. These search engines will be u by default when updating the backlink data. You also will be offered to choose from the Preferred Search Engines when rebuilding the project or creating a new one so that you don't have to scroll down the long list of supported SEs every time.

Note: You can change the list of preferred search engines in Preferences -> Preferred Search Engines.

Step 3: Choose Search Engine Ranking Factors

Under this step you can select the ranking factors SEO SpyGlass will use when analyzing the backlinks of your competitor. Basically, here you choose what backlink data to gather. The more factors you choose the more comprehensive you results you'll get, however the number of factors also affects the speed of the research.

Step 4: Configure Backlinks Collection Settings

Here you specify the maximum number of backlinks for SEO SpyGlass to retrieve. You can opt to gather a particular number of backlinks per website or per search engine. To discover as many links as possible choose 1,000 links (the maximum any search engine will return) and check the Exclude Duplicates box to avoid repetition of the same backlink in the project.

Step 5: Collecting Search Engines Data on Your Competitor

Under this step SEO SpyGlass will gather Incoming Backlink data on your competitor. Just sit back and relax while SEO SpyGlass is working. The process can take a while depending on how many search engines you selected, how many backlinks your competitor has, and the speed of your Internet connection.

You can interrupt the process at any time and still be able to proceed to the next step, as long as at least one backlink has been analyzed. Press the Stop button to interrupt the whole process or click the 'red cross' buttons to cancel individual tasks.

Step 6: Congratulations, Search Engine Data Has Been Collected Successfully!

This is a brief summary of what SEO SpyGlass managed to do. Simply click the Finish button to proceed to the main SEO SpyGlass screen where you can analyze the collected data.

Or, you can click Cancel to discard the current competition research project and start over.

Updating Backlink Data

Naturally the backlink data is not permanent and needs to be updated from time to time. Besides this feature allows you to gather additional search engine factors you didn't select when creating the project. To do this, simply select the backlinks that you need to update and press the Update button. You can hold Shift and Ctrl (CMD on a Mac) to select multiple entries.

Note: You can press on the down arrow next to the Update button to invoke dropdown menu. Select Update Data For Backlinks In Workspace to quickly retrieve fresh info on the backlinks listed in your active workspace or click Update Data For All Backlinks In Project to update all links irrespective of the workspace.

Step 1: Choose Search Engine Ranking Factors

Under this step you need to choose what kind of data you want to update for the selected backlinks. You can check the boxes next to Domain Ranking Factors and Page Ranking Factors to select all factors in the group.

Step 2: Updating Search Engine Data

SEO SpyGlass is retrieving the backlink data according to the factors you specified under step 1. This may take a while depending on the number of backlinks and search engines you selected, your Search Safety Settings configuration and the speed of your Internet connection. You can interrupt the process any time by pressing the stop button or cancel individual tasks by clicking the red X crosses next to the task bars.

Step 3: Congratulations, Search Engine Data Has Been Updated Successfully!

Well, these are congratulations ;) and a brief summary of what SEO SpyGlass managed to accomplish.

Removing Backlinks

Removing backlinks is easy. All you need to do is select the backlinks you need (or rather don't need) rightclick one of them and select Remove Backlink(s).

Note: You can hold Shift and Ctrl (CMD if you're on a Mac) to select multiple backlinks or press Ctrl + A to all links in the workspace.

Rebuilding The Project

Besides updating the backlink data for the links in the project you can also rebuild the project. This is actually the same as running a new project for the same website or keyword. This feature is useful first of all because backlinks come and go as well as the search engine rankings. By rebuilding the project you can disclose new backlink sources and stay updated on the latest backlink tricks of your competition.

To rebuild the project simply click the Rebuild button or point to Backlinks -> Rebuild Entire Project.

Step 1: Choose Search Engines To Be Used

Under this step you'll be offered to pick the necessary search engine out of the list of your Preferred Search Engines.

Note: You can change this list anytime in Preferences -> Preferred Search Engines.

Step 2: Choose Search Engine Rankings Factors

Under this step you need to check the boxes next to the Domain and Page Ranking Factors that are important to you, such as whether the website linking to your competitor is listed in the DMOZ or Yahoo! directories, Google PR of the webpage and even the contact info you can use for link-building.

Step 3: Configure Backlinks Collection Settings

Here you set up the maximum # of backlinks SEO SpyGlass will collect. You can choose to check a particular number of backlinks per website or per search engine. To retrieve as many links as possible specify 1,000 links. This is the maximum any search engine will return. If you choose more than one search engine under the first step, you may discover more links, but in that case we suggest checking the Exclude Duplicates box to avoid repetitions of the same backlink found in different search engines.

Step 4: Collecting Search Engines Data on Your Competitor

Sit back and relax while SEO SpyGlass is gathering incoming backlink data. The process can take a while depending on how many search engines and search ranking factors you specified, how many backlinks your competitor has, your Search Safety Settings and the speed of your Internet connection.

You can interrupt the process any time and still be able to proceed to the next step, as long as at least one backlink has been collected. Press the Stop button to interrupt the whole process or click the X cross buttons to cancel individual tasks.

Step 5: Congratulations, Search Engine Data Has Been Collected Successfully!

Here you get a brief summary of what SEO SpyGlass did. Simply click the Finish button to rebuild the project (note: previously collected backlink data will be lost) or press Cancel to discard the changes.

Managing Workspaces

Workspaces are a very handy feature of SEO SpyGlass. They enable you to create advanced filters sorting out the backlinks you need and selecting what kind of backlink data to display. You can quickly switch between your workspaces using the dropdown menu:

SEO SpyGlass comes with several predefined Workspaces:

• Show All Search Engine Factors
• Show SE Factors for Webpage Only
• Show SE Factors For Domain Only
• Show Backlinks From Blogs and Forums Only
• Show Backlinks From Link Directories Only
• Show Backlinks From Home Pages Only

You can edit the readymade Workspaces or create custom Workspaces of your own. To add, remove or manage your Workspaces, press the Workspace button or go to Preferences > Manage Workspaces...

Whichever way you choose you'll get to the Manage Workspaces window.

Here you can add, remove, clone, modify or move the existing Workspaces up and down the list. You can also transfer a workspace from one project to another with the help of the Copy and Paste buttons. To do this select the Workspace you need and press Copy, then open the project you need to copy the Workspace to, again go to Preferences -> Manage Workspaces and press Paste.

To create a new Workspace, click the Add button, and SEO SpyGlass will get you to the Add Workspace window:

Name your new Workspace, specify the columns you wish to include into it, and set up filtering conditions if necessary. When you are done, click OK.

Copying the Data to a Spreadsheet

To copy your data to a spreadsheet for print out for instance, please do the following:

1. Select the entries you wish to copy. You can hold down Ctrl (or CMD on a Mac version) or Shift keys to select multiple keywords or press Ctrl + A to select all.
2. Right-click and select Copy Backlink(s) To Clipboard, or simply hit Ctrl +C (or CMD+C on a Mac version).
3. Now open your favorite spreadsheet and press Ctrl + V or right-click -> paste to import the data.

That's it! You have successfully transferred your data to the spreadsheet. Now you can easily sort, modify or print it.

Exporting Backlink Data to TXT, CSV, HTML and XML

SEO SpyGlass has an advanced export module that lets you quickly and easily export the backlink data from your project into CSV, TXT, HTML or XML format.

First select the backlink entries that you want to export (not necessary if you want to export all links in a workspace or project) and go to File -> Export -> Backlink Data. SEO SpyGlass will automatically offer you to create an Export Template. A wizard will take you through the set-up process where you'll need to choose the target format, columns for export and even modify the code of the export format (with preview available).

All your export settings will be saved in the template. Next time you need to export the data you can just pick the template you need and do the export with a mouseclick. You can also edit and remove the export templates.

Using Quick Filter

You can use the Quick Filter whenever you need to sort out certain backlinks that match a specific condition. You can type a word (or any part of it) into the Quick Filter, and SEO SpyGlass will instantly limit the view to the entries that contain the word in any of the columns.

You can configure the Quick Filter choosing from the many filtering conditions available. Just click on the 'lense(.pic.)' picture in the left hand corner to open the menu.

Then pick a filtering condition you need. For example you might want to temporarily hide the backlinks coming from a certain domain. To do this choose Domain -> does not contain

Then if you type the name of the domain (or a unique part of it) into the Quick Filter, SEO SpyGlass will temporarily hide all backlinks pointing from that domain.

Quick Filter is a quick and easy way to find specific backlinks, without configuring Workspace filters.

Working with Reports

Generating Reports

Generating a report is easy. All you need to do is just click the SEO Report tab, press the Report button or point to Backlinks -> View SEO Blueprint Report. Whichever way you pick SEO SpyGlass will automatically create a report ba on the backlink data of your active project.

Every time you need to update the data in the report, for instance after rebuilding the project, just click on the Regenerate button and SEO will instantly update the report.

Managing Report Templates

SEO SpyGlass allows you to customize the look and feel of the generated report. You can change the color scheme, add your company name and logo, specify your customer name and choose what kind of backlink data to display. You can create an unlimited number of templates of all sorts and fashions.

With SEO SpyGlass you can create new templates, as well as edit or remove the existing ones. You can manage your Report Templates in Preferences > Report Templates.

Note: You can use the Templates button for quick access to the Report Templates settings.

If you wish to create a new template from scratch, please go to Preferences > Report Templates press Add and the Wizard will guide you through the process of creating a template.

Step 1: Choose Report Type

You will be asked to choose what type of report you want to create.

• Pinpoint Enterprise Report
  Designed for professional SEOs this report contains a laconic analysis statistical data and leaves it up to you to analyze it and draw conclusions.
• SEO Success Blueprint Report
  Choose this report type if you want to get step-by-step optimization advice alongside with backlink stats.

Step 2: Choose Report Sections

Under this step you need to select what kind of backlink data to include into the report.

Step 3: Color and Font Styles

At this step you can select the style and color scheme of the report to your liking. Preview is available.

Step 4: Create Report Introduction

If you have anything to say as an introduction to your SEO report you can do it under this step. Preview is available. Leave the box next to Show Introduction Page unchecked if you don't want to include the Introduction.

Step 4: Create a Final Words Page

The same as step 3, only this time it's the final words page.

You can type in your final words in the Code tab (remember to use HTML tags) and see what your text will look like in the report by clicking the Preview tab.

Click next after you're done.

Step 6: Choose Report Template Name and Title

You can specify report template title and name. The title you type in will be displayed in the title bar of the browser. We suggest that you pick a descriptive template name so that you can easily remember what this report does and find it quickly, e.g. "Complete Backlink Report With Afterwords (Green)". Press Finish and the program will get you back to the list of templates.

Editing Report Templates

SEO SpyGlass allows you to edit the HTML code of any template. To do this go to Preferences > Report Templates, select the template that you want to edit and press Edit. You'll get access to the HTML code of the template with preview available.

Removing Report Templates

To remove a report template go to Preferences > Report Templates, select a template with your mouse and press Remove to remove it.

The buttons Move up and Move down were designed for your convenience. You can select any template with your mouse and move it up or down to the needed position in the list.

Quick-Saving Reports to Your Local Hard Drive

The Quick save button saves your report to the local hard drive giving you two saving options: as an HTML or as a PDF document. Choose HTML if you want to be able to view your report in a web browser, or PDF if you want it to be available for print-out.

Specify the destination folder and press Save.

Publishing Your Report

After your report has been generated, you may wish to e-mail it to a customer, save it or publish it online so that it becomes available outside SEO SpyGlass. The generated report can be converted into an HTML or a PDF document. You can save it to your local hard drive, send via e-mail, or upload it to a website via FTP. In the software all these actions are referred to as publishing.

Click Publish to start the publishing process.

First of all you'll need to create a publishing profile. A Publishing Profile is a set of configurable parameters for publishing your report. When publishing a report for the first time, SEO SpyGlass will offer you to create a publishing profile automatically.

Creating a New Publishing Profile

Publishing profiles are managed in Preferences ->Publishing Profiles.

You can create new profiles using the Add button. Upon completion of all steps, the profile you configured will be saved so that you can later use it to publish any report.

Upon pressing Add, you will see a Wizard that will guide you through the process of creating a new profile.

Note: When publishing a report for the first time the Wizard will start automatically.

Step 0: Enter Your Company Information

If you haven't filled in your Company profile yet, the wizard will offer you to do this. The information about your company you specify here will be displayed in all reports generated within that project.

Step 1: Choose Preferred Report Format

Here you can choose to generate the report in the HTML format which can be later published on the web, or you can opt for the Adobe PDF format if you plan to print or email the report.

Step 2: Choose Preferred Report Delivery Option

There are three options of report delivery: it can be saved on your hard drive, sent via e-mail or uploaded to a website. Check the option you need with your mouse.

Depending on what report delivery option you choose the Wizard will take you in the corresponding direction:

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Send report via e-mail [click to expand][click to hide]

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Upload report onto a website via FTP [click to expand][click to hide]

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Once you've created a publishing profile click Publish, select the profile you need and click Next. SEO SpyGlass will automatically save, send or publish your report according to the settings you configured in the profile.

Note: You can select several profiles at a time, for instance to send, save and publish your report with one mouseclick.

Editing Publishing Profiles

You can edit the existing publishing profiles any time in Preferences > Publishing Profiles. Simply select the profile you need with your mouse and click Edit.

You'll be able to change the Report Type, Delivery Option and Report File Settings. Press Ok to save or Cancel to discard the changes.

Managing Export Templates

Export Templates are sets of predefined settings for the SEO SpyGlass export module. They let you quickly export the backlink data to a different format such as HTML or XML using your preferred settings. You can create, edit and remove export templates at Preferences -> Export Templates.

You can create an export template for each target format that you need and use them when exporting the project data.

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