Getting Started with RankSense

Thank you for taking the time to evaluate RankSense. We're sure that you'll find it to be a productive and valuable tool to help optimize your site.

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This section will help you get started optimizing your first site or blog with RankSense.

First things first:

1. Make sure your computer has the minimum requirements to run RankSense:

• Microsoft Windows Vista/XP/2003 Server
• 256 MB RAM or as required by OS
• 25 MB of available hard disk space for installation
• Pentium 4 or equivalent recommended
• An active Internet connection

* Please note that RankSense will not run on Windows NT, 95/98, 2000 or ME operating systems.

2. If you haven’t yet downloaded RankSense, you can do so here. Run the installer and then double-click on the RankSense shortcut placed on your desktop.

3. An activation window will come up, after approximately 30 seconds, asking for a license key. Just click on create new account and provide your contact details. You will receive a confirmation email where you need to click on a link to confirm the 15-day trial license. If you're having trouble with your license, please e-mail us at support@ranksense.com

Setting up a new web site:

1. Click New Website on the RankSense splash screen, or select “New Website” from the File menu.

2. The New Website dialog appears. You’ll need to enter the following information:

 

• Website URL: The web address beginning with http:// that visitors type into a web browser to rech your site.
  
• Website name: “My First Site,” or anything you like.
  
• Operating Mode: We recommended first-time users select Smart Mode because it will walk you through each of the RankSense tasks. Once you become more accustomed to the SEO tools in RankSense you can try out Classic mode for instant access to your favorite tools.
  
• Website is: Choose Online if your site is already accessible on the Web. If it isn’t, choose Offline.
  
• Home Page: Auto Detect will determine the file name of your home page. Alternatively, you can select one from the list.

3. After you click Next, the Publishing dialog will ask you for more info about how to access your site.

• Website Access: Choose Remote if your site is stored on a web hosting service. Choose Local if your site is located only on your hard drive, or if you wish to upload your site changes manually.
  
• Bloggers: If you are optimizing your blog, select the type of blog program you use: Blogger, WordPress, or LiveJournal. Then enter your login name and password and click Connect. You can now skip to Step 4, Landing Pages.
  
• Logs Access: Choose Remote if you know where to access the log files stored on your web host. Choose Local if you have log files stored on your hard drive.

RankSense can understand most types of log files, including zip and gzip compressed formats. RankSense can even help you install virtual log files if your web host doesn’t offer them. Simply choose No Logs and say Yes when RankSense offers its services.

• FTP Server: If you chose Remote for either Website or Logs Access, RankSense will request the FTP server address, as well as your username and password. Be sure to click the Connect button before moving on.
  
• Web Pages / Log Files Directory: Locate your main HTML and log files directories, either on your web host or on your hard drive. Click on the + sign to expand a directory. (If you are not sure where these files are located, contact your web hosting provider.)

4. After you click Next, the Landing Page dialog will appear. Check the boxes next to the pages you want to optimize first. Use the New Link box to enter any landing pages that do not appear in the list.

Landing pages are the pages that visitors first see when coming to your site, either by typing in the URL, or via a link from a search engine or other web site. Generally, these are the primary pages of your site or blog: your home page (index.html, default.htm, etc.) and other content-rich destination pages.

What next?

You’re ready to start optimizing your site! RankSense will walk you through the necessary steps from start to finish. Just click on a task to begin. Additional tasks become available as you complete the requisite steps.

If you have entered your log file information, you can begin with Discover Rankings. If you don’t have logs, that’s okay. Just start with Detect Problem Pages.

After your RankSense Test Drive:

Is your 15-day trial over? Consider purchasing a RankSense license to continue using its powerful search engine optimization features. If you decide you want to stop using RankSense, you can uninstall the software like this:

1. Make sure RankSense is shut down.
2. Click Start, point to Settings, then click Control Panel. (In Windows XP, click Start, then click Control Panel.)
3. Double-click Add/Remove Programs.
4. Select RankSense.
5. Click Remove.

Need More Help?

RankSense Tutorials
RankSense FAQ