GWT data v SEO Moz data

[MrPaulB]

I'm sure there's a simple explanation but I can't find it-

Looking through the GWT avg position data v SEOMoz ranking data and Market Samurai data there is a large discrepancy. For one term that we hold #1, and have held for a month or two GWTis showing that the avg position is 180 (and down 30).

Any reason you know of why the GWT avg position data would be so out of whack with our SERP's and other data?

Thanks.

[MrPaulB]

Thank you! It was really confusing the heck out of me.

[caseyhen]

Hi MrPaulB,

GWT take average position for a few different things.  For example if you have a few different pages that rank for a keyword it calculates the average rank based on that.  For example, if you have a page that ranks number 1 for the keyword "Blue Widgets" and another page that ranks 20th for "Blue Widgets" the average rank would be 10.  It's a bad metric to use and often confuses people.