Search engines and search engine placement is one of the most talked about topics around. As Web designers and developers it often falls upon us to advise our clients on this very subject. Imagine if a software application were developed that would ensure you, top search engine placement. Well, the wait is over. This month, I have been looking over WebPosition Gold by FirstPlace Software, which has the potential to become the hottest search engine tool in any Web builder's toolbox.

WebPosition Gold (WPG for short) is made up of seven integrated modules, all designed to maximise your site's overall performance. These modules include, briefly:

• Page Generator

Easily create entry entry-point pages based upon keywords and details about your business

• Page critic

Analyses new or existing pages of your site and provides expert advice on how to optimise these for better search engine placement

• Upload manager

Track all of the entry-point pages created, changed, or added during the quest for a top 10 position

• Submitter

Submit your pages to the most popular and important search engines

• Reporter

Checks a site's position in the major search engines against your chosen keywords. It then generates an action plan so you know immediately if you need to resubmit your page, redesign it, or just leave it alone

• Scheduler

A useful, if sometimes annoying, little program that will actually allow you to schedule the reporter daily, weekly, or monthly to automatically check your page positions

• Traffic analyser

Track visitors, find out where they came from automatically, without the need to download server log files or extra software.

Although the above gives a good outline of what is contained in the program, to really understand it as a whole, you'll most likely need to download a copy of it (a demo version is available at their site). This program is about taking advantage of the search engines, and power is its key. To fully experience the power, there is no better way than being able to put it to work for yourself.

At this point, the most probable question from the Web builder crowd is, "Does it really work?", since no matter how good the implementation and ease-of-use, a program that doesn't achieve its desired end-result is about as useful as a solar powered flashlight. My review period of this product actually took several weeks, so that I could gauge just how effective it was, using a sample page within the search engines. The result was that not only did it work, but it achieved better results than I had expected early on. Although the page was a quickly assembled sample, we've managed to gain approximately 50 additional hits per day to our site through it. With a bit of practice and patience, I expect that we can gain even better, more effective results over a longer period.

In summary WebPosition Gold is a good tool that should be in any serious Web builder's toolbox. It offers all the search engine tools you are ever likely to require for maximising the potential of your site's pages, at an amazing price.