I have got a few webpages on various things (just for the fun of it). When I search google using what I think others may put to find such pages. I am always on page 1 of millions of pages. Am I kidding myself that it does well. Is it because I am on this computer with my webpages so when I search it puts it on the first page or something. If you search using the same words, am I on page 5000 maybe.
I am just curios about this as the pages are nothing special.
Here is what I get:

Interested in info on a pond for your garden... you may google "garden fish pond"
I see my pages as 6th one down on page 1 of 8,920,000 pages.

Interested in using railway sleepers in your garden.... you may google "railway sleeper garden"
I see my pages as 9th one down on page 1 of 2,440,000 pages

Interested in animated signatures for emails webpages etc..... you may google "animated signatures"
I see my pages as 4th one down on page 1 of 4,430,000 pages.

If you burst my bubble... please do it gently.

http://www.steveonline.info/railwaysleepergarden.html

Same with me. Awesome great meta data.

If you have a google webmasters account, and your sites are verified using that account, make sure when you search, FROM DAY ONE that you are logged out.

Your google account has a memory, and i think it remembers not only regular searches, but also results you have clicked on

I had no 1 ranking for two years for name pendants, until i logged out one day, i am actually no.20 ish

Hope thats not the case for you, also very specific search criteria as we all do on our own sites, we tend to type in what we think the public will type when in fact we have typed in what we have worded.

so if you type in "Where to buy a fish pond" now where are you.

Also .com websites in google can be set to a specific country so i can force one of my domains to be found in USA which almost definitely will not be found in UK

I think Google's algorithms are a lot smarter than we often give them credit for. I think they recognize a good, honest site with relevant content when they see one - with some exceptions, of course!

Steve's site has much relevant text consistent with (1) the domain name, (2) <title>, (3) meta description, (4) meta keywords, etc...
All of this is good stuff and consistent with Google's guidelines.

If you use anything like StatCounter for visitor stats, you can see what search terms a visitor has used to find your site AND you can see what position your page had in searches from various parts of the world. This would eliminate any questions about the good position being a result of where you search from and whether or not you are "logged in" or not.

I think you've done a great job, Steve, and the good search positions is not a fluke!

I agree Per and if he does log out of his google account (if he is logged in) it will confirm that

What Viv stated is absolutely correct so to be for sure where your website ranks, not only log out, but clear your cookies as well.

I had those juicy fruit moments when you pull up a search and go yeaaah!...and then go awwwwww! #$%^

Another thing that Viv mentioned was your ranking can also be affected by your location if your website is targeting one particular city, region, or country.

I hope your website is ranking #1 no matter what!!!

Anyone for an experiment on this issue of search results

I have two versions of my jewellery website Deloreanjewellery in signature, and handmade-by-me with a .com jewelleryhandmade pointed at it (NOTE 2 L's)

Main thing i am after in google is this search criteria 9ct signet rings Though silver signet rings comes next

This is the uk interpretation for my UK market worldwide might type 9 carat signet rings

I know its being found, the regular orders i get prove that, but just to prove a point my main search 9ct signet rings :: today is appearing at no.1 on my google results :: I bet its more like no. 12 for others in UK and probably no. 30 for US Australia etc.

Viv, I just searched 9ct signet ring and you came up 6th in the google listing here in Boston, MA.

That's a shock I would not even expect first page :: which URL ? & Thank you

Viv,
It was the deloreanjewellery.co.uk .