:: Search Engine Promotion ::
How can I get my site listed with search engines? It sounds
like a pretty simple question, but sadly, search engine submission
can be a complicated subject.
Have no fear. We can guide you through the essential and
relatively easy steps you can take to get listed with search
engines.
Before we begin, it's important to make a distinction between
search engine submission and search engine optimization. These
terms, along with others, are sometimes used synonymously
to discuss different efforts to promote sites on search engines.
However, within this section, they will be used to refer to
some very specific activities. { }
Despite the rise in "paid participation" programs
offered by search engines (as explained more on the Buying
Your Way In page), free search engine submission is still
possible. However, using the paid programs that are offered
will speed up the listing process and almost certainly generate
more search engine related traffic for your web site.
Given this, it is highly recommended that any site owner
establish a search engine submission budget. This is true
whether you are running a commercial web site, a "hobbyist"
site in your own time or a site for a non-profit organization.
{ }
Directories are search engines powered by human beings. Human
editors compile all the listings that directories have. Getting
listed with the web's key directories is very important, because
their listings are seen by many people. In addition, if you
are listed with them, then crawler-based search engines are
more likely to find your site and add it to their listings
for free. { }
Crawler-based search engines automatically visit web pages
to compile their listings. This means that, unlike directories,
you are likely to have several if not many pages listed with
them. This also means that by taking care in how you build
your pages, you might rank well in crawler-produced results.
Optimizing pages for crawlers is covered more in the Optimizing
For Crawlers section of Search Engine Watch. If you have time,
it is recommended that you read the pages in this section,
especially the Search Engine Placement Tips page. However,
by simply following the submission tips below, you can at
least get your pages listed with crawlers, where they might
naturally rank well for certain terms. { }
Every major search engine with significant traffic accepts
paid listings. This unique form of search engine advertising
means that you can be guaranteed to appear in the top results
for the terms you are interested in within a day or less.
Given this, paid listings are an option that should be explored
by site owners who wish to quickly build visibility. They
may also be a long-term advertising option for some. { } |
