getting your site found
Once you have a site it is important to register it with online search engines and directories, so people can find your site. Of course, listing with search engines isn't the only way to advertise your site.
The most important is to have your Web site with your company or product information so people who are already interested can go directly to your Web site for more information. The easiest way is to put your address on your company material. Of course, there are a myriad of ways to advertise your site. Depending on your business and budget, you could run a specific campaign or competition through your Web site, or run a direct marketing campaign. Also important is swapping links with other sites. More about that later - you'll find it on this site.
Following is a very brief description of how to list with the search engines. For more detailed information follow the links below. Before submitting to any directory, you should have a description of your entire web site in 25 words or less, making use of two or three key terms users will use to look for your site. You will be asked for this information for many search engines. Think about the key terms people will use to find you and make the description factual (as opposed to marketing-orientated).
Paying to be listed with search engines can increase search-engine related traffic to your site and get you listed faster, so you may also consider a budget for your listings.
Below is a short explanation of the best way to list with some of the most important search engines. But, if you're pressed for time and money, click directly through to the 'no frills list' and start submitting.
Yahoo is important to get listed with as it can improve the chances of being found by other search engines (crawlers), such as Google, as they analyse links across the Web. You must pay annually to be listed under a commercial category, but, if you have general information on your site, you can be listed as a non-commercial site. For example, 'how-to' information related to your product may be deemed helpful to the public, and therefore non-commercial, and may be accepted as a free listing.
If you are submitting for free to a non-commercial category, go to Yahoo, find the relevant category, and click on the "Suggest a Site" link that appears at the bottom of the page to fill out the submission form. If you are paying to submit, go to Yahoo's Express Submission Form.
Another important directory is LookSmart, because it provides the main listings used by the MSN Search service. Like Yahoo, LookSmart has both free and paid submit options for non-commercial and commercial categories respectively. Commercial pages submitted for free will be rejected. You'll need to sign-up as a Zeal member, via the Zeal Sign-Up Form. Once you've passed as a member, you can then submit your site to the non-commercial category you've selected by using the "Manage" option and "Add a Site Profile" link.
The Open Directory is volunteer-based, and as such, is free to list with. It is an option to major search engines, including Google. Submit under the category you wish to be listed with using the "add URL" link (URL is your Web address ). You should see your site appear within about three weeks. If not, then you should resubmit.
The best way to get listed with Google as with all major crawlers, is to build links to your web site. Aside from this, you can submit a URL or two directly at the Add URL page. For a new site, it may take a month before you are listed with Google.
Inktomi, now uses Overture Site MatchTM, charging an annual fee per address plus a per click rate.
Similarly, AllTheWeb may find your site 'naturally', or through Yahoo, or you may submit it at the Add URL page, to show up in about six weeks. You can also pay for a listing through resellers.
AltaVista also now uses the Yahoo directory and Overture Site MatchTM program.
links
For more information on paid options to gain traffic to your site click
here.
This is the link for a lot of information on listing with search engines.
Check your site's popularity here, and follow the link to learn more.
