What about search engines?

[Jodi]

We are almost ready to put our site on the search engines and I was a little confused as to how we do it. Do we automatically get added on them or do we have to sign up to certain places?

Is there a good place to go to get "search engine" info?

Thanks!

[Lowell Rieger]

Jodi,

You don't put your site on a search engine. Search engines find you. There is an art/science to getting found.

Getting indexed on a search engine is pretty easy. Getting ranking is not. Why don't you check Rosalind's resources at Net Profits Today?

The quickest way I know to get indexed is blog and ping. If you don't know what that is just PM me, I have a summary I can email you.

Regards,

[Rosalind Gardner]

Hi Jodi,

Lowell is absolutely correct (as usual ).

There are many different ways to promote your site, and search engine marketing is one of the most difficult... not to mention that it takes TIME!

Blogging is perhaps the most effective way to get found in the search engines. So is having a forum, wherein every post is counted by the SE's as a page.

You can learn more about Site Promotion here at NPT.

Cheers,

Rosalind

[Jodi]

Thanks,
I tried to pm lowell, but it won't go through for some reason. I found a search engine company called www.registereverywhere.com and wondered if I just pay them the yearly fee they will place my site on several search engines. Has anyone used them?

You practically have to learn a new language in order to do a website. I didn't realize all the "words" and definitions and still don't, so thanks for being patient.

[Lowell Rieger]

Jodi,

Can't keep my forums straight, forgot there's no private msgs here.

You might want to do a google search for search engine forums.

Rosalind has excellent material in her resource section. Particularly the VEO ebook.

Also look at http://www.SEO2020.com (not an aff. link) if you want directory submission (they charge for it) and a lot of good (free) seo info.

Regards,

[BradleyD.Haslam]

Hi Jody,

I hate to say it this bluntly,
but if your just starting out,
forget about the search engines completely.

Create a habit of preparing your page's "on page factors" as you go,
as part of the page building process,
but that's it.

Here's why...

First, you only need to worry about the "big boys".
ie: Google, MSN, and Yahoo!.
Most other search engines use the big boy's databases anyway.
If you rank well in them,
they see you as relevant, and your listed automatically.

Submit services can't help you with rank.
That's up to the particular engine's algorithm.
A submitting service CAN get you listed.
But generally, they will try to impress you with a #1 listing,
when in reality, it's a search term nobody is searching for.
Ranking for YOUR keyword phrases is what you want.
To do this, you need to prove yourself of value to the market.
This means content... mostly.

Concentrate your efforts on providing articles and blog posts.
This is giving your page 'inbound' links,
while proving your relevance to the search engines.
They will find you.
So don't worry about that.
Instead, be ready when they do by being of value to the market.
And then your page will not only be listed, but it will rank well.
This is what you want.

Also, find forums in your market and join in on the discussions.
This is inbound linking, AND you will get some customers.

Hope it helps!
Brad.

P.S.
If "on page factors" confuse you, read "SEO Made Easy" by Brad Callen

[Tropical Tundra]

You can also learn a great deal about SEO from www.searchenginewatch.com.