Search engine submission involves two main types of search engines: spider engines and directories.
- Spider engines (eg Google, MSN, Altavista) automatically crawl through the web from link to link, using algorithms to evaluate sites and their rankings.
- Directory search engines (eg Yahoo directory, DMOZ) have sites evaluated and added to specific categories, often by human editors.
For a great introduction to search engines, go to:
SearchEngineWatch
There are many automated submission tools available, both paid and free, to submit to search engines, and also classifieds and FFAs. Most search engine "gurus" and forums advise you to stay away from these and just manually submit to the big engines, and let yourself be crawled into the others. You will need a separate email address for all the confirmation messages resulting from this.
AddMe
WorldwidePromoter
Other useful tool sites are:
SpiderHunter - track progress of spiders, and more
if you'd like to see how you're ranking so far, try these tools:
Yahoo Search Rankings
Google Rankings
In theory, if you have added your site to directories, and have some decent incoming links to your site, you don't need to submit to the crawler engines - they should find you. But you wouldn't really want to take the chance... so submit.
Google is considered the most important crawler engine of all. The best way to get onto Google is by having lots of links to your site. Adding your site through their Add URL screen will at least put your site on the list of those to be considered. Useful advanced Google commands are:
site:mydomain.com -typerubbishhere
allinurl:mydomain.com
site:www.mydomain.com inurl:mydomain.com
link:www.mydomain.com
Yahoo has had its own crawler since 2004 in addition to its directory. You may submit for free here, but the best way to get in for free is through incoming links from other sites.
MSN now has it's own crawler to produce search results. You can add for free, or be spidered.
Inktomi is now owned by Yahoo and uses Yahoo and Overture results.
AllTheWeb - Formerly known as Fast. Now owned by Overture - which is owned by Yahoo. No more direct submissions - they use Yahoo and Overture results.
AltaVista Also now rely on Yahoo and Overture.
Teoma uses an impressive subject relevancy algorithm to determine results. You can read about it here, how it measures the relevancy of the incoming link. There is no Add URL page - you have to get spidered.
AskJeeves now mainly uses Teoma's subject-based crawled results. They just released a beta version of MyJeeves, which lets you save your search results, add notes, email them to people and more. And in March 2005 they bought Bloglines, an RSS aggregator.
Yahoo is the most well-known directory engine. Yahoo organises sites by category. To get into the main Yahoo directory, first study the categories to determine where your site will fit best. To add your site, select Suggest A Site. Standard non-commercial site submission is free, but it may take several weeks to get your site reviewed and added. You can pay extra to get your site reviewed quickly. Then carefully add your site description, title and keywords.
Zeal is run by volunteers who don't like commercial sites with obvious affinity programs. But it is an excellent backdoor into Google if you can manage it. The best way to get added is to become a Zealot, then suggest your site. Or I've heard people say to start with a non-commercial site, and submit it before you add the commercial bits.
DMOZ, the Open Directory, involves being assessed by real live volunteer people. DMOZ also contributes to other engines like AOL. Don't miss this one. Allow at least 3 weeks here. At least.
Jayde - Add to directory under chosen category. Quick human reviews.
JoeAnt Unless you want to pay, you have to become an editor to get to add your site.
GoGuides similarly either wants you to pay, or become an editor to add your site.
To get ahead of others in the search game, you need to look for directories related to your site. For example, go to Google and seach for "cat directories" if your site is about cats, and submit manually to those. Or search a forum such as WebProWorld for a list of major directories.
EntireWeb - still has a slow free option, or paid express submission
SearchKing - Open a free account first.
Gimpsy.com - have to have some type of interactivity on your site
Qango.com
Somuch.com
Surfsafely.com
Myallfish.com
microwho.com
Canadopedia.com
OneMission.com
wwomen.com
webworldindex.com
subjex.com
scrubtheweb.com
voila.com
lycos.com
amray.com