Submitting your site to the various search engines and directories is not difficult, but does take a bit of time. We've put together the very basics of what you need to do here. For more specific information, head on over to our resources on Site Submission.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: 15-30 minutes
Here's How:
- Pick the search engine or directory that you're interested in, and find out their guidelines for submission.
- Are there any rules or regulations that affect your site content? If so, adjust accordingly.
- If there are limitations that you need to adhere to, find out what they are and stick to them. These could be a limited number of categories, or a limited number of times you can submit your site in a 24-hour period.
- Find out how much money, if any, they are charging. This is when you'll have to decide if you want to pay-for-inclusion, or submit it for free (this will depend on the needs of your site).
- Locate the most appropriate category for your site, and see what other people are doing. You might get some ideas for better design or content.
- Write a brief (200 words or less) description of your site. Be as precise as possible. Don't use "sales" language; instead, use keywords and phrases that appear throughout your site and present your site in such a way that users will want to visit it.
- After submitting your site, check back about once a week to make sure it's there. It can take a while for your site to initially show up, so be patient.
Tips:
- Rules are there for a reason. Find out what these search engines and directories want from you, and follow those rules to the letter.
- Use the nifty spell check option on your computer before submitting anything. It really does make a difference.
- Make your description as precise, compelling, and keyword-rich as possible. However, don't go overboard and just throw a bunch of your keywords in there.
