Search Engine Marketing
Search engines
One of the most frustrating things about search engines is that it can take a relatively long time before your site gets listed.
Search engines work on the principle that surfers type key words into their search fields and then the search engine suggests a list of potentially suitable sites.
While every search engine may have different criteria for listing sites, most will use ROBOTS, or spiders, to search the Internet for pages to list. Most will also have a facility on their home page where you can suggest a site for them to look at.
You can suggest your site by submitting your URL (Internet address). The advantage of doing it this way is that rather than waiting around for their BOTS or spiders to find your site, you're suggesting they come rand visit. Even though most will visit your site it still takes time for your pages to get listed, if at all.
Before submitting your site to search engines you should:
1. Make sure that your site is finished. This means no `under construction' signs or `coming soon' messages.
2. Draw up a list of all the search engines that you would like to have your site listed on. Obviously there are the main ones - Yahoo! and Google, but don't overlook the smaller engines and particularly any ones that relate to your hobby or interest.
3. Set aside some time and sit down and submit your URL to all the engines on your list. I've found doing this in one session to be far easier than on an ad-hoc basis.
4. Keep your list and check back at regular intervals to see whether your site's been listed. Remember it can take a long time before you get listed, sometimes as long as a year. Don't under any circumstances be tempted to keep re-submitting your URL until your site gets listed. Be patient and keep monitoring.
You'll often hear about companies claiming that they can ensure your site is uploaded to as many as 800 search engines. Of course they charge for this service and the costs can be high, plus there's no guarantee of what service engines you will be listed on.
Both your time and money would be better invested promoting your own site because your primary objective is to promote your site, whilst these companies' objective is to make profit from you.
The Internet is continuously changing so it's worth spending some time investigating further how search engines work and what you need to do to ensure your page is listed.
Specialist directories
Every hobby will have its own specialist directory website, many of which will be run by amateur enthusiasts as opposed to businesses. It's well worth getting a link on these sites and you'll find that most will include your site within a few weeks of you submitting your information.
The way to find the best directories is to use search engines. In the search field type in the sort of key words that you would expect that visitors coming to your site would use. The search engine will then suggest a number of sites and you should go through these and pick out any directory sites. Obviously if they're easy to find via search engine they're worth having your site listed on their directory.
Many will insist that you post a link from your site to theirs before they will consider listing you. If this is the requirement then make sure you do add their details in your links section before registering.
Links
Getting a link on the right website can result in visitors flocking to your site.
Again what's needed here is a proactive approach, which means visiting as many sites as you can, compiling a list of these sites, and then contacting them asking them to place a link on their site. Your email request should include the fact that you'd be pleased to put a reciprocal link on your site.
The easiest way to find the best sites for links is to learn from your competitors. So if you haven't already, get a list of your competitors' URLs (website addresses). Then go to the search engine AltaVista, which is located at: http://www.altavista.com.
Once there you can find where your competitors are linking by entering link: competitorsdomainname.co.uk.
The golden rule when it comes to asking another site to include your link is to read their links policy. Here they will tell you their submission policy, which could include that you must have a link on your site linking back to them before they will consider you. Or that you have to display one of their banners, or any one of a number of other things.
Webrings
Webrings are ideal for hobby businesses because, unlike traditional search engines, webrings are usually run by enthusiasts for enthusiasts of a particular hobby or interest.
The advantages to promoting your site by joining a webring are:
- they cost nothing to join;
- provided your site fits in with the webrings genre, there's no reason why you won't be listed;
- some webrings will include you immediately or shortly after you join.
The first thing you need to do is identify which webrings would be suitable for your products or services. You may already know of a webring that might be suitable and if this is the case then all you have to do is send a request to the owner to join their ring. The webring owner will then visit your site to see whether or not it's suitable in terms of content, ethos etc. If it is you'll be accepted and sent some HTML code and graphics or banners that will you have to include on your site. As soon as this is done visitors to the ring will be able to visit your site.
