How do I get listed at search engine x?

Each search engine has its own way of including new sites and refreshing content on sites already listed in the index. Below you will find a list of the major search engines and a list of entry points to each one. Please note that this is not a comprehensive list, regional versions of the search engines can be slightly different and will provide different entry points.

The basic structure of search results at most search engines is made up of a combination of paid advertising and pure search results taken from the engine's (or another provider's) database. Paid-for listings (note: not paid inclusion URLs) are usually easy to spot (eg Google Adwords are the coloured boxes on the right hand side) and can provide a useful alternative if the main search results are unacceptable.

• Google
• 1. Use the submit URL form, you will find this form on Google's site. We cannot provide the URL as it changes frequently to prevent automatic submission applications from abusing it.
  2. Get your site listed in the Open Directory dmoz.org. A listing in the ODP will ensure Google will spider your site. Google uses the directory for its own directory.google.com.
  3. Get inward links from sites already included in the Google index. Look for sites that are related to the content of yours and ask them if they will include a link to your site. This will provide a path for Googlebot to follow into your site.
  4. Pay for Google Adwords or a sponsored link placement above the main search results. The cost of the sponsored links makes them unrealistic for most sites but Google Adwords provide an easy way of getting listed in the Google search results and can provide excellent ROI if properly planned and managed.
• MSN
• 1. Use Overture PPC advertising to achieve a top listing.
  2. Get included in the Inktomi search database. MSN currently uses the Inktomi database to provide its backfill search results (ie, those that appear after sponsored and directory results). Inclusion in Inktomi can be achieved by either paying for a listing or waiting for the Inktomi spider (see Knowledge Base for information about spiders) to crawl your site.
• Alta Vista
• 1. Use Overture PPC advertising to achieve a top listing.
  2. Use the Infospider paid inclusion service to get selected URLs included and regularly refreshed.
  3. Get listed in either the Zeal or Looksmart directory, these combined form one resource separated into commercial (Looksmart) and non-commercial (Zeal) listings.
  4. Get linked from a site that is already established in the Alta Vista search index.
• AllTheWeb (Fast Search)
• 1. Get linked from sites already included in the Fast database.
  2. Use Overture PPC advertising to achieve a top listing.
  3. Use the paid inclusion service provided by PositionTech to get selected URLs included and regularly refreshed.
• Ask Jeeves
• 1. Get linked from a site that is already established in the Ask Jeeves search index.
  2. Use Overture PPC advertising to achieve a top listing.
  3. Use the Teoma paid inclusion service provided by PositionTech to get selected URLs included and regularly refreshed.
• Lycos
• 1. Get linked from sites already included in the Fast database.
  2. Use Overture PPC advertising to achieve a top listing.
  3. Get listed in the ODP.
• AOL
• 1. AOL search is currently powered by Google so see section on Google.
• HotBot
• 1. Use Overture PPC advertising to achieve a top listing.
  2. Use the Inktomi paid inclusion service provided by PositionTech to get selected URLs included and regularly refreshed.
  3. Get linked from a site already in the Inktomi database and wait to be crawled by the Inktomi spider.
  4. HotBot also allows you to select other engines to search such as Google, see the relevant entry points to these engines for how to be included.
• Teoma
• 1. Get linked from another site in the Teoma index and wait to be spidered.
  2. Use Overture PPC advertising to achieve a top listing.
  3. Use the Teoma paid inclusion service provided by PositionTech to get selected URLs included and regularly refreshed.
  4. Get an ODP listing for inclusion in the directory.
• Netscape
• 1. Get into Google for the main results.
  2. Get an ODP listing for inclusion in the directory.

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