Search Engine Submission Australia

Search Engine Submission Australia

If you’re running an internet business in our country, you’ll inevitably be faced with some search engine marketing that’s for sure. You’ve probably heard that you need to submit your web site to various search engines in order to drive traffic to your web site. We don’t want to discourage you so let’s separate a little myth from reality.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re selling a product or a service without traffic you’re dead before you come to life online. Experts agree, the best method of driving targeted traffic to your web site is through organic searches at the search engines. In other words, a user goes online and types in a keyword or two, which leads them to your web site on the search engine results page. You want to be listed on the first three pages because most people won’t search beyond that. But how do you get there?

Well, thisarticle will hopefully show you what you need to know to get listed in the search engines. But there are a few things you need to know about search engines before you get too deep into search engine submission.

Types of Search Engines

No doubt, you’ve heard about the big three search engines: Google, Yahoo and MSN. Of course, there’s the up-and-coming Ask.com, previously askjeeves.com, but they still have a relatively small portion of the market share. Despite that, you don’t want to discount them.

In addition to the international players, there are local search engines. In Australia, the local search engines include WebWombat, Yahoo Au and Anzwers.com. They can be just as effective in driving traffic to your web site as the big search engines and they’re truly local so they will help you drive local traffic to your web site, which is important if you are running a localized business.

There are other types of search engines, too, and you’ll need to consider them all. You have specialized niche directories and business directories, themed directories, topical directories, you name it. Your search engine submission strategy should include all of these but let’s be careful by what we mean by “search engine submission strategy.”

Search Engine Submission Defined (With A Little History)

Back in the old days, during the Internet’s infancy, submitting web sites to directories was the going thing. A necessary component to running a web site, business or not, everyone did it. It was expected and no one bucked the system.

Old timers will likely remember when Yahoo was considered nothing more than a directory and The Open Source Project, DMOZ, was the world’s largest and most important directory. Things have changed since those days, but not too much.

Google, for instance, revolutionized the way searches are performed. In 1998, Google’s founders incorporated and popularity soon followed. Starting with a method of measuring the number of back links to a web site, an innovation in 1995 when it was first introduced, Sergey Brin and Larry Page started their own search engine. They were soon the top dog in a vicious canine fight. Not long after, Yahoo began competing in some areas and the race was on for search market share.

While Google was busy developing its popularity algorithms, Yahoo was busy taking site submissions and building its ever growing catalogue of web sites. Meanwhile, DMOZ was outpacing Yahoo, having got an earlier start. Because Google had to rely on primitive search technology, they were forced to make themselves relevant by using DMOZ as a source for web site information. The move helped them to grow and perfect their ability to analyze back links and other important web site criteria for their ranking algorithms.

In 2002, Yahoo acquired Inktomi, which provided the company with a web crawler and the ability to compete with Google in providing dynamic search abilities. Along the way, both Google and Yahoo realized a revenue generating technique that provided Web businesses an opportunity to advertise online through paid inclusion. Both companies now offer that service and compete head-to-head along with other paid inclusion services across the Internet playing field.

The Who, What and Where of Search Engine Submissions

So now you know how we got where we are. But how do you get where you want to be – at the top of the search engines?

First, you must understand that there are no guarantees. However, there is a playing field and it’s relatively simple. Just follow a few guidelines and principles and you should be able to see your web site list in the search engines in hardly any time at all. Here are some pointers on how to conduct a search engine submission strategy in Australia.

Google

Might as well start with the guys who lead the way to our current position. The guys at Google pretty much made search a regular part of everybody’s vocabulary. So how do you do it?

Here’s the best part: You don’t have to go to Google; Google will come to you. It’s called a crawler. That’s the technical term for the technology Google, and many other search engines, use to visit web sites, collect information about them and catalogue them intelligently. Google uses a keyword-based and link popularity model.

The crawlers, also called spiders, worm their way through the World Wide Web through the various links between web pages. Therefore, the best way to get listed in the search engines is to create links to your web site. Here’s how you can build a successful link building strategy to ensure Google knows your name – or at least the address of your web site.

Write articles and submit them to article directories (the object is write excellent articles that ezine publishers will value enough to publish, which creates a link but also drives traffic to your web site)

Send out press releases to online press agencies, directories and media outlets

Post on forums and bulletin boards

Visit other web sites trying to reach the same market you’re chasing and request a link exchange

Go to Google’s add URL page (google.com/addurl/) and list your site (it’s free)

Yahoo Follow the same strategy for Yahoo as you did for Google. They both crawl the Web and they both rely on links for information about web sites, which they list for free. Yahoo’s allows you to “suggest your site” to be included in its listings for free. You can suggest your site at http://docs.yahoo.com/info/suggest/. Both Yahoo and Google have paid inclusion programs. Getting involved in this isn’t necessary to be listed in either search engine, but it won’t hurt. If this interests you, look for information on Google AdSense and Yahoo! Search Marketing.

MSN

Go to http://submitit.bcentral.com/msnsubmit.htm. Follow instructions.

Teoma/Ask.com

Ask owns Teoma. Teoma crawls the web. You can’t submit your site to either. Bummer. Don’t worry, just build a link strategy and like an invisible hand Teoma will find you and tell her boyfriend. Ask will hook you up.

The Open Directory (Dmoz)

You may want to consider submitting your site to DMOZ.org as well. The Open Source Directory is the first, and the largest, human-edited directory to enter cyberspace. In many ways, they are a bit outdated but most search engines still use them for collecting information. To get listed in the ODP, follow these steps:

Go to dmoz.org

Search the directory listings by topic to find the most appropriate topic for your site;

Look to see if your site is already listed in any appropriate categories;

When you find the most appropriate category for your site, click on “Suggest URL” at the top of that page;

Follow all instructions to the letter;

Finally, wait, and never, never, NEVER, contact the editor or DMOZ to enquire about your listing – you’ll for certain be pushed to the bottom of the list and may never get listed.

Local Search Engine Submission You no doubt consider it much easier to get listed in the big international search engines than you did before. Yes, it really is that easy! Now, let’s move on to the local search engines.

Yahoo!7

Yahoo in Australia is called Yahoo!7. The web URL is http://au.yahoo.com. In many ways, getting listed on Australia’s regional Yahoo!7 search engine directory is much like getting listed in the parent international version. Go to the main web site, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on “How To Suggest A Site.”

WebWombat

There are two ways to get listed at WebWombat, Australia’s regional search engine. You can pay to get listed or submit your site for free inclusion.

WebWombat calls its free submission process “Express Registration.” Go to https://trans.webwombat.com.au/ and click on “Sign up for a new account.” Follow the directions.

Your web site will be crawled by WebWombat’s web crawler within two days. Be sure you follow their instructions, including no redirects. WebWombat’s crawlers will not crawl redirects so don’t be disappointed if you submit a redirected URL and it doesn’t get listed. In fact, this is pretty common among all the search engines. When you submit search engine submissions to any search engine, it’s a good idea to not submit URLs with redirects. It will hurt you in the long run.

Anzwers

Anzwers.com is another search engine based in Australia and New Zealand. They, like Yahoo and Yahoo!7, will allow you to suggest a site. Just go to http://www.anzwers.com.au/suggest_site.html and fill out the form to add your web site and URL to the search engine’s listings. Be sure you pick the right category for your web site.

Sensis

Sensis is another Australian search engine worth considering. Primarily a business-oriented search engine, you can get a free listing. However, they will only accept submissions for your home page URL. Multiple submissions for the same web site will be rejected. To get listed at Sensis, go to [http://www.sensis.com.au/contact_us_submitSite.do], enter your URL and the text verification symbols. Simple, right?

Local Directories

In addition to the international and regional search engines, there are countless local directories you can submit your web site to as well. These are beneficial if you operate a local business with a mostly local clientele. Businesses such as automotive maintenance shops, television and appliance rentals, book stores, real estate agents and brokers, banks, retail stores and a host of other brick and mortar type businesses in various industries and trades will benefit by adding their web sites to the local search engines and directories. But where do you find these directories?

It’s not hard. You can find them at any of the search engines. In the international search engines, search for “local directory Australia.” If you are conducting your search through WebWombat, Anzwers or Yahoo!7, a simple search for “local directories” will deliver a results page that consists of some excellent places to list your site. You’ll find such directories as [http://www.aussielocal.com], http://www.local.com.au and [http://sydney.local.com/au]. Additionally, you can conduct a search for a local directory in your area by typing in your city name or postal code along with the keywords “local directory.”

To list your web site in any of the local business directories, all you need do is visit the web site and find a “Submit URL” link or some similar indication of a page that allows you to submit your web site. Be sure to follow that web site’s instructions down to the letter. Otherwise, you may find that you spend some time filling out forms only to be rejected.

Aussie Local

The process for site submission at Aussie Local is simple. You go to the main site, click on “Add a business” and fill out the online form. You must agree with their terms of use or you won’t find yourself listed in the directory.

Local Direct

The process is similar at local direct. Go to http://www.local.com.au/. Click on “Add-a-link FREE.” Follow instructions and fill in the form.

Yellow Pages

Another source that can’t be overlooked for local search engine submission, or directory listings, is the Yellow Pages online. There is actually a Yellow Pages, Australian version, located at www.yellowpages.com.au.

The Yellow Pages offers different features, any of which could be to your liking, but you’ll have to pay to advertise. Owned by Sensis, you can pay to be listed with Sensis’ bid performance pay inclusion program, purchase a Yellow Pages advertisement, choose to be included in CitySearch, enter the Trading Post arena, or splash around in the BigPond. Just go to the Yellow Pages main page and click on the link at the top of the page that best fits where you want to be included. Look for anything that offers advertising opportunities and follow instructions.

Themed Directories

Themed or topical directories offer another opportunity for web site owners and webmasters to get their sites listed in the search engines. Go to your favorite search engine and perform a keyword search for “directory Australia” plus the specific theme or topic in which you’re interested. For example, if you sell natural herbal remedies you could type “herbal remedies Australia directory,” or some combination that includes “natural remedies,” “herbal remedies” or a variation of that theme.

After performing such searches at each search engine, compile a list of potential directories related to your them or topic then visit each one and follow that directory’s instructions for site submission. Some may offer paid inclusion or advertising while others may allow you to submit your site for free. Some themed directories may have both options. At any rate, it doesn’t hurt to do your research and find the options that best suit your needs.

Final Word

If there is a conclusion, it is this: You have many options and you’ll have to take the time to explore them all. Every search engine and directory has its own rules and guidelines for site submission, so you’ll have to do your research.

By and large, however, if you concentrate on building a good link program to your web site from various sources then that should take care of most of your site submission needs. Smaller directories and search engines could play a big part in that strategy. Only you can decide whether to pay to be included in any directory or search engine, but don’t discount this option just because of the pay factor. Sometimes, it is worth paying a few bucks just for the link back to your web site simply because the big search engines will pick up on that and list you for free.

Whatever decisions you do make regarding your site submission plan, it will be most beneficial to you if you include the following steps in your link building and site submission strategies:

List your business or web site in every local, regional, themed or topical and international search engine or directory that will allow you to submit your site for free;

Build a reciprocal linking strategy with other web site owners;

Write articles and submit them to article directories;

Submit press releases to press agencies, directories and online media web sites;

Create a standard signature line that includes your name, business name and web site URL (at least) that you use any time you post a message online;

Visit forums and message boards related to your industry and post messages and respond in a meaningful way to discussions that take place there (be sure to sign each post with your standard signature line);

Comment on blogs on other web sites;

Also, start your own blog and link back to your web site in every post.

For detailed and in depth knowledge regarding Australian SEO please visit learn seo basics or search engine submission australia [http://high-rank-directories-plus.com/seo-training].

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_(By Chris Taylor).