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| I can't find my site when I search using a
search engine. Why? This is a question that is asked a lot, especially for new sites. While exact procedures for inclusion into a particular search index vary from search engine to search engine, a few things are almost universal. When you submit a request to be added to a search engine, for those that allow this, you rarely are submitting a request for immediate action. Instead, your request is placed in a queue where it will be completed in the order in which it was received. Depending on the popularity of the site, and the number of request received, your request may not be processed for several weeks. Even if your site is indexed and able to be found in search engines, the results may not be what you expect. Before submitting your site to a search index, and preferably before posting it on the Web, some preliminary work needs to be completed. Properly formatted and accurate meta tags are essential for you to get the results you seek. Please continue reading for additional information. ................................................................................................................... What are Meta Tags? Does Sequoia Data provide them? Let me begin by saying meta tags are not, and do not perform, magic. Repeat as often as necessary. It is extremely important that you remember this. Meta tags can also help you provide keywords and descriptions on pages that, for whatever reason, do not include any text. Examples are splash and frames pages, as well as pages with pictures or graphics. They might also boost your page's relevancy. Please remember that simply including a meta tag is not a guarantee that your page will suddenly leap to the top of every search engine listing. They are simply a useful tool but, as previously mentioned, do not offer magical results. There are several meta tags, but the two most important for search engine indexing are the description and keywords tags. The description tag provides a description of the page in lieu of the summary the search engine would ordinarily create. The keywords tag provides keywords for the search engine to associate with your page. Improperly prepared meta tags are usually much worse than no meta tags. If you undertake this yourself please research the matter thoroughly. Sequoia Data offers meta tag preparation and/or search engine submission for a fee. Please click here for more information. We have several different packages available, depending on your needs and desired results. ................................................................................................................... Can you guarantee a listing position so my site is at or near the top of the results? No, we cannot. If someone promises you they can, be extremely careful. Some search engines will bar your URL from ever being listed if their submission guidelines are not followed. Many services that promise you a top search engine ranking use tools that violate one or more of a search engine's terms of service or use. Penalties range from mild to severe, and may result, as previously noted, in a permanent ban on your URL being listed in that particular search engine. If you are not handling the submission process yourself, please retain someone that understands and follows the guidelines outlined for each search engine, directory, etc. you are submitting to. Sequoia Data offers this valuable service at a very competitive rate; details can be found here. ................................................................................................................... I heard that submitting my site every day will speed the index process up. Is this true? Not necessarily. While most search engines do not prohibit repeated, frequent submission requests, frequent submissions do nothing to include your site any faster. These extra requests merely clog the indexing queue unnecessarily and slow down the process for others behind you. Some search sites, such as the very popular Google.com, do not rely on this method at all. It is best to follow the proper procedures for the site you are interested in. On some sites, this technique can work against you. Some folks that use services of those that make such promises are often disappointed in the longrun. This is because there are a few search engines that do respond to frequent submuissions. They typically show you those results and lull you into thinking they are going a great job for you. In fact they are performing a great disservice for your site. The sites that respond to this type of trick also drop you way down in the rankings, or results, or eliminate you altogether once the submissions cease. It is better to submit to the appropriate services and be patient. Your site will get indexed eventually. Doing it properly will yield the best longterm results. |
