Search Engine Optimization: Where to submit your website

And here we are... 

Delivered as promised, the final episode to our search engine article trilogy. Last article we looked at the best way to approach a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) project and the importance of a "preliminary online demand check." 

This time we'll look at the best places (read: high-traffic engines and directories) to submit your website, a recommended submission order, and the associated costs. 

Let's get started... 

Stop #1: The Open Directory Project
Cost: Free
Importance: High
Value: ODP shares their directory listings with AlltheWeb, AltaVista, AOL, Google, AskJeeves, TEOMA, Netscape and Hotbot. 

Stop #2: Yahoo!
Cost: $299 annual
Importance: High
Value: Contrary to popular belief, Google and many other crawler-based engines, favor (read: rank higher) sites listed in the Yahoo! directory. 

Stop #3: Inktomi
Cost: $39 for one URL, $25 each additional URL
Importance: High
Value: Inktomi provides listings to Hotbot, MSN, Excite, Overture, NBCi, and LookSmart 

Stop #4: FAST
Cost: $34 for one URL, $16 each additional URL
Importance: Moderate
Value: FAST provides listings to AlltheWeb, Hotbot, Excite, and Lycos 

Stop #5: Ask Jeeves
Cost: $30 for one URL, $18 each additional URL
Importance: Moderate
Value: Ask Jeeves shares listings with Teoma and Meta Crawler 

Stop #6: AltaVista
Cost: Free (for the basic submit)
Importance: Low
Value: If you could see me, I'm scratching my head as I write this. The verdict is still out on AltaVista's value. (Sorry AltaVista, show me something!) Actually, AltaVista was acquired by Overture this year, who was later purchased by search-company-hungry Yahoo!. That said, maybe Yahoo! will figure out what to do with one of the oldest search engines on the net. 

Stop #7: Entire Web
Cost: Free
Importance: Low
Value: Entire Web shares listings with Mamma, iXQuick, Windsek 

Stop #8: Google
Cost: Free
Importance: Ultra-high
Value: Google provides listing to Yahoo!, AOL, Go, iWon, and Netscape 

Well, there you have it. Include your website in these eight search properties and you'll expose your website to over 90% of all Internet searches performance in the United States. 

As your new traffic rolls in, be sure to cash in on the different ways to increase company revenue with your website and improve ROI through conversion rate optimization. 

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