THE FIRST STEPS TO GETTING NOTICED ON THE WWW - THE VAST AND UNCHARTERED WORLD OF CYBERSPACE by Craig Lock
Thought I'd share a few hints, based on our experiences over the
past seven years (so some information on the search engines may
be outdated - see UPDATE)....
Firstly, ask yourself what is the
PURPOSE of your web site? Is it designed merely to inform, to
share a bit of yourself and your ideas with the world, or to sell
your product. Then work out a short description of your web site
before you submit to the above list of search engines. You can
make this task far easier for yourself by just copying and
pasting the wording. Try to keep the description of your web site
to under say, 25 words and focus on your main product, or chief
selling objective (or USP*, as those "marketing types" like to
call it). * = Unique Selling Proposition.
Always making the simple sound complex, aren't they?
As an example our description is: "Books by Craig Lock: Fiction
and non-fiction. Hard copies and e-books - self help, travel,
humour, novels, inspirational writings, etc."
In listing our various web sites, we only concentrate on the
major (12 or so search engines) and directories, like Open
Directory, who supply their database to many of the big SE's
(see I'm learning "tech/geek speak" terminology already). I've
found that I check our listings in the search engines every two
months or so and do resubmit - just to the MAJOR search engines.
Though I don't try it with Alta Vista and especially Yahoo (as
we are already high up there with our creative writing courses).
I don't dare risk them chucking us out, though I don't think
they will! We've had some difficulty with HotBot and Lycos
(especially) and Open Directory in getting listed, so I do
re-submit from time to time and they then seem to get listed.
Alta Vista seems to take a while- about 6 weeks. Believe Lycos
is "winding down" in listing sites incidentally and Infoseek
takes a while also. So suggest checking your listings
occasionally and resubmit- ting (INDIVIDUALLY). I don't think any
of the major search engines see that as spam.
We also submit to the regional Yahoo (Australia and New Zealand)
and find we get listed quite speedily. I bid on key words with
Go To for 'writing courses', but we've found the traffic from
them to be minimal.
*
UPDATE:
The major search engines (latest list) where you can submit your
website, are listed as follows (in my personal "assumed order of
importance")
* Google
* Yahoo
* AltaVista
* LookSmart
* Open Directory (www.dmoz.org). This is a directory run by voluntary editors, so
a word of advice: Take a bit of care in selecting the most
appropriate category for your web site.
Also...
* Inktomi
* AOL Search
* Netscape Search
* AllTheWeb.com (FAST Search)
* HotBot
* Ask Jeeves
* Lycos
* MSN Search
* Direct Hit
and finally,
* iWon.
*
Focus and
concentrate on these by just submitting your site to these major
search engines . It takes a bit of time; but I'm sure you'll get
listed and get plenty of hits. And more traffic = INCREASED SALES
If you wish, you can see whether you are listed, though some
search engines take a few months. If not, you can then try
re-submitting.
*
A thought, sorry question, on which to end...
Search engines and positioning therein (sounds funny that
expression!) are certainly not the ONLY form of internet
marketing. We focus on writing articles to share knowledge to
help others...and so help ourselves ("what you give out , you get
back"). With all the comments and articles about search engines
and so many people spending so much time and effort "trying to
get the better of them" in the form of higher rankings, why don't
more web marketers rather spend their valuable energies in
activities, which they CAN CONTROL to some extent. Once you have
posted to the major search engines, monitor your positioning
from time to time (say once a month) then LET BE. You'll never
beat them by attempting to design your web site to get a high
ranking, because the various search engines have different
criteria for rankings...and anyway, their policies change all the
time. So why not start concentrating on MARKETING and carving
out a unique niche for yourself on the net with your particular
products.
It's been a long learning curve for us at Eagle Productions
seeing what works and what doesn't in getting listed with the
major search engines ...like the lessons of life itself.
Hope this info may help you "spaced out" readers "out there in
cyberspace".
Go for it and good luck in your internet marketing endeavours in
2004.
Craig Lock
http://www.craiglock.com" target="www.craiglock.com">http://www.craiglock.com
http://www.craiglockbooks.com
"Whatever, you want to do or dream you can do, the hardest part
is making a beginning. Once you take that first step in following
your heart, your dreams the rest will follow naturally...
and lead to who know's where."
"Life is about finding, then following the dream... and one's
dream/vision comes to reality through believing in yourself,
making the commitment and then creating it." - Craig Lock
"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue
them."
- Walt Disney
The various books* that Craig Lock "felt inspired to write" are
available at: http://www.craiglock.com and
http://www.bridgeniche.com
* Fiction and non-fiction, novels on South Africa, travel,
humour, inspiration, self help and money books (money management and steps to financial success).
All proceeds go to needy and underprivileged children - MINE
More articles on ONLINE-ADVERTISING
The Ten Commandments of Internet Marketing - Part One
The Ten Commandments of Internet Marketing - Part Two
The First Steps to Getting Noticed on the WWW - the Vast and Unchartered World of Cyberspace
Cheap Advertising Methods That Work!
Misconceptions and Lessons of Advertising Your New Business
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