What
are search engines?
Search engines are what people use to find things on the Internet. You type
in what you are looking for and the search engine then lists a number of websites
that it thinks contain what you want. People may come across search engines
by going directly to that search engine's website, pressing the search button
on their browser or by using a box on their ISP's site. Although nearly everyone
who uses the Internet uses search engines, a lot of people do not realise
that they are doing so.
Why
do I need to be listed by search engines?
A recent study by Forrester Research found that search engines remain the
leading way users in the United Kingdom find websites. 81% of users said that
search engines helped them find the websites they use. If your site is not
listed by search engines then you are missing out on a huge amount of potential
customers. There are probably people using search engines to find your type
of product or service and if you are not listed they are going elsewhere.
How
many search engines are there?
There are many thousands of search engines in the world with different degrees
of importance. It is obviously pointless being listed on a search engine in
India that lists websites that provide medical equipment (unless you happen
to supply medical equipment in India of course!). There are approximately
50 search engines that being listed with would benefit a United Kingdom website.
The
firm that designed my website for me said they will submit my site to the
search engines?
A lot of website design firms say they will submit your site to search engines
for you but the reality is that whilst they may do this once or twice they
will not have the time or inclination to monitor your site's position and
re-submit every month as is necessary. Nor will they have the expertise necessary
to obtain and maintain a high listing for your website. If someone does not
know what they are doing then your site could even end up being blacklisted
forever.
What's
this about search engines blacklisting my site?
Ever since the first search engine appeared, people have tried to mislead
them by trying to get their sites listed under things that their website is
nothing to do with. Because of this search engines have had to develop software
to identify when someone is trying to mislead them. When some search engines
suspect that they may be being misled they may blacklist that site forever.
Over-submission can also lead to blacklisting.
I've
got some software that submits my site to search engines. Why shouldn't I
use that?
More and more search engines are refusing to accept automated submissions
so you will never get listed by some search engines. In addition, each search
engine is different and requires different information. Finally most, if not
all, of the automated submission software available is orientated to websites
in the US and only cover one or two UK search engines.
How
do Cats Whiskers get my site listed by search engines?
Firstly we work hard. Constant monitoring and resubmission are necessary to
obtain and maintain a high listing. Secondly we are dedicated to search engine
submissions and are able to spend time researching and learning the constantly
changing criteria used by search engines to rank sites.
Will
I need to change my site to get it listed?
When we initially take on your site we will run tests and assess your site.
We may make recommendations, such as the insertion of behind the scenes code,
that you could follow to increase your ranking but we understand that it is
your site and you probably like it. It is up to you whether you want to make
any changes or not. We certainly would not tell you to change the colours
of the site or that we do not like your photographs.
I've
heard that there are tricks that you can use to get high listings with search
engines. Is that true?
If you try to mislead a search engine it will not work. Your site will not
get listed and could be blacklisted. Search engines provide a vital service
to Internet users but understand that people will only continue to use them
as long as their results remain accurate. Attempts to mislead search engines
are quickly identified by search engines. The only trick is to follow each
search engine's instructions and requirements to the letter.
How
long will it take for my site to listed?
Some search engines will list your site within a few weeks of our initial
submissions. Most take a few months. Some will not list you until they have
been submitted to several times. Some search engines will list you for several
months and then stop doing so. Some search engines use each other's data but
it can take time to be passed on. This means that each month more and more
search engines will be listing your site.
For a FREE, no obligation report showing what search engines think of your site, email searchengines@barnstapletowncentre.co.uk
