Success with search engines
"Search engines will check whether the search terms you have submitted to them appear in the title of your page and in the first few paragraphs of text"
Once you've built your website, you'll want new and existing customers to visit it. Having a good listing in a prominent search engine will ensure that they find you...
Start at the top
Most people will find your site through the most popular search engines such as Google, Yahoo, Alta Vista, etc. You can register your URL with each of these by visiting their sites and following the instructions on screen, but this is a long and drawn-out process.
What is a search engine?
A search engine is an indispensable tool for all internet surfers. Search engines use software robots to trawl the internet and locate the information you want using the key words you type in.
What's a directory?
Conversely, some directories create their listings from descriptions submitted by you. An editor will then review your site and might edit your report. This summary will then serve as your site's one and only listing. Directories are discerning, though, and your site might not make it into the listing at all.
How do I get to the top of the search results list?
In both cases, everyone wants to be at the top of the results list when someone searches for a certain phrase. To achieve this, the content of your pages is crucial.
If you want to be listed for a particular subject, mention that subject a lot and in prominent places all over your site. But don't just repeat the phrase hundreds of times in a tiny point size. Search engines are wise to this.
Prominence is crucial too
Search engines will check whether the search terms you have submitted to them appear in the title of your page and in the first few paragraphs of text. If this is the case, the search engines will usually consider your page more relevant than pages that don't. So make sure your copy really does discuss your chosen subject - and gets to the point straightaway.
Each page should have a genuinely relevant title
You want your page titles to incorporate the words you want them to be found for. Say you have a widget-selling site and one page lists the areas in which you can deliver your widgets. Don't just give that page a simple title such as 'Locations' which won't mean anything to the search engines. Instead, call a spade a spade. Call your page 'Places where we can deliver widgets'. Simple.
c 2000 Active Information (Better Business)