Hi Gordonsumner ~
There are two ways to submit your site to Google:
1. Submit it using the Add:URL page,
- ://www.google.com/addurl.html
notice that using this method, Google advises "We do not add all
submitted URLs to our index, and we cannot make any predictions or
guarantees about when or if they will appear."
2. The other is what Google considers the "best" way to get listed,
"The best way to ensure Google finds your site is for your
page to be linked from lots of pages on other sites.
Google's robots jump from page to page on the Web via
hyperlinks, so the more sites that link to you, the more
likely it is that we'll find you quickly."
- ://www.google.com/webmasters/1.html#A2
Actually, if you want to get listed and rank well in the search engine
results pages (SERPs), you should familiarize yourself with and make
sure your site is designed according to the suggestions,
recommendations and information Google gives you.
That information is included in the links from Google's site which are
listed below. This information will help you understand Google's goals
and responsibility to the web searcher (and not the webmaster or site
owner).
If you follow the guidelines and avoid Google's "Thou shalt nots" you
should have no problem getting listed and showing up under the search
terms you desire.
* Google Today (absolutely the best information you
can read about the "how and why" of Google's results
- ://www.google.com/corporate/today.html
* How Do I Get My Site Listed on Google?
- ://www.google.com/webmasters/1.html
* My Web Pages Are Not Currently Listed (a good 'primer'
on how and why Google works so well)
- ://www.google.com/webmasters/2.html
* PageRank Information (covers both Google's PageRank and
SERPS)
- ://www.google.com/webmasters/4.html
* Webmaster Guidelines (contains both the dos and don'ts)
- ://www.google.com/webmasters/guidelines.html
* Google Facts & Fiction (can you buy your way to a
high ranking in Google?)
- ://www.google.com/webmasters/facts.html
* Search Engine Optimizers (some good advice on what to look
for if you're going to hire a Search Engine Optimizer)
- ://www.google.com/webmasters/seo.html
* Frequently Asked Questions (pretty much what it says, but
definitely worth wading through)
- ://www.google.com/webmasters/faq.html
* Remove Content from Google's Index (just in case you feel
a burning need to start all over again)
- ://www.google.com/remove.html
Things they recommend, in the Webmaster Guidelines and other places,
are to avoid a doorway page which does nothing for your pages rank in
search engines.
Other considerations, such as text links so the search engine crawlers
can index your site, and the inclusion of the key words and terms in
rich text within your site so you have a chance of being found under
those terms when queried, are important as well.
If you have a good combination of content, good HTML design and
relevant links TO your site, the chances are good that Google will
find you and include your site in its Index. When you don't maintain a
good balance of all three, your rankings will vary depending on the
most current algorithm's placement.
Google carefully guards its algorithms and isn't about to share them
with the general public. Competition among search engines is heating
up. Their responsibility is to provide the most relevant pages in
answer to a searcher's query. Your responsibility, as a website owner,
is to provide that information if you want your site to be among those
returned.
Luckily, if you follow Google's guidelines, it will help you rank well
with all search engines.
Search terms:
I relied solely on my every-day knowledge of search engine
optimization and Google's resources to answer this question.
Best of luck to you,
Serenata
Google Answers Researcher |