THE FIRST STEPS TO GETTING NOTICED ON THE VAST WORLD OF THE WWW

By Craig Lock
Posted Friday, October 22, 2004

Thought I'd share a few hints on getting traffic to your web site out there in cyberspace, based on our experiences over the past four and a half years....

Most of our search engine "traffic" comes from the 12 MAJOR SEARCH ENGINES - we estimate about 95%. 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. Sorry too late, they have become yet another "dot.bomb" and have ceased operating. Things move very fast in cyberspace!

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 to date.

We also submit to (www.Canada.com), who use the Inktomi directory. They are very good.

A thought, sorry question, on which to end...

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", 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, because their policies change all the time. 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 Products (NZ) 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 readers "out there in cyberspace".

Go for it and good luck.

Craig Lock

(http://www.nzenterprise.com/writer/books.html)

"We can all use the internet to reach out to the "global community" and build a better world in this new "Information Revolution" that is upon us. Let's use it wisely, respect our diversity and unique cultures; but elebrate a new world in union. One where, like your founding forefathers in America, you can first celebrate the Independance Day of the strong burning creative spirit that is within you. If set alight, it is one that will make your personal VISION of the future a REALITY."

Craig Lock
My various books* are available from: (http://www.nzenterprise.com/writer/books.html) (http://www.novelty-gift.com/)

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