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

by Craig Lock

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."

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