If you're trying to figure out which method of getting your site listed on the search engines is the best option - read on...
However, it will help to read Search Engine Ranking - Defining The Competition before continuing on.
Many people will tell you that the only solution is to use a submission service or buy software that will automatically submit your pages to thousands of search engines.
There are a couple of major problems with this as a search engine listing strategy.
First of all - there really aren't thousands of search engines worth submitting to.
Truth is - there are really only 11 actual spidering engines and 3 directories that get the bulk of the search traffic.
To see which ones - take a look at my Free Search Engine Listing Guide. ( Clicking on this link will open a new window - simply close that window to return to this article ).
The second problem with bulk submitting - either through a service or by using software - is that you run the risk of over-submitting your pages.
The search engines determine their own schedule for spidering and indexing the pages they find - if you keep right on submitting the same page - chances are good they will drop the page altogether.
On Google, for example, if the same page is resubmitted they make take that to mean you are trying to have the page removed. What a waste of time getting the page added to their database in the first place - just to have it dropped because your software or service feels it is a good thing to keep on submitting ad infinitum.
Which leads into the third area of concern...
Most of the submission programs and services available are set up to resubmit according to a certain schedule - if the pages concerned are already in the databases - the result will be exactly as I just described.
So what is the best search engine listing strategy?
I'm glad you asked!
Most professional SEO's will submit manually to each engine or directory. Then they wait until the usual indexing period has passed before even considering re-submitting ( and again - they re-submit manually ). If the page does not get picked up on the second submission - it usually means the engine doesn't like the page.
Perhaps the content is poor - or it isn't clear what the page is about...
Whatever the reason - it is a waste of time to reubmit that page until you make the changes necessary to entice the SE's to add it to their index.
You also need to be aware of the different criteria to follow for each engine or directory - which can be very confusing. Once again, using my handy search engine listing guide will save time - there are direct links to the 14 major SE's and Directories.
There's a lot more to search engine listing than meets the eye. However, if you'll take my advice - stick to manual submission - always - it may take a little more time but it's well worth the effort in the long run.
Now that you know what your options are - Go here to learn about Search Engine Registration - Which Search Engines Matter?
http://www.seoplus.com/search-engine-listing.html
