Hints and Tips:
Google (www.google.com) is the most popular search engine, with about 30 percent of the market, and growing. Google was recently recognized for having the largest database of any crawler-based search engine, as well as one of the quickest responses. Google is divided up into three main areas: Google keyword search, Google web directory and the Google usenet directory.
Google keyword search: This is the main Google search engine. Like most any search engine, you type in combinations of keywords to pull up relevant information. Unlike many other search engines however, you don’t have to type in any extra commands (like ands or plus signs). Google reads combinations automatically.
Google displays results based on a proprietary link analysis formula. In other words, the more people who link to your site, the better you’re going to do in a Google search. Also, Google pulls information from its own web directory (see below). So you’ll do better in the keyword search if your results are in the web directory, too.
Google maintains an Add URL page at www.google.com/addurl.html that allows you to directly submit key pages to its crawler. Unlike most other search engines, Google does not charge any placement fee for a listing in its database. You don’t need to submit more than a few pages, as long as your site will allow Google’s crawler to find other pages linked to the ones you index. Google does not like automated submission programs and you could find yourself removed from the database if you use one.
Even if you never submit to Google, Google's crawler may still locate your site, follow links within it and add pages it finds to its index. You can expect Google's crawler to revisit your site about every four weeks or sooner, to check for changes and new pages.
Netscape and Yahoo use Google’s index for their keyword search indexes. So if you want to be listed in those keyword directories (as opposed to web directories), you need to get into the Google directory.
Google web directory: This is a drill-down, category-driven directory similar to Yahoo’s web directory. You are not automatically included in the Google web directory if you are in the keyword directory, although it does work the other way around. The only way to get in the web directory is to apply through the Open Directory Project (www.dmoz.org), which also powers many other web directories, including Netscape, AOL, Lycos and Hotbot, among others.
Google usenet directory: This is the former deja.com directory, which was purchased and rebranded by Google. It automatically scans and holds information from thousands of newsgroups. You do not have to submit or apply. This happens automatically.
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