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Crawler-Based
Search Engines
You've
probably heard the term "spider" in conjunction with search engines.
Crawler-based search engines such as Google, Alta Vista and Inktomi
(to name a few) "crawl" or "spider" the web looking for websites.
A submission to these is essentially an invitation to visit your
website. This is where patience comes in! It may take as long as
eight weeks for a crawler to show up on your website's doorstep.
Your website must be designed to meet the needs of a crawler-based
search engine. Optimization of your website is vital as several
elements play key roles in the successful spidering of your site
including page titles, body text and links. Some crawler-based search
engines such as Intomi charge an annual fee to visit your website.
Human-Powered Directories
Open
Directory is one such directory and submission depends on a human
to actually submit a website. The submitter must provide website
information including a proper title and description. Open Directory's
editors may write their own description of your site, or re-write
the information submitted. They have total control over your submission.
When you submit a website to a human-powered directory you must
follow the rules and regulations set forth by that specific directory.
While following its directives, you must submit the most appropriate
information needed by potential internet users. A good site with
good content has a greater chance of being reviewed and accepted
by a human-powered directory.
Combination Results
If
you search using MSN, you'll find results based on LookSmart listings.
Search at AOL and you'll receive results from Google. Search for
a subject at LookSmart and you'll receive results first from its
own database and secondly from Inktomi submissions. Several search
engines have agreements with other engines to use their results
as primary or secondary listings. Want to know the results of several
search engines at one time? Visit meta search engines Ixquick or
Dogpile for top ten results from several search engines.
Meta Search Engines
Want
to know the results of several search engines at one time? Metacrawlers
do not maintain their own listings but query other search engines
for results. Usually these results are listed on one webpage. Ixquick,
Webcrawler and Dogpile are popular metacrawlers. Use a metacrawler
to search for something on the internet and you'll receive the top
results from Yahoo, Google, MSN, Overture, Teoma and others.
At
any given time there can be thousands of search engines available
to web surfers. It is important that your website be listed in the
major search engines — Yahoo, MSN, Google, Open Directory,
just to name a few. This listing of 50 search engines includes today's
most popular directories and crawlers as well as some that may not
be familiar to you.
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