Lesson #14 Places to Submit for Free
Written By Cyndalie

Below are descriptions of each engine, where and how often to submit, and how long you should expect to wait before your URL appears.

Google
Google has become inarguably, one of the top search engines on the Internet today. Due to highly relevant results, speed of delivery, and a banner-free interface, Google is a prime spot to focus your marketing efforts. It is a true search engine based on relevancy, density algorithms, and link popularity, and currently offers the most traffic returns than any other 2 search engines combined.

To submit go to http://www.google.com/addurl.html, enter your URL and in the Comments field I've found that the changes of your page being included goes up if you enter your email address. With Google the Add Url form is also the Remove URL too, so if you submit a page that is already in the index, odds are it will be removed next indexing. Only submit newly created or optimized pages. Google Indexes usually within the last 7-10 days of each month. If you submit before the second week of the month, you may get indexed at the end of the month. To be safe allow 4-6 weeks for indexing. If you do not appear after 8 weeks, resubmit. To appear in sponsored listings (which can also help your organic results submissions be expedited more quickly) you can open a Google Adwords account for as little as $5. See http://Adwords.Google.com. You can also earn by serving ads on your site through Google at AdSense.

Ah-Ha/Enhance
Ah-Ha is primarily a pay per click, inclusion, and sponsor listing driven engine. They no longer accept submission for free.

AllTheWeb
AllTheWeb was owned by Fast Search and is now a property of Yahoo/Overture. To submit go straight to Yahoo. Submission options are located at http://www.alltheweb.com/help/webmaster/submit_site. All you need to submit is your URL and email address. Indexing period: 4-6 weeks.

AltaVista
Like AllTheWeb, AltaVisa is also now a property of Yahoo/Overture. Submissions for free are handled through Yahoo. Submission options are located at http://addurl.altavista.com/addurl/default. Overture offers Site Match, InfoSpider provides the Express Inclusion. Yahoo registration is required to submit for free. Indexing period: 4-6 weeks.

AOL Search
AOL's search results feature both "Sponsored Links" and "Web Results " in that order for all searches. Both Results are sorted and maintained by Google (AOL's search partner) and Google Adwords. The directory listings are appear to have been dropped. To get into either one, I directly go submit to the listing provider Google. AOL usually updates the index from Google and ODP every 4-6 weeks.

AskJeeves
AskJeeves is different in the way it provides links to answer user question based search queries. There is a secret to gaining a free listing for mainstream sites, but I'm not sure if it will work for adult "surfer" sites. To try it send an email to url@askjeeves.com, including your URL and a brief site description. The AskJeeves editors will accept submissions from sites that provide good answers to questions users might ask, so keep that in mind when writing copy or submit the most informative page of your site. My advice for adult webmasters is to submit a page that offers sexual heath advice or information. When all else fails, Ask Jeeves now has it's own paid listings advertising portal at http://sponsoredlistings.ask.com/.

Yahoo/ Inktomi/Overture
Inktomi is a search technology company that powers many other engines such as AOL, Overture (when no pay per click search results are found), HotBot, iWon, LookSmart, Lycos). To submit for free go to http://submit.search.yahoo.com/free/request. Be very careful when considering other inclusion options, such as Express Inclusion and Sponsored Search. In many cases Express Inclusion will take URL's already indexed and "guarantee" their inclusion and on top, charge you a per-click fee without positioning preference or guarantee- therefore making you pay for traffic you would otherwise get for free.

Lycos
Lycos has changed frequently over the past few years. Their InSite advertising system has been outsourced to another company. Lycos does not have the market share to be seriously considered in a typical marketing campaign if getting traffic for free is your focus.

MSN
To submit to MSN visit this page: http://search.msn.com/docs/submit.aspx?FORM=WSDD2. A code must be manually typed in in order to submit, preventing automated submissions. Indexing period: 6-10 weeks. MSN uses Yahoo/Overture for sponsored match and inclusion services. More information: http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/arp/msnsrch.php?o=U5621&mkt=us

ODP
Getting listing in ODP can make you feel like it is the Un-Open Directory. Maintained by volunteer editors, ODP located at http://dmoz.org/ supplies data to many major search engines (Netscape, Google, Lycos, AOL, HotBot, and more). To get listed to the most appropriate category and click Submit a Site. Editors are looking for unique content and appropriate category selection, and usually only accepts the domain home page or one listing per domain. If you have trouble getting listed, contact the editor before resubmitting.

Zeal
Zeal (http://zeal.com/) is owned by LookSmart, and is free directory for non-commercial sites. Managed by volunteer editors, if your site is accepted it will appear in several major search engines including LookSmart, MSN and AltaVista. You have to register and become a member to take the Zeal Quiz before you can submit a site. This 20 question quiz helps you "learn how to submit" and you earn points based on your score. Once you have completed the quiz you are now able to submit sites.

I hope you now realize that although our options for free submissions are not increasing, they are still present and available for all webmasters.

*Note: URL's are subject to change without notice.