The Webpro Search Engine Assistant

(click the diamond) S.E. Home

MAJOR INTERNATIONAL ENGINES (* indicates VIP engines)

    Aesop
    Alexa
    All-The-Web (Fast)
    Alta Vista **
    Anzwers
    AOL NetFind
    AskJeeves
    Canada.com
    ComFind
    Direct Hit
    Euroseek
    Excite **
    Galaxy
    Gimpsy
    Go Guides
    Go.To
    Google
    HotBot *
    Infoseek **
    Joe Ant
    LookSmart
    Lycos **
    Matilda
    MSN Search
    MultiMeta
    National Directory
    NBCi/LiveDirectory
    Netscape Search
    NorthernLight
    ODP [dmoz]
    Only-Yellow-Pages
    Opentext
    Snap!
    Thunderstone
    Webcrawler **
    WebTop
    WhatUSeek
    Yahoo **

The Global Engines listed above are ranked in order of importance based on a hit analysis study by RelevantKnowledge at 24-Sep-97. The figures listed are the observed hits during the study. HotBot is suspected to rank at position 7.
Yahoo 14.8m - InfoSeek 7.9m - Excite 7.5m - Lycos 4.8m - AltaVista 4.6m - Webcrawler 3.2m


MINOR INTERNATIONAL ENGINES "FILL FORM" SUBMISSIONS

These submissions should be completed only if you are looking for maximum coverage. It is generally accepted that very few hits would originate from these sources. If your experience proves otherwise, then please let us know.

Bizwiz
FindLink
I-Explorer
Infospace
Let's Link
LinkMonster
Metroscope
Starting Point
The Rainbow Directory
Rex
Snap
WWW Yellow Pages
WWW Worm



MAJOR INTERNATIONAL ENGINES

Submit to ALTA VISTA - submit
Search in ALTA VISTA - search
Checking: Partial URL string searches are successful.
If it's found, then check for search keywords - 14-Jan-98
Changes: Resubmit
Modus: Submit site URL only for spider revisit. Seeks MetaTags first, if not available takes first 19 words for the Site Description. They claim to use the MetaTag keywords but instead appear to index all words on the site. Deletions noted automatically on robot revisits. Databases refresh every 6 months. Average submission time: 6 weeks.
Referral Links: Search on Link:http://www.webpro.co.za/ to have a listing of all sites which maintain links back to the "search" site.
Engine Criteria Rules for Scoring Pages: http://www.altavista.digital.com/cgi-bin/query?pg=tmpl&v=faq.html

1. AltaVista will not 'deep crawl' your site automatically (only 'important' sites have this done automatically), however you can directly submit each page of your web site via their online form. This method takes about 2-3 months to appear in the index.
When they refer to "Important sites," most likely that translates to the Web site's link popularity. Link popularity is one of the most common ways to determine how important a site is. This is just another reason to do everything you can to improve your link popularity. For past tips on this topic see:
http://www.webposition.com/mp-0500.htm#ONE
Submitting to AltaVista can be done either through their online form or via WebPosition's Submitter:
Most experts recommend submitting five or fewer URLs per day to AltaVista, with one URL per day being the favored strategy.

2. The most important criteria for ranking is to include keywords in:
a. The domain name.
b. The file name of a given page.
c. The first line of text on the page.
d. The title of the page.
The Page Critic in WebPosition Gold has long recommended including keywords in the above areas. However, according to this e-mail AltaVista may place special emphasis on the "first line of text" on the page. Therefore, be sure to include your most important keywords in the first sentence or two of the page to improve your odds of achieving a top ranking.

3. Meta keyword and description tags count for very little.
The low relevancy of the meta keyword and description tags is not only true for AltaVista, but for most other major engines. In fact, over half the major engines ignore the tags altogether. Instead, they look at other criteria for ranking pages. Therefore, don't be fooled into the idea that simply including your keywords in the meta tags will launch your page to the top of the list.

Submit to Anzwers - SUBMIT
Search in Anzwers - SEARCH
Changes: ?
Modus: URL Submission only.

Submit to EXCITE NETSEARCH - SUBMIT
Search in EXCITE NETSEARCH - SEARCH
Changes: Resubmit
Modus: Payment ONLY. Within 2 weeks spider will visit. No Meta Tag support - in fact this engine deliberately ignores the Meta text. Tries to use AI routines to develop a page theme. Ensure you have a Summary Paragraph up front to increase the theme counts. Database refresh is weekly. Average submission time: 6 weeks. You should check this one to ensure that the description it picks up is satisfactory.
Referral Links: Search on your root domain name. (ie. webpro.co.za)
Engine Criteria Rules for Scoring Pages: http://www.excite.com/Info/listing.html

Submit to [dmoz] ODP - SUBMIT
Search in [dmoz] ODP - SEARCH
Changes: ?
Modus: Find a suitable category. Then submit at the bottom of the page.

Submit to Multi Meta - SUBMIT
Search in Multi Meta - SEARCH
Changes: ?
Modus: Find a category. Then submit

Submit to NBCi LiveDirectory - SUBMIT
Search in NBCi LiveDirectory - SEARCH
Changes: ?
Modus: Cannot find Submission route. Find a category. Then submit

Submit to Euroseek - SUBMIT
Search in Euroseek - SEARCH
Changes: ?
Modus: Payment ONLY.
URL Submission only.
Submit to AOL NetFind
Search in AOL NetFind

Submit to AOL NetFind - SUBMIT
Search in AOL NetFind - SEARCH
Changes: ?
1. Find the appropriate category where your site is filed within AOL Search
2. Click "Update URL"
3. Enter your site's URL
4. Use the form to modify the information
Modus: 1. Find the most appropriate category or subcategory within the AOL Directory.
2. Submit your site information from the Submit a Site link on that category page.
Please note that if your site is accepted, it will also appear on other sites that use the Open Directory, such as Netscape, Lycos and Hotbot, as well as within AOL Search.
Also note that you cannot add or update URLs on top level categories. You need to find a specific subcategory to suggest your site. Also note you cannot submit from a Search page. You must click into a particular category or subcategory to suggest or update a site.

Submit to COMFIND - SUBMIT
Search in COMFIND - SEARCH
Changes: ?
Modus: Search for the category by entering a string and hitting [GO! register].
After finding the right category hit [OK, GO! Register] button and complete the questions.

Submit to ALEXA - SUBMIT
Search in ALEXA - SEARCH
Changes: Now part of ODP-DMOZ
Modus: Search through categories, then choose "submit site" at bottom of desired category.

Submit to AESOP - SUBMIT
Search in AESOP - SEARCH
Changes: ?
Modus: Create the Meta Tag first, then stick it in the top (preferably) two layers of pages.

Submit to GALAXY - SUBMIT
Search in GALAXY - SEARCH
Changes: ?
Modus: Payment ONLY. Select category by browsing from home page. Then choose the "All Site" button in that section to add. e-Mail notification within 3 days.

Submit to DIRECT-HIT - SUBMIT
Search in DIRECT-HIT - SEARCH
Changes: ?
Modus: Now Teoma.com, which leads to Ask Jeeves paid submit.

Submit to GIMPSY - SUBMIT
Search in GIMPSY - SEARCH
Changes: ?
Modus: The site must be interactive and provide a service to the user, and not just information. You need to know the category in advance. The submit page asks for the URL, then asks for a category.

Submit to GO GUIDES - SUBMIT
Search in GO GUIDES - SEARCH
Changes: ?
Modus: Look at the list of major topics in the GoGuides directory. Click on the appropriate topic for your site, then find the most specific subtopic available for your site. Go as deeply into the subtopics as is necessary

Submit to JOE ANT - SUBMIT
Submission Modus: Hunt on a related keyword or browse through the topics available and choose the one that best suits your site, then click the "Suggest A Site" button at the bottom of the page and Joe will guide you through the simple process. You can choose to be listed under more than one category (up to four).
Search in JOE ANT - SEARCH
Changes: - ? probably just resubmit ? -

Submit to NATIONAL DIRECTORY - SUBMIT
Search in COMFIND - SEARCH
Changes: ?
Modus:

Submit to WEB TOP - SUBMIT
Search in WEB TOP - SEARCH
Changes: ?
Modus:

Submit to WHAT U SEEK - SUBMIT
Search in WHAT U SEEK - SEARCH
Changes: ?
Modus:

Submit to ONLY-YELLOW-PAGES - SUBMIT
Search in ONLY-YELLOW-PAGES - SEARCH
Changes: ?
Modus:

Submit to GO.TO - SUBMIT
Search in GO.TO - SEARCH
Changes: ?
Modus: Spidering site.

Submit to GOOGLE - SUBMIT
Search in GOOGLE - SEARCH
Changes: ?
Modus: Spidering site.

Submit to HOTBOT (Inktomi) - SUBMIT
Search in HOTBOT (Inktomi) - SEARCH
Checking: Enter your URL in the Search box. Partial strings do work!
- 14-Jan-98
Changes: Resubmit
Modus: Submit URL and e-mail only. Supports Meta Tags.
Referral Links: Enter the URL in the Search box and change the default from "all of the words" to "links to this URL".
Engine Criteria Rules for Scoring Pages: http://www.hotbot.com/FAQ/faq.html

Submit to INFOSEEK - SUBMIT
Search in INFOSEEK - SEARCH
Checking:They claim that URLs can be seeked for, but they often fail.
Recommend to rather search on title portion
If found, check for search keywords. - 14-Jan-98
Changes: Resubmit, robots will return and re-index
Modus: Submission is by sending URL only by e-mail. Supports both of the Meta Tags and failing those uses the first 200 words in for description. Skips Tag contents (other than Meta) but will pick up ALT Tags in image descriptions. Penalty for repeating keywords. Database refresh every 3 weeks. Average submission time: 8 weeks. Sends out immediate confirmation by e-mail of the original submission.
Referral Links: As above, then go to "Special Searches Page" and search on the root domain.
Engine Criteria Rules for Scoring Pages: http://www.infoseek.com/Help?sv=IS&lk=noframes&pg=meta_tag.html#RESTRICTIONS

Submit to LOOKSMART - SUBMIT
Search in LOOKSMART - SEARCH
Search: .
Submit: This is a directory service, very similar to Yahoo in construction. You must access the relevant category before submitting.
Changes: ?????
Modus:

Submit to MATILDA - SUBMIT
Search in MATILDA - SEARCH
Search: .
Submit: .
Changes: ?????
Modus:

Submit to LYCOS - SUBMIT
Search in LYCOS - SEARCH
Checking: Use the Find your site on Lycos box at the Submit Page. A partial string URL will fail.
If it's found, then check for search keywords - 14-Jan-98
Changes: Now linked to Hotbot
Modus: Bottom of the page, the yellow banner........ Enter the URL here.!
Engine Criteria Rules for Scoring Pages: http://www.lycos.com/help.html

Submit to MAGELLAN - SUBMIT
Search in MAGELLAN - SEARCH
Search: Click on OPTIONS to set Boolean Operator to "AND" if you are searching for documents that must contain two or more words.
Submit: They claim that submissions are done by parent Excite engine. But long-registered URLs in Excite don't turn up in Magellan searches so it's advisable to resubmit here. It's a simple URL-only submission so the exertion isn't too bad!
Changes: Resubmit
Modus: Submissions and database maintenance handled by Excite. No Meta Tag support

Submit to Free MSN SEARCH - SUBMIT
Search in MSN SEARCH - SEARCH
Search: .
Submit: . It's a simple URL-only submission !
Changes: Resubmit
Modus:

Submit to NETSCAPE SEARCH - SUBMIT Flips to an Excite Engine Search
Search in NETSCAPE SEARCH - SEARCH
Search: .
Submit: You need to complete a medium length form !
You can in fact submit to 12 or more engines from this form but there are only three major engines that we don't normally submit to and which you should check.

  • Pronet
  • Yellow Pages
  • Netscape Search (which it a suspected feed to Excite
    For a full and extensive registration you could include this Netscape Search Changes: Resubmit
    Modus:

    Submit to NORTHERNLIGHT - SUBMIT
    Search in NORTHERNLIGHT - SEARCH
    Search: .
    Submit: . It's a simple URL-only submission !
    Changes: Resubmit
    Modus:

    Submit to OPENTEXT - SUBMIT
    Search in OPENTEXT - SEARCH
    Changes: Resubmit
    Modus: They claim the page will be added within 2 weeks but average submission time has been observed at 8 weeks. No Meta Tag support and uses the Summary Paragraph for indexing.

    Submit to SNAP! - SUBMIT
    Access the relevant directory, then "Add URL".
    Search in SNAP - SEARCH
    Changes: ????
    Modus: ???.

    Submit to CANADA.COM - SUBMIT
    URL & e-mail only
    This is a very quick entry to Inktomi (Hotbot)
    Search in CANADA.COM - SEARCH
    Changes: ????
    Modus: ???.

    Submit to ALL THE WEB - SUBMIT
    URL & e-mail only
    Search in ALL THE WEB - SEARCH
    Changes: ????
    Modus: ???.

    Submit to ASK JEEVES - SUBMIT
    Mail the URL to this address: (suggest Subject = URL Submission
    Search in ASK JEEVES - SEARCH
    Changes: ????
    Modus: ???.

    Submit to WEBCRAWLER - SUBMIT
    Search in WEBCRAWLER - SEARCH
    Checking: Use the URL Status Query to check on URLs.
    Partial (or full) URL searches as a normal search do NOT work.
    If it's found, then check for search keywords - 14-Jan-98
    Changes: Resubmit
    Modus: Uses the Summary Paragraph. No Meta Tag support. They claim a 2 week delay but the average submission time has been noted at 6-7 weeks.
    Referral Links: Use the Link Checker.
    Engine Criteria Rules for Scoring Pages: http://www.webcrawler.com/WebCrawler/Help/FAQ.html

    Submit to YAHOO - SUBMIT
    Search in YAHOO - SEARCH
    Changes: Use the Change Form
    This is the MOST IMPORTANT engine for international presence. Make sure you are listed and make sure your submission is correct, relevant and scores highly.
    Modus: In advance, prepare a Site Description limited to 25 words. MetaTags are not recognised and keywords for indexing will be selected from and must be in this description. Prime keyword should be in the title, at (or near) the front of the description and preferably repeated in the description. Title Tag is required to start with the Company Name if this is a commercial site. Choose your two selected categories first by browsing Yahoo's categories. To submit first go to category and then select "Add URL" from that page to a form. Businesses must be in a "Business & Economy" category, two maximum. Your submission will be rejected if the short description you supply in the submission form exceeds 200 characters or 25 words so edit it accordingly.
    Also see Internet Day - Yahoo worth every cent - 12-Oct-2001
    Also see SelfPromotion.com - Yahoo tips - 1-Jul-2001
    Also see Yahoo's Submission Suggestions
    Also see Yahoo - Special Report by Search.Engine.Watch
    Other Submission Rules & Tips :
    - Yahoo is a Categorical Directory and not a search engine. A keyword search will list the directory that appears first alphabetically and not on relevance criteria. So if the most important keyword is "safari", do a search for that word and note the category name that comes up first. You must submit to that category. The category will appear twice in the Yahoo results for that keyword; first (and at the top) for sites with the keyword in the site title and later down for sites with the keyword in the description and not in the title. So the trick here is to have the keyword in the site title, preferabley in the description as well, and be in the category that is listed first.
    - Real live humans review each site before it is indexed so don't spam as it will disqualify you.
    - Sites are also rejected for poor (or bland) content and layout. Make sure it looks snappy.
    - Make your 25 word description compelling. Don't cram in keywords to the extent that the description becomes nonsense. Reviewers will reject it if it is not a grammatical and descriptive sentence. (which is why we suggest you spend time in advance preparing this description)
    - Give people a reason to click on your link. What's in a site visit for them? Something free?
    - Avoid using marketing slogans or superlatives as these can get you rejected. Try to be objective.
    Checking: Use the Search Facility to check for the indexing of the URL. Just type in the www section on. ie. www.webpro.co.za/clients/satour which will turn up the site if it's there.



    MINOR INTERNATIONAL ENGINES "FILL FORM" SUBMISSIONS

    Submit to BIZWIZ - SUBMIT
    Search in BIZWIZ - SEARCH
    Changes: Xxxxxx
    Modus: Xxxxxx.

    Submit to I-EXPLORE - SUBMIT
    Search in I-EXPLORE - SEARCH
    Changes: Xxxxxx
    Modus: Xxxxxx.

    Submit to FINDLINK - SUBMIT
    Search in FINDLINK - SEARCH
    Changes: Xxxxxx
    Modus: Xxxxxx.

    Submit to INFOSPACE - SUBMIT
    Search in INFOSPACE - SEARCH
    Changes: Resubmit
    Modus: Xxxxxx.

    Submit to LET'S LINK - SUBMIT
    Submit to LET'S LINK - South Africa (Travel) - SUBMIT

    Submit to LINKMONSTER - SUBMIT
    Search in LINKMONSTER - SEARCH
    Changes: Xxxxxx
    Modus: Xxxxxx.

    Submit to METROSCOPE - SUBMIT
    Search in METROSCOPE - SEARCH
    Changes: Resubmit
    Modus:

    Submit to REX - SUBMIT
    Search in REX - SEARCH
    Changes: Xxxxxx
    Modus: Xxxxxx.

    Submit to SNAP - SUBMIT
    Search in SNAP - SEARCH
    Changes: Xxxxxx
    Modus: Xxxxxx.

    Submit to STARTING POINT - SUBMIT
    Search in STARTING POINT - SEARCH
    Changes: Note password - to be used for on-line amending.
    Modus: Xxxxxx.

    Submit to RAINBOW DIRECTORY - SUBMIT
    Search in RAINBOW DIRECTORY - SEARCH
    Changes: Resubmit
    Modus: Xxxxxx.

    Submit to THUNDERSTONE - SUBMIT
    Search in THUNDERSTONE - SEARCH
    Changes: Same URL as Submit
    Modus: Xxxxxx.

    Submit to WWW WORM - SUBMIT
    Search in WWW WORM - SEARCH
    Changes: Resubmit
    Modus: Xxxxxx.

    Submit to WWW YELLOW PAGES - SUBMIT
    Search in WWW YELLOW PAGES - SEARCH
    Changes: Resubmit
    Modus: Xxxxxx.



    Please report any broken links or inappropriate descriptions to the Webmaster.
    All suggestions for new sites to be included in this listing would be gratefully received.
    This page maintained by Webmaster @ - Worldwide Web Publishing Services
    Durban, South Africa Webpro © 1998. Tel: 27 31 5638-344     Fax: 27 31 5644-928

    These pages are provided and maintained for the use of Prosoft and Webpro clients. While you may not have a client relationship you are welcome to use the site but please do not link to it nor publisize the URL. Abnormal increases in non-client traffic causing server load will necessitate password barriers being installed.