Search Engines
Lycos
| AltaVista
| About
| Google
| Direct Hit
| MSN
| HotBot
Inktomi
| Yahoo
| Overture
Below is information regarding
submitting to the major search engines. You might also enjoy our
"Research Tools of the Trade"
if you want to learn more about search engines.
Overture
Overture
is now the number one search engine to get listed with. It's a tremendous resource that can really drive traffic, if you have the time and
money. Click
here to find out more about this "pay-per-click"
search engine.
Google does a good job of finding
your website as long as you have some external links
pointing to your website. You will need these links in order to
rank well in Google, too.
We recommend using Google AdWords
Select as another way of promoting your website more effectively on one of
the major search engines. On Google, the search results will show your ad
at the right of the screen, which creates the idea that if people click on
the ad, then they must be looking to buy something. This should create more
targeted traffic as opposed to getting clicks from Internet surfers.
Yahoo
Yahoo charges $299 per year for
websites not accepted into the directory prior to 12/28/01. In
November 2002, Yahoo started pulling search result from Google and
therefore we are recommending Yahoo as an additional resource only after
you have submitted your listing to the other search engines above.
Click here for special
directions.
Click
here to find out more about how Inktomi works and how to sign
up.
HotBot
TIP
Hotbot's underlying
database is managed by Inktomi. You'll need to submit your website
to Inktomi to get a listing in Hotbot. Do not submit directly to
Hotbot.
TIP
Check each URL to see if it
is AltaVista's Index
TIP All
submissions must be completed manually, do not use any services or
programs that promise automatic submission.
About.com
About.com is a great
free resource to be listed in. They have a section devoted to every
part of the country (like http://charlottesville.about.com
), and will list your inn in that geographic area.
They also have niche listings -- like
golf or fly-fishing. If you cater to a specific niche, try to get yourself
added (this will take some time!) One niche they have is bandb.about.com.
It is chock-full of great information for innkeepers. Take a look at
these niche listings: murder
mysteries, pets allowed,
wineries
nearby. Once
you find the page you would like to be listed on, find the site guide (or
editor) that manages the page. Email the site guide with
information about your Inn. Keep in mind that it's best to keep it short and
simple.
Direct Hit
Direct Hit's award-winning technology provides highly relevant results
for any Internet search. Direct Hit is a subsidiary of Ask Jeeves,
Inc. Submit
Page
MSN
MSN pulls results from Inktomi,
Overture and Looksmart. For optimum results, make
sure you are listed in each one.
Lycos
| AltaVista
| About
| Google
| Direct Hit
| MSN
| HotBot
| Inktomi
| Yahoo
| Overture
| Looksmart
|
