Search Engines and why they matter
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS:
Q: What's an Internet Search Engine?
A: An Internet Search Engine is a tool that web
surfers use to search the Internet. Think of it as a Yellow Pages for
Internet web sites, but much more advanced. People type in words or
phrases for which they wish to search, and the Search Engine returns a
list of web sites that match that word or phrase. For example, a search
for "online bookstore" might return web sites like Amazon.com
and Barnes and Noble's Web site. A Search Engine is a critical tool in
finding information, products and businesses on the web.
Q: How do I get to a Search Engine?
A: Each Search Engine has its own web site that
you can visit in order to perform searches. Search engines are also built
into AOL and into web browsers like Netscape Navigator and Microsoft
Internet Explorer.
Q: What's the difference between a Search Engine and a Web
Directory?
A: A Search Engine searches all the sites on the
web (or all the sites that it knows about on the web, to be more precise).
A directory only includes sites
that have been reviewed and accepted by a
person. Search engines generally will find more sites than directories,
because Search Engines automatically add more and more sites to their
databases as they find them. But directories generally have higher quality
listings because these sites have been screened and reviewed by a human
being. Some Search Engines, like Google, Looksmart and Yahoo combine a
directory with a Search Engine for comprehensive search results.
Q: How do I get my site listed in the Search Engines?
A: If there are multiple links from other web
sites to your site, then your site may already be listed in some or all of
the Search Engines. Many Search Engines send out 'spiders' or 'bots' that
endlessly follow links from web site to web site seeking out new pages to
add to their index databases. If your site is not yet listed in a specific
Search Engine, then you can generally find an "Add URL" feature
on the Search Engine's home page that allows you to request that your web
site be added to the Search Engine.
Q: If I add my web site to a Search Engine, will I get more visitors
to the site?
A: Not necessarily. There are
literally millions of sites on the World Wide Web, and several billion web
pages! Search engines attempt to index as many sites as possible, but
generally only cover a small percentage of what's out there. Even so, a
search for "books for sale" on Google returns over 3 million
pages that match this search phrase! When a user performs a search, he or
she will generally only look at the first 3 or 4 pages of web sites that
are returned (usually the first 20 to 40 web sites). If your Web site does
not show up in the first 4 pages for a particular search word or phrase,
then you might as well be invisible.
Q: Do high rankings in web site Search Engines make a difference?
A: Yes! If your web site is more visible in
the Search Engines, then more people will find it.
People who search for specific Business or products on the web are
rarely 'just browsing.' Users generally turn to the Search Engines when
they have an immediate need.
If your site turns up in a search, then you will get their call (or
e-mail) and you will get more Business.
