I'm sure you've seen the ads for search engine submit services and software -- you know the ones that boast they will submit your website to hundreds or even thousands of search engines for a certain fee?

Well, don't buy into these schemes -- even if they are offering something for free.

First of all, around 85 percent of all search engine traffic come from Google, Yahoo!, MSN and other portals of these sites. Portals are search engines that use results from other engines. 

For example, AOL's search results come from Google. So once you are optimized for Google's search engine, then those same rankings will apply for AOL. Netscape and any other portal that uses Google's results.

The other search engines make up the remaining percentages and most of them don't even account for a full 1% of all search traffic.

In other words... they're NOT worth submitting to!

Second, most search engine submittal services use automated software to attempt to submit your site.  What they don't tell you is that most engines IGNORE any kind of automated software submissions so when they attempt to add your site, it just gets rejected or ignored.

Yes, some of the smaller engines may allow the automated submissions, but they don't get enough traffic to do you any good -- so it ends up being a moot point anyway. 

Who cares if you're listed in Search123.com if they only make up .0005% of overall search engine traffic.

Yahoo!, MSN, and Google are the only three search engines that matter right now.

Third, many engines are now banning sites that continuously submit.  They consider it "spamming".  So if you're using a submission service that promises a monthly or quarterly submission, then they could be putting your site in danger of getting permanently banned or blocked!

The tricky part is that it varies from search engine to search engine.  One engine may allow multiple submissions, while another may not.

Of course you, the unsuspecting consumer, has no way of knowing all this.  These companies just take your money while you await the traffic that will never come. 

Notice that many of these companies never claim your site will be listed...they just promise the submittal.  What about all those sites that reject automated submissions?  Are they going to do them all by hand?

They know most of their customers don't know much about the search engine optimization world so they bank on it...literally!    I mean if you're a beginner with no website traffic and you see an ad to submit your site to thousands of engines for $20, that would sound like a pretty good deal wouldn't it?

I've Been Victimized Myself.

I fell into this trap when I was a newbie online marketer.  I used to buy submission software and submit to companies that offered thousands of submissions.

They also submit to free classifieds or free for all link sites that only get visits from other traffic-seeking webmasters.  Consumers don't go here to look for information.  They go to Google, Yahoo, MSN; and if they're looking to buy something the visit familiar commercial websites like Amazon.com.

In addition, many of these companies now state they'll list your site by hand for some of the engines and directories.  I find that hard to believe because that would take a ton of work, especially if the orders are rolling in.  Again, how could they really prove this since most search engines don't send email confirmations.

Also, some of the directories that really count require a one-time fee to even consider listing your site.  How do these submission sites like handle these situations?

The answer is, "They don't!"  They're misleading you into thinking you are going to get a lot of traffic when they are really taking advantage of your ignorance of search engines.

Do it Yourself for Free!

Since Google, MSN and Yahoo are the three main engines you need to be concerned about, here's a quick overview of how to get listed in all three.  You don't need a submission service when you can do it yourself in minutes.

Submitting to Google

Getting listed in Google, the most popular search engine, is absolutely free and one way to get in is to submit to www.dmoz.org (The Open Directory).

Unfortunately it may take some time to get listed here because the directory is run by all volunteers and there's no real hurry for the editors to add your site.

Also, if your site is rejected, most editors won't tell you why.  So it definitely takes some patience.  Just be sure your site is polished and has enough unique content before you submit.

If you can't get into The Open Directory you can use Google's "Add URL" link here http://www.google.com/addurl.html. However I will tell you that this method is not guaranteed.

Another way to get into Google is to be linked from a site that is already in the engine.  When Google visits the site that's already listed, it may find your site and add it to its index.

Getting Listed in Yahoo!

Yahoo! is unique because it has a searchable directory and a regular search engine like Google. It's also important to note that if you're listed in one that doesn't mean you're automatically listed in the other.

The categorized directory is rarely searched. Most people use the normal search function on the Yahoo! homepage. However, some experts say if you have a listing in their directory it can help your positioning in Google. 

In order to get into Yahoo!'s directory you must submit manually.  Go to their site and drill down to the category that best describes your site.

Click the "Suggest a Site" link.  If your site falls into a commercial category then you must pay a mandatory $299/year fee.  If your site is non-commercial then you can suggest for free but there's no guarantee you'll get listed.

To get listed in their regular engine, it helps to be listed in other engines or linked from other sites that are already in Yahoo!'s directory.  That way Yahoo! can find (spider) your site and add it to their search engine.

Another way is to submit directly using their "Add URL" form.  There is no guarantee you'll get listed this way, but it can't hurt to try. You should only have to submit your homepage.  Yahoo's spider will find the rest of your pages.

Submitting to MSN

To submit to MSN go to their "Add URL" page.  You should only have to submit your homepage and it will find the rest of your site.

Most of the time MSN will add you faster than Google and Yahoo so you may find your site listed pretty quickly.

Don't Keep Submitting

Once you submit to the search engines, you must be patient.  Don't panic if you don't see your site in the index.  It may take weeks or even months.  Keep adding content to your website and check monthly to see if it has been added by typing your address in the search field.

In Summary

Most search engine submit software and services are nothing but scams, and it's time we start to take a stand against them.  

Don't give them a red cent -- instead educate yourself on how to REALLY get listed with the major search engines and be sure to drop these submit services an email letting them know that they weren't successful in suckering you into believing their submit service actually works.