How do search engines work?
Search engines help people find relevant information on the Internet.The main search engines use huge databases of websites to achieve this. Understanding how they set priority from one site to the next is the key to ranking well. Below you will find out specifically how search engines work.
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Search Engine Overview
Engines use "spiders" or "robots" to crawl your web pages and index the content. Some search engines use only your main page while others will index all of the pages. This is why it is important to optimize all of the pages within your site. Search Engines may also use any number of criteria to rank sites. Links directed to your site are referred to as link popularity. This is one of the most important criteria to most search engines. Content of your site is also another important factor. Content is the depth and amount of information offered on your site. The more you offer to a perspective visitor , the more you are worth to most search engines. Keyword density, HTML title, and meta tags, and how fast your site loads all play varying roles with engines.
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Directories
Directories and search engines are two different things. Often confused, directories introduce the human element, instead of computer programs to index your site. Yahoo and Open Directory Project have real people that review and index their links. The criteria they use is subjective , therefore leaves a lot of high quality links out of their directories. Functionality, content and design are the three things that directory editors look for. This takes a whole different approach to get listed then search engines.
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Specifics Of Each Search Engine
Every Search Engine uses its own mathematical formula, called an algorithm, to rank all submitted sites. An algorithm is a mathematical expression of criteria. Listed below are the major search engines and the weight of specific criteria.
Alta Vista-- Not Indexed- Registration pages, text in graphics and multimedia files (use Alt tags), XML, Java applets, comment tags, Acrobat files, spammers.
- Important Criteria- Fast loading pages, content located at beginning of page,HTML title unique to each page,link popularity, good navigation.
- Not As Important- Meta tags, keyword frequency.
DMOZ Users: AOL, Netscape;Alta Vista , HotBot,Google and Lycos directories-
- Not Indexed- Spammers
- Important Criteria- Functionality, Content and Design. (Subjective)
- Not As Important- Meta tags, keyword density, HTML title.
Google Search Engine-
- Not Indexed- Spammers
- Important Criteria- Link popularity, keywords near each other, keywords in links and text.
- Not As Important- Page loading speed, meta tags, keyword frequency.
HotBot Search Engine-
- Not Indexed- Frames, pages with cookie requirements, URL's with special characters (unless submitted through Inktomi's paid program) , spammers.
- Important Criteria- Fast loading pages, length of document, frequency of keywords, HTML title, meta tags, link popularity.
- Not As Important-
Lycos Search Engine-
- Not Indexed- Spammers, URL's with special characters.
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Important Criteria- Themes, consistency of content, functionality, HTML title, link popularity.
- Not As Important- Meta tags, content location, keyword frequency.
MSN Search Engine-
- Not Indexed- Spammers, frames - <noframes> tag needed.
- Important Criteria- Link popularity, keyword frequency, meta tags, HTML title, site popularity.
- Not As Important- Fast loading pages, content and location.
Yahoo Directory-
- Not Indexed- Spammers
- Important Criteria- Fast loading pages, quality content, link popularity (uses Inktomi based results).
- Not As Important- HTML title, meta tags, keyword frequency.
Information
27 Tips to Top Search Engine Rankings
Using Links For Improved Search Engine Ranking
10 Common Webmaster Mistakes
How Do Search Engines Work?
Is Your Website Optimized To Sell?
Doorway Pages- Good Advertising?
More Web Site Traffic With DMOZ
More Web Site Traffic With Yahoo
Wore Web Site Traffic With Inktomi
More Web Site Traffic With Google
Tools
Free Link Popularity Check
Free Meta Tags Generator
Free Search Engine Ranking Tool
