Basically, the search engines read web sites or pages that have been submitted to it via a submission form, or those that have been linked from other submitted sites. They do it by the help of automated agents called robots or spiders. These agents follow links to travel from URL to URL. When they visit a web site, they collect data from every page and store them in the search engine’s database. Later, when a user enters a search query in a search engine, the search engine scans the database for pages that provide the best match.

Search engines differ in the algorithm or set of rules that they use in determining the relevancy of search queries. That is why the same search on different search engines often produces different results. The algorithms are considered to be top secret. No one really knows all of the algorithms. However, all major search engines follow some common set of rules.

Search engines are supposed to be able to find all the sites on the Internet. However, since new sites are being added daily, it’s risky to assume that the robots they use will find you. Speed up the process by submitting your site to the search engines.

To submit your site, you must sign in to different webmaster tools used by search engines. Assuming that you’re done submitting your site in a webmaster tool, the tool will provide a Meta tag content code that you need to embed in the homepage of your site. You do not need to open any files because the eDirectory application provides an interface in the Site Manager account where you can just put the Meta tag content code. After entering the code, you will be asked to authenticate the site using again the webmaster tool. This whole process is called search engine verification. The eDirectory application supports search engine verification for Google, Yahoo, and Live.

To acquire the Meta tag content code, do the following:

For Google

1. Begin by signing in to Google’s Webmaster Tools. If you do not have a Gmail account yet, click on the Create an account now link in that same page. After signing in, a page will appear like the one shown below:

   

2. Click on the Add a site button, and type your site URL on the box provided. Then, click on the Continue button.
3. A page will appear like the one shown below:

   

   Get the Meta tag generated in this page. We advise you to copy it in any editor (e.g. Notepad) for later use.

   
   Please do not sign out nor close the window where you are currently located. You will be asked to go back here later.

For Yahoo

1. Sign in to Yahoo’s Site Explorer. If you do not have a Yahoo mail account yet, click on the Sign up link in that same page. After signing in, a page will appear like the one shown below:

   

2. In the My Sites box, type your site URL. Then, click on the Add My Site button.
3. In the Status column, click on the  icon of the corresponding site that you have added.
4. A page will appear like the one shown below:In this page, do the following:

   

   1. Click on the By adding a META tag to my homepage option.
   2. Get the Meta tag generated in this same page. We advise you to copy it into any editor (e.g. Notepad) for later use.

      
      Please do not sign out nor close the window where you are currently at. You will be asked to go back here later.

For Live

1. Sign in to Bing’s Webmaster Center. If you do not have a Live or Hotmail account yet, click on the Sign up button in that same page. After signing in, a page will appear like the one shown below:

   

2. In the Web Address box, type your site URL.
3. Click on the Submit button.
4. A page will appear like the one shown below:

   

   Get the Meta tag generated in this page. We advise you to copy it in any editor (e.g. Notepad) for later use.

   
   Please do not sign out nor close the window where you are currently located. You will be asked to go back here later.

To embed the Meta tag content code in the homepage of your directory site, do the following:

1. Sign in to your Site Manager account and click on the SEO Center menu on the left navigation panel. After doing this, a page will appear like the one shown below:

   

2. Click on the link that appears in the Search Engine Verification area. After doing this, a page will appear like the one shown below:

   

3. In the Google, Yahoo, and Live metatag boxes, put the meta tag codes that you acquired earlier.
4. Click on the Submit button.

To authenticate the site you added, do the following:

For Google

1. Go back to the browser or window where Google’s Webmaster Tools is located. If you have closed it already, just sign in again and look for the page shown below:

   

2. Click on the Verify button.

For Yahoo

1. Go back to the browser or window where the Yahoo’s Site Explorer is located. If you have closed it already, just sign in again and look for the page shown below:

   

2. Click on the Ready to Authenticate button.

For Live

1. Go back to the browser or window where the Bing’s Webmaster Center is located. If you have closed it already, just sign in again and look for the page shown below:

   

2. Click on the Return To Site List button. After doing this, a form will appear like the one shown below:

   

3. Click on the Web Address that you want to authenticate.

   The period of listing and authentication of search engines varies. Most sites get authenticated and listed within 4 – 6 weeks. The reality is that most search engines are backlogged and slow to get listings added to their databases. Do not be surprised if you experience waiting much longer than this.

Why You Need To Optimize Your Site, Optimizing Your Site Using Meta Tags