Search Engine Optimization | Webmaster Tools
Optimizing your website for listing on search engines (SEO) is straight forward. There is no need to pay for packages that offer to submit your site to the search engines or improve your rankings. Search engines readily fight such programs and in the end, they always win.
Submitting Your Site
Submitting your website to search engines is free and is done by adding your website to the search engine's Webmaster Tools or having incoming links to your website from others. Webmaster Tools offered by the search engines also provide additional information on your search traffic and suggestions for improvements. It can take several weeks or months for a new website to be added and is entirely dependent on the individual search engines and their algorithms. You may also not be ranked very high on their search results, it all depends on your website's popularity and ranking against others for your particular search terms.
Beware of companies that offer paid search engine submission. They are scams and you should stay away from them. There is no way to be listed in search results other than those we've covered above.
Paid Search Advertising
Search engines offer paid advertising options allowing you to appear in the sponsored links section of the search results. These advertisements will appear either on the top or right of the normal free search results area.
Google
https://adwords.google.com/
Bing
https://about.ads.microsoft.com/
Optimizing Content For Better Rankings
The biggest thing you can do to improve your search engine rankings for your specific search terms is to work on your content.
Increase Incoming Links
The biggest factor in increasing your rankings is the number and quality of pages that link to your page. All incoming links are not created equal. Be sure to obtain links to real sites that offer good content. Don't pay for links as the search engines detect this. The best way to increase your incoming links is to write good content that drives visitors and links to your web pages.
Effective Page Titles
The page title is one of the most heavily weighted aspects of your page. Be sure that the title is concise and relevant to the content on the page. Be sure to use your most important keywords in the title and on the page.
Avoid Flash Sites
When your website is built using Flash, search engines can't read anything on your site. Your website should be built using the latest HTML and CSS standards.
Don't Play Tricks
Search engines hire hundreds of people to ensure rankings cannot be gamed. Don't try to cheat or trick the search engines by building fake content. That may hurt your rankings. Build real content that is useful for real people and you'll be on your way to great rankings.
It Takes Time
Don't expect results overnight. Search engine optimization is something that takes constant improvements and changes and results appear in months if not longer.
Renew Your Domain
It has been suggested that an extended expiration date has an effect on your rankings. Renew your domain name for longer periods to take advantage of any potential minor benefit from this.
Domain Extension Impact
The domain extension you choose may have an impact on your rankings depending on the nature of your website. For example, country level extensions such as .ca or .uk would rank higher in Google searches done from those countries. Generic extensions such as .com, .net, .org, .info, .biz, etc. would have a global reach.