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This list is updated periodically, with information on where to submit
your site once it’s ready to launch.
LAST UPDATED MAY 2006
Top Search Engines | E-Commerce
Search Engines | Bloomington-Area Directories
TOP SEARCH ENGINES
The rankings below come from a Feb
2004 comscore Media Matrix report. While percentages have changed
since then, the overall market shares are roughly the same. Google
is overall the top search engine. Yahoo and MSN are also “must haves,”
while AskJeeves should be considered very important.
Google
35%
Uses its own crawler as
well as the Open Directory project,
which functions similarly to Yahoo. You’ll need to pick a category.
Open Directory results are also used by other SEs. For pay-per-click (PPC)
options, see Google AdWords
Select .
Yahoo 28%
After purchasing Inktomi in 2003, Yahoo changed their focus from being
a directory (human-edited themed collection of links) to a search engine
(automatic indexing of Web pages). They offer free
site submission (Yahoo registration required) for automatic indexing.
They offer Yahoo!
Express for sites to be listed in their directory within 7 days (cost
$299). You can also still submit
sites to the human-edited directory (paid and free options). Yahoo!
displays results at AltaVista, AllTheWeb, and Overture.
AOL 16%
Utilizes Open Directory and Google
crawler-based results and Google’s AdWords
Select for paid (“sponsored”) results. Still lists AOL
editors’ picks at top of results. Displays results for Netscape
Search.
MSN.com 15%
Free inclusion
No guarantee you’ll actually be added to the index.
$49/yr for paid
inclusion for small businesses. Uses Overture
to display paid (“sponsored”) results.
Ask Jeeves 3%
No longer accepting site submissions to Ask.com directly. Offers paid
submission to other search engines.
InfoSpace [formerly
Webcrawler] 1.6%
Metasearch engine returning results from Google, Teoma, and others. Owns
or operates metasearch engines Dogpile,
Excite, WebCrawler,
and MetaCrawler. Does not have
an independent index, so does not accept URLs for submission. Submit to
Google and Yahoo!
instead.
AltaVista
.9%
Displays results from Yahoo!, where you can sign up for free.
Lycos .5%
Offers paid inclusion. Displays
results from Yahoo!, where you can sign up for free.
OTHER SEARCH ENGINES
Overture
Paid inclusion, up to $199. The #1 PPC provider. Provides PPC results
to Yahoo!
LookSmart
LookListings for $29 set-up fee, plus 15 cents per-5,000-clicks. Minimum
$15/month fee. Set a monthly budget so you don’t overspend.
ExactSeek
Not included in the NetRatings report, but offers free
inclusion.
E-COMMERCE SEARCH ENGINES
The rankings below come from an April 2004 Hitwise
report on SearchEngineWatch. We’ve pulled out general shopping
sites only; see the complete report for specialized sites.
Yahoo Shopping 10.3%
Includes all Yahoo! Stores. Not technically a shopping search engine (it’s
a directory), it was considerable market clout through sheer breadth of
offerings. You can upload
a product feed to be included in their beta product database.
NexTag 4.4%
Price comparisons and reviews. Offers a PPC self-serve
program (selling 100 items or fewer) and merchant
partner program for those selling more than 100 items.
Froogle 2.6%
While not listed in the Hitwise survey, Froogle is Google’s entry
into the price comparison market. Listings are free. Your site may already
be listed; if not, you can submit
a data feed.
Epinions/Shopping.com 2.5%
Previously known as Dealtime. Now owns Epinions. Largest shopping search
engine (as opposed to Yahoo!’s directory). List
your products on a PPC basis.
MSN Shopping 2.3%
No submission program.
PriceGrabber 2.1%
“Storefront”
program charges commisson of $1 if the purchase price is less than $15
or 7.5% if the purchase price is greater than $15. Merchants with "lots
to sell" need to fill out a contact
form and talk to a rep.
OTHER E-COMMERCE SEARCH ENGINES
BizRate
List your products on a PPC
basis.
CoolSavings
A rewards/coupon site. Accepts
advertising but not product feeds.
LowerMyBills
Focuses on “bill-oriented” categories like insurance, loans,
long distance, etc. Includes application
form to become a partner vendor.
BLOOMINGTON-AREA DIRECTORIES
HoosierNet
Free listings—essential for all Bloomington-area sites
Bloomington
Chamber of Commerce
Free listings for members
Bloomington
Online
Free listings—free registration required to edit link later
Bloomington
Area Guide
Uses Yellow Pages listings
Bloomington
City Guide
Offers listings through link exchanges
Bloomington
Web Guide
Owned by Talk-PC. Does not appear to be updated regularly
IndianaFind
Search engine specifically for Indiana organizations and businesses. Works
like Yahoo: submit your link from within a category. Get higher rankings
by adding a reciprocal link from your site.
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