Other search engines, including AOL Search, Yahoo, and others, use Google's listings as well.
Is your blog indexed in Google's listings?
The first thing to do is find out.
Go to http://www.google.com and enter the short form of your blog URL into the search box:
yourblogname.com
If your blog is indexed by Google, your blog's title will appear in the search results.
The results will also include a link to check how many other web sites (already indexed blogs) are linked to your blog. Another link lists all of the web pages that mention your blog. If either or both of those categories include your blog, then Google has found you too.
After your search, you may discover to your dismay, that Google has not listed your blog. Your thoughts and ideas are not found in the largest search engine. Don't dispair. All is not lost.
Here are a few ways to get yourself listed.
You can submit your site directly to Google at their Submit Your Site page. You only need to submit your blog's home page. Google will send its web crawling computer program (its "spider") called the Googlebot out to find your blog. It will then add the blog to Google's index.
Of course, this is not a fast method of getting indexed. It may take a couple of months. There has to be a faster method.
One way to get faster indexing is to find a link trading partner who is already listed in Google. When I started this blog, I simply linked to it from my other roller derby blog. Google listed me almost the very next day. You should be able to find someone willing to trade links with your blog. Bloggers are willing link swappers!
Find a friend who's already listed in Google and trade links. You'll find the fasted entry into Google's index that way!
Be sure to submit your blog to the many blog directories. They are frequently crawled by Google's spider. When your blog is accepted into the various blog directories, your acceptance into Google is sure to follow.
Simply fo to the various directory sites, find the Add URL page, find your appropriate category, and fill in the blanks. Most blog directories will include your blog in their listings within a week or two. Some are even faster than that!
Here is a list of some major blog directories. Get into all of them if you can. It's a couple of hours well spent on your part!
Blog Search Engine
Blogwise
Eatonweb Portal
Blog Universe
Popdex
Blogarama
Blogdex
Globe of Blogs
Blizg
Online Marketing Links
Weblogs Compendium
Octopus Files
Kmax
Open Weblog Directory
Another way, to get into Google's pages, is to post on various internet forums. There are few forums that specifically discuss blogs and blogging.
Two such forums are:
Blogger Talk
Blogger Forum
Both forums require membership (free) to post. They also provide a special area for you to list and describe your blog, for others to read. Along with some welcome new visitors, you'll receive a visit from the Googlebot.
Many blogs offer comments and trackback features. By posting a comment, the search engine spider can follow the trail back to your blog. Once your blog is found, your blog will be indexed. When making blog comments, it's very important that you remain on topic, or your post may not get you indexed. It may get you deleted by the blog owner instead!
Getting indexed by Google is one of the most important ways to get traffic to your blog.
Get listed today!
