That question is constantly being asked on the various internet forums, whether blog related or not.
The most important search engines include Google, Yahoo, MSN Search, AOL Search, WiseNut, and Teoma. Other search engines like AltaVista and Inktomi are now the property of the major search engines.
There is a misconception all over the internet, and certainly not restricted to the blogging community by any any means.
People keep thinking that a blog or a traditional website, has to be somehow submitted to the search engines, if you want to be included in their search listings.
That is not true.
To be indexed and included in the search listings of any search engine, all that's required is a link from any other blog or website, that is already in their listings.
For example, if your blog has a link from any of the various free blog directories, your blog will be listed. To get into the blog directories, you must submit your blog. Note that directories and search engines are definitely not the same thing.
While some people might not consider the various internet directories to hold much practical value, inclusion will get your blog indexed in the major search engines.
As an added bonus, the blog directories transfer some Google PageRank, and they help to boost your blog in the search rankings for your most important keywords. In the case of Google, for example, the more links pointing to your blog or website, the better.
For those unfamiliar with Google PageRank, it is not the same as the Google search results. PageRank is numerical calculation of the relative importance of a web page or blog page on the internet.
Now,back to the indexing thing.
When your blog or website receives a link from a directory, blog, or traditional website, the search engines send computer robots out to visit your site. The robots are known as spiders, who crawl your site, and index it.
Once a blog or website has been crawled by a robot spider, it's indexed in the search engine's listings.
That's all there is to it.
There is no need to do any search engine submissions. Ever.
All you need is a link to your blog.
Any link will do.
Forget the spam e-mails you receive, telling you about submitting to the search engines.
Ignore the stories about needing to submit your blog or website to Google, Yahoo, or MSN Search.
You can happily sit back and smile to yourself.
You now know better.
