3.3 Search engine listings

Another way of improving the chances of a search engine finding your site in response to a person's search is to submit (register) your site with a range of search engines, directories (collections of Internet sites grouped by subject) or gateways (free searchable catalogues of health Internet sites).

• Look for menu items like 'Submit your URL', 'Add your URL', 'Suggest a site', 'Submit a site'.
  
  
• Check out what details they require first and get these all prepared before you make an on-line submission.
  
  
• You may have to pay.
  
  
• Check that you are included / listed. It can take some time (weeks) before you are actually included.
  
  
• However there is no guarantee they will use your site. If they don't, re-apply after a few months.
  
  
• Resubmit after major changes to your site

Here are some examples of search engines, directories and gateways.

• Google (http://www.google.co.uk) [Opens in new browser window].
  
  
• AllTheWeb (http://www.alltheweb.com) [Opens in new browser window].
  
  
• Yahoo (http://www.yahoo.com) [Opens in new browser window].
  
  
• MedHunt (http://www.hon.ch/Medhunt) [Opens in new browser window].
  
  
• Mirago (http://www.mirago.co.uk) [Opens in new browser window].
  
  
• NHS Direct Online (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk) [Opens in new browser window].
  
  
• Contact a Family (http://www.cafamily.org.uk) [Opens in new browser window].
  
  
• Patient UK (http://www.patient.co.uk) [Opens in new browser window].
  
  
• Intute: Health and Life Sciences: Medicine (http://www.intute.ac.uk/healthandlifesciences/medicine/) [Opens in new browser window].
  
  
• National electronic Library for Health - NeLH (http://www.nelh.nhs.uk) [Opens in new browser window].

For further information see Search Engine Watch. Search Engine Submission Tips. (http://searchenginewatch.com/webmasters/index.php) [Opens in new browser window].

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© Copyright for this site is held by Contact a Family and the Information Society Research and Consultancy Group, School of Computing, Engineering and Information Sciences, Northumbria University. Site published February 2003. Last updated October 2006. Review date October 2007.