What You Must Do To Get Ready "Before" You Submit to Search Engines.

Preparing Your Site for Submission

Before you fire off your site to every search engine you can think of, take a few minutes to make sure you’re fully armed. Think of it as packing for a trip: you wouldn’t leave home without a passport, phone charger, and a list of places you want to visit. The same applies to web submissions. Here’s a step‑by‑step plan that will save you headaches later.

First, gather all the text you’ll need into a single, easily editable document. Open a plain‑text editor, copy the description, keywords, and any URLs you’ll paste into submission forms, and save the file. When you’re in the middle of a busy day, having everything in one place means you can simply copy and paste without hunting around the web for a notepad or a browser tab.

Next, decide on a shortlist of 15 to 20 keywords that best capture what your site is about. Rank them in order of importance because most search engines only accept a limited number of keywords in the submission box. Pick terms that are specific enough to target your niche but broad enough to attract visitors. For example, if you run a bakery in Austin, “fresh bread Austin” might be your top keyword, followed by “artisan pastries Austin,” and so on.

With your keywords locked in, write a concise, keyword‑rich description of your website. Keep it between 15 and 50 words – that’s the sweet spot most search engines look for. A good description reads like a quick elevator pitch: “Delicious, locally‑sourced baked goods made daily in Austin’s favorite bakery.” Notice the natural placement of your keywords; they fit in the flow of the sentence and tell search engines and users what you offer.

Now turn to the URLs of the directories or search engines you plan to submit to. Many sites list their URLs on their homepage or in a “Directory” section. Create a separate list with each address on its own line, so when you click the link you’re taken directly to the submission form. The extra step of having a ready‑made list saves time when the actual submission begins.