When you launch a new website, or just make substantial changes to your existing website, it is a good idea to submit it to the major search engines so they know you have new content and information to share with the world. Once you submit your website, the search engines (Google and Bing) will index your site so it comes up in search results. This can take 2 - 4 weeks to happen, but it's worth it if you want people to be able to find your website.

The current major search engines are Google, Bing, and Yahoo. Since Bing has "absorbed" Yahoo, you only have to submit to Google and Bing now.

It's free, it's pretty easy, and it only takes a couple minutes to submit your site.

What do I do?

First, decide if you want to get more out of this search engine submission thing. Do you want to be able to look at some traffic stats of your website? The "health" of your individual pages? If so, you'll want to use Google's and Bing's Webmaster Tools method of submitting your website. If not, you can just do their quick submit option and be on your way!

Both Google and Bing Webmaster Tools are going to ask you for your URL (http://www.yourwebsite.com) as well as some other information about your website.

The Quick Submit option will simply ask you for your domain name and to fill out the captcha (squiggly words and numbers that prove you are a human).

Let's Go!

Choose from Option 1 or Option 2 below, make sure you submit to both Google and Bing, and you're done!

Remember, you only have to submit your website once to Google and once to Bing. Wait a few weeks, see if it's showing up in the search results, and if it isn't, you can submit again. Be careful to not submit too often or the search engines will think you are spam and will ban your website. Once your site is in, you don't have to submit again unless you make major changes to the content in your website!