To get found, the easiest way to do it is to create a sitemap and then submit it to the three major search engines: Google, Yahoo, and MSN.
I would also recommend that you submit your website to Exactseek, as well as Alexa. Exactseek will help you grab the smaller search engines.
Alexa will provide you with some pretty good statistics about your site.
This includes how much traffic you are getting, where it's coming from, and what words visitors are using to find you. You'll also find information on your competitors.
The best way to prepare your website for the search engines is to use search engine optimization software. I use Web CEO, and I've used it for years. It is the best software for optimizing your websites for the search engines, and you can get it free:
http : / / v i r a l u r l . c om/ getthis/webceo
If you are really serious about learning search engine optimization, then I would recommend you read the documentation included with Web CEO. There is a quick start guide that will help you get started in only an hour, and then there's the certification course that's included.
As for telling you how to optimize your sites for the search engines, I would recommend that you make sure you optimize your website for the keywords that searchers are actually looking for. Build lots of backlinks, and the easiest way to do this is to write articles. If you're really want to get results from using search engine optimization as a marketing strategy, then use Web CEO. Like I said, it's free.
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