How To Submit Your Site To Traditional Search Engines

Option #1 - Do The Submissions Yourself

Monetary Costs: FREE
Time And Effort: SUBSTANTIAL
Potential Results: VARIED (But Usually Low)
This is something you should only consider if you have a lot of extra time to devote to the submission process. For this option, you would simply search the internet for every popular search engine site you could find, and then locate instructions on each of these sites which will detail how they accept listing submissions. The vast majority will make you fill out some sort of submission form on their site. Although this is not extremely difficult, it is extremely time-consuming.
The reason we classify the potential results as "usually low" is because most people who resign themselves to this option never really get around to doing it. So if lack of money is your main reason for choosing this option, you’ll usually be better off with Option #2 which is also free.

Option #2 – Use A Free Submission Service

Monetary Costs: FREE
Time And Effort: MINIMAL
Potential Results: MEDIUM
All that is required of you in this case is to fill out an online application form at a free search engine submission service. This service will then forward your application to many of the top search engines for you. This minimizes the considerable repetitive legwork you would otherwise do in Option #1.
The only drawback is that free submission services do not usually submit your site to a very large number of search engines like the services in Option #3. If your budget is limited and you do not have countless hours and hours free like you would need for Option #1, you may want to settle for this compromise.
For free submission service, we recommend SubmitIt. Make sure when you apply that you select the $0 (free trial) as they also have other premium packages to choose from.

Option #3 – Pay For A Submission Service

Monetary Costs: RELATIVELY CHEAP
Time And Effort: MINIMAL
Potential Results: HIGHEST
As could be expected, the best search engine submission services charge a fee. They usually also submit your site to hundreds more search engines and directories than a free submission service. If you want to absolutely maximize the potential traffic you can receive from search engines, it is most beneficial to submit your site through a pay-service.