How do I get my site into Microsoft Live Search?
Although Google is king, serious search engine marketing should not ignore Microsoft’s Live Search. Microsoft is investing significant resource into making its search engine live.com successful, and now is the time to ensure you are in on the action.
The steps you follow to get your site included in Live.com are very similar to those you follow with Google, although the results are a little unpredictable, and it doesn’t seem to work as effectively or quickly. Then again, the Microsoft Live Search webmaster service is still new and in “beta” so I’d get in there now, before everyone else does.
So how do you get your site into Live Search?
======================================
Step one: create your website and make sure it has compelling content. It’s safe to assume that Live Search will use similar tools to Google to try to ensure only content-rich, original, sites get high rankings.
Use the same tools described in the article how to write for Google. using the right keywords, putting them in the right places and in the correct way.
Step two - Let Live Search know that your site exists:
- a. Get a sitemap - First you need to tell Live Search about your site. The most effective ways to do this is by submitting a sitemap.
An easy way to create a sitemap is by using this free website. You need to save this file to your hosting space using the name “sitemap.xml” (without the quotes).*
*This tutorial assumes that you know how to upload a file to your website. If not, look for instructions from your web hosting company on how to do this.
- b. Got a sitemap? Great stuff! Now go to the Live Search Webmasters Center and sign up. If you already have a Hotmail account you don’t even need to register, just use the same login details you use for Hotmail. Once registered, follow the prompts to tell Live Search about your new site (you have to enter your site’s URL and follow the validation process, which is explained very clearly there).
- c. Now that you’re in, and you’ve proved to Live Search that you are the rightful owner of your site, click on the “Sitemap” tab, and submit the URL of your site map.
Come back in a few days to see reports of who Links to you and what important sites you link to, according to the Live Search database. These factors will influence the ranking of your site in Live Search results, and help you hone in on good sources of traffic.
If you haven’t done so already, also make sure you follow the steps to include your site in Google.
SEO articles in this series:
How do I get my site into Google? - SEO Article #1
How to Write for Google - SEO Article #2
How do I get my site into Microsoft Live Search? - SEO Article #3
What’s a “NO FOLLOW” tag?
0 responses so far ↓
There are no comments yet...Kick things off by filling out the form below.
You must log in to post a comment.