Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, is actually a misnomer, as search engines are not actually optimized. Web pages are the ones that are optimized, through website submissions or submitting urls, which make the search function more efficient.

There are a number of ways to optimize a site to incur higher rankings and more hits. Some choose to place links on their sites, which actually works quite well. Technically, SEO means any process that allows your site to gain high rankings.

Aside from placing links, others choose to use XML feeds. They place the precise information they want, and push these to the various search engines. Some choose to optimize their site by rewriting or editing the content and copy on the site. Simply put, any activity that gives your site higher rankings can be counted as a search engine optimization process.

Yet another effective way to jumpstart your site is by placing directory links. By doing so, you can list your website in search engines and directories. This is a great help in popularizing your website, most especially if yours is a start up site. When doing this, you have to choose your directories or search engines.

To start, get your site listed in a number of directories. The more directories you get listed into, the better. There are directories that charge a minimal fee for your website submission , and more often than not, it is worth it to get listed. Suggested directories that you should get into are DMOZ (http://www.dmoz.org), Yahoo! (http://www.yahoo.com), LookSmart (http://www.looksmart.com), Business.com (http://www.business.com), and Sorve.com (http://www.sorve.com).

Being listed in these sites can be very rewarding, theyre actually considered valuable gems as link partners, because most webmasters go to these sites to search. So when you submit your URL up for listing, you become part of a large database that people can choose from. In doing so, you can increase the traffic on your website.

Before putting you embark on your website submission in the various directories and search engines, make sure that the search engines and directories are reputable ones. Its also best if you know how popular it is, especially if you are asked to pay a minimal fee for signing up. You have to ensure that every penny you shell out is accounted for, and will go into your websites promotion.

You can also place a directory on your site. Directories are topical lists of various resources found on the Internet, arranged in a certain order or hierarchy. They are usually browsed according to subject, they can also be browsed by typing in certain keywords.

Directories are more thorough than search engines, as they are maintained by a team of people. These people are responsible for the information present on the site, as they do the researching and maintenance themselves. Search engines, on the other hand, make use of spiders or crawlers to come up with links and information.

A main advantage of having a directory and making use of it to search for subjects is that it narrows down the search for you. By doing so, your site becomes more popular to people who want a refined search for the topics they are interested in. This way, your directory draws in your much-needed audience and target.

These are only some of the ways you can optimize your sites popularity. You can come up with your own, or do as the others do. Whatever you choose, try to weigh the pros and cons of every procedure, and try to choose the most advantageous to your site. Whether its submitting your sites URL to a search engine or directory, or refreshing your sites content, do it well, and youll be rewarded accordingly.