A search engine, such as Yahoo! or Google, is an online tool that helps users of the World Wide Web find the sites and information they're looking for. A search engine user enters a word or phrase into a search box, and the search tool displays results that are generally organized in order of relevance.

Most search engines use automated programs (sometimes called spiders) to look for relevant information based on the users' keywords, and search not only web sites' content but also their web addresses, number of pages, and links. Search engines are one of the top ways potential customers can find your web site or online store.

Yahoo! automatically submits your site to Yahoo! and Google for consideration in their search results. This section also describes a number of strategies and tools you can use to try to boost your site's ranking in search results.

Want to add a search engine to your own site? Try our Personal Site Search feature.