Now compare prices of all your short-listed categories. Naturally one with a higher price is most trafficked one!

3) Yahoo! considers keywords in directory structure while ranking.

For example, if someone is searching for "Business Opportunities Directories", a web site listed in category - B2B/Business_Opportunities/Directories will be given more relevance than a web site listed in category - B2B/Business_Opportunities

4) Yahoo! DOES NOT spider websites to determine ranking. It ranks web sites based on keywords in domain name, title and description. So having META tags does not make any difference to your listing.

5) DO NOT try to stuff as much keywords as possible in to description. Yahoo! editors are notorious for cutting down description if they sense even slightest hype. Try to avoid words such as - no.1, proven, turnkey, exciting etc.

Also, make sure that heading of your home page is same as description you provided for your site. There should be no confusion in mind of editor reviewing your site.

6) Make sure your domain name and business name is same since Yahoo! is known to use business name as title for your listing.

7) Make sure your website is "Content Rich". This is very critical for two reasons. One - to get your site accepted by Yahoo! and Second - to maintain and get a higher listing.

Yahoo! determines popularity of a website by amount of time a visitor spends on your website. If a large no. of them hit "back button" of their browser as soon as they hit your web site, you can kiss goodbye to your dreams of a possible higher listing.

Once you get a lower listing, it can get very difficult to make up as visitors will not be able to find your site easily.

-----SIDEBAR----- Once a site gets accepted into directory, Yahoo! ranks it based on keyword popularity in domain name, title and description. But as time progresses, it determines ranking based on popularity of website itself.

We ignored this and our listing came down drastically within few days of getting accepted! -----SIDEBAR-----

8) Before submitting your website, thoroughly research websites that rank higher for keywords you are targeting (Especially "Most Popular" sites in directory section). This will give you a rough idea of what to and what not to include in your website.

Vishal Rao publishes an informative e-zine: iNet Profits. Subscribe to his e-zine and get his free e-mail course: "11 Killer Strategies To Explode Your Online Profits", by sending a blank e-mail to => sub@inetprofits.par32.com

* Are you a professional search engine optimizer who plans to work with clients? At workshop, you'll discuss guarantees, contracts, how to get new clients, how to service your clients so that you'll continually exceed their expectations, and more.

* Does your Web site have challenges that are keeping you from achieving top rankings? Learn work arounds for those challenges, from very simple to powerful and complex, depending on your unique situation.

* Are confused about how to use WebPosition Gold? Have you been introduced to Search Engine Optimizer (GRSeo)? Do you need a Web- based alternative to reporting? At workshop, we'll actually demonstrate various tools of trade and offer tips for using those tools as well as showing new tools you may not have considered.

* Are you interested in having a personal appointment to talk about your Web site and any challenges or concerns you are having? Besides training and personal help that comes through workshop itself, each participant will meet with an instructor for a 30-minute private consultation.

Who can benefit from this workshop?

* If you have an online business, or if you're considering starting one, this workshop is ideal for you.

* You may have taken a search engine marketing course in past but haven't kept up with current strategies.

* Maybe you're a Web designer who needs to learn how to design search engine friendly sites.

* Maybe you have a large company who needs a stronger online presence.

* Or, maybe you're ready for "next step" to a successful Web site - what to do "after" you achieve top rankings? If so, this workshop is exactly what you need.

In order to offer personal attention to each attendee, enrollment is limited to around 35. Because group is small, it quickly becomes very friendly and open. We share experiences and expertise, so that no matter what your level of experience is, you'll leave with an abundance of new information and things to try on your own Web site.

So, give this new way of learning search engine strategies a try. Visit Search Engine Workshops (http://www.searchengineworkshops.com) and look over agenda. Read some of testimonies from a past workshop. Learn more about workshop leaders by visiting About Us page.

Then, make arrangements to attend our next workshop to be held at Opryland Hotel in Nashville on May 1-3, 2002. It will be a learning experience you'll never forget!