The second page is for month of April, 2001. In April, there were 955 people who came to site from search engines. This was 46% of total of 2073 site visitors. These visitors viewed 6521 pages.

You may view these actual statistics at: http://imiobc.com/keyword_rich/lrefers0401.html (362 kb)

The third page is for month of March, 2001. In all, 1441 people came to site via search engines, which comprised 55.5% of 2599 visitors. The sites visitors looked at 5899 pages while they were onsite.

These statistics are located at: http://imiobc.com/keyword_rich/lrefers0301.html (355 kb)

Going back a bit, next page I am making available is October of 2000. In this month, 1603 people found my site through search engines. This number represents 53.5% of sites 2995 visitors in October. All together, these 2995 people looked at 11,843 total pages.

These statistics can be found at: http://imiobc.com/keyword_rich/lrefers1000.html (440 kb)

Now, as you look at each referrer, you will note that domain from which traffic came is listed on top of each list, then actual page on domain is listed at right side with a link attached to it. You can actually click link at right to see actual search results used to find my site.

If you click on these search engine results used to find my site, keep in mind search engine results change over time, based on new data going into engines. As a result, you will often be able to see my page listed, in search results of page that opens, only in links that are fresh.

Another thing to note is that to right of actual page link is a lot of black text. This text represents special form information that was used to narrow search results. Often, you will see "&query=blah+blah" or "&q=blah+blah". This refers to search terms actually being "blah blah". Sometimes, you will see something to effect of "&start=10" or "&first=10". In both cases, this tells you that search results begin at ten.

As you review these site statistics, you will be amazed at wide range of search engine terms used to locate my domain. You may also be dumbfounded by some of keyword phrases that people type into search engines while looking for results they desire. The one that really got me was "dangerous creatures caused invalid page fault"! If "dangerous creatures" is not a video game, I am lost.

Amidst all of different search terms listed in these pages, you might also note frequency of my top site keywords, "free website content", "free ezine content" or some variation thereof. The pages that rely on these key terms see highest number of visitors on my domain each month. I have done well to place these pages in #1 spot on several search engines.

This site represents my first domain. If you were to have access to statistics on my other domains, you would be astonished at numbers coming through my domains from search engines and from other sources.

My point is that while you should always take a multi-pronged approach to building traffic to your website, you should never dismiss power of search engines as one of your most viable traffic building solutions.

We also submit to www.Canada.com, who use Inktomi directory. They are very good.

A thought, sorry question, on which to end...

With all comments and articles about search engines and so many people spending so much time and effort "trying to get better of them", why don't more web marketers rather spend their valuable energies in activities, which they CAN CONTROL to some extent. Once you have posted to major search engines, monitor your positioning from time to time (say once a month) then LET BE. You'll never beat them, because their policies change all time. Start concentrating on MARKETING and carving out a unique niche for yourself on net with your particular products.

It's been a long learning curve for us at Eagle Products (NZ) seeing what works and what doesn't in getting listed with major search engines ...like lessons of life itself.

Hope this info may help you readers "out there in cyberspace".

Go for it and good luck.

Craig Lock

http://www.nzenterprise.com/writer/books.html

"We can all use internet to reach out to "global community" and build a better world in this new "Information Revolution" that is upon us. Let's use it wisely, respect our diversity and unique cultures; but elebrate a new world in union. One where, like your founding forefathers in America, you can first celebrate Independance Day of strong burning creative spirit that is within you. If set alight, it is one that will make your personal VISION of future a REALITY."