How much do search engines matter?

Roane

I'll admit that I'm no expert at how to get sites to the top of the search engines. Really it's because I've never understood why people find it so important. I only rely on search engines for a factual investigation. The sites that I enjoy the most -- and that entertain me and keep me coming back -- are ones that I have found in a haphazard websurfing way. I clicked one link on a writer's blog to find a writing community to find an editor's blog to find a hilarious collection of satirical cartoons.

So I guess my question is this... Does anyone really find sites by search engine (beyond simple fact-checking)? How many users come from search engines? Active community members?

nancy_kelpie · Joined: 23 May 2006 Posts: 17 Location: the Netherlands

I think search engines are very important. I've read an article once that 90% of the visitors came through search engines.

When I want to talk about a subject on a forum, I always use Google to find that forum.

Keile · Joined: 09 Aug 2006 Posts: 6

Search engines are very important.

People usually search for what they're looking for on big search engines such as Google before doing anything else, and if they don't find what they're looking for, then they simply browse around. By having your website within the first few pages of a search engine, your guaranteed at least a little bit more traffic than what you would have if you didn't place your website within a search engine. I've found most of the best websites I've ever been to from Google and Yahoo, both of which were always there when I needed them.

mtajim · Joined: 09 Aug 2006 Posts: 23 Location: Kathmandu, Nepal

Yes, Search Engines are very important . You may find websites of your use from any other source but the one which you dont know you are bound to use Search enigines to find them. Search Engines like Google have vast database of new knowledge. one can always find things from them. Search Engines are kind of soul of internet.
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I blog at www.tajim.info

vegalinks · Joined: 07 Sep 2006 Posts: 5

Search engines are the best places for people to find and search for relevent information on world wide web. without search engines, its too hard to find corrent web sites directly, so having a wonderfull site is not enough untill it has a good ranking in major search engines like google and yahoo. almost 90% people go through search engines.

rattitude · Joined: 30 Jun 2006 Posts: 196

Search engines are highly important for the very reason you describe. To get regular visitors. My own forum gets a few members by direct word of mouth, and a lot because it googles very well with the relevent keywords--some of these people then spill over to the fixed pages and buy my products.

oakling · Joined: 18 Sep 2006 Posts: 5

I just wish Google would index sites faster! There's nothing like searching for a site I made three years ago and discovering that Google has still never heard of it. (Of course, that was one I barely advertised - but still!)

DNSimmons · Joined: 08 Jun 2006 Posts: 14 Location: Chicago

It's definitely important. That's how most visitors can find your site. I'm an author, so a lot of my visitors look me up either by the title of my books or my name. I'd say 75 percent of my visitors come from search engines.

kconnections · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 5

Search engines are very important. As far as I know the majority of online users find websites and forums by utilizing search engines. In fact, I have heard that at least 90% of people on the Internet use search engines.

puchchu · Joined: 23 Apr 2007 Posts: 35

Of course it is important. It helps you to find site, people and image too. In my case I would prefer to use search engine rather than to ask with friend. I am a student and most of the student use search engine to find collage.

supergurl · Joined: 20 Jun 2007 Posts: 7

I agree that alot of my favorite websites I sort of just came across from a email from a friend or a link off another site. However, the first thing I do whenever I need information on any type of subject is google it and I click through the first several links to see what I can find.

In fact the only time I move past the first three or four is if it is a for something very specific and non of the results are really what I need.

Darlene

conorod · Joined: 31 Aug 2008 Posts: 5

Search engines bring most of the visitors and members to websites and forums, and SEO for forums is very important. This is why there are so many SEO mods available. If I am looking for a forum on a particular topic I always use Google to find it.

subho · Joined: 15 Sep 2008 Posts: 11

A better search engine ranking matters a lot for a website. People can easily find the website and eventually the traffic increases rapidly. Most importantly it results one to have much more profit day by day.

Glovekian · Joined: 02 Nov 2008 Posts: 5

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