Write copy for your visitors, not the search engines.

I read SEO advice that says we should add our new site pages to the search engines.

Probably not the best idea, friends. Why? Spammers do that and I think you would rather not seem to be connected to that ilk.

The search engines will pick up your new pages especially if you have a link coming into them. Think BLOG.

When I put my first site up in 1998 (pre Google) I noticed that the new pages I added were picked up quickly. The same is true today. I have never submitted a new site to the search engines, either. Don't sweat the small stuff, folks. In fact, if memory serves, Google makes a statement about this in Webmaster Guidelines.

Some people do things that are obviously SPAM but are not specifically mentioned by Google's guidelines. An example might be putting links in the same text color that is used in the body of long text on a page. Like this: Some great sites, blah blah blah. "great sites" leads to one of my offers if you click on it. (hint: don't click it)

I can't think of any good reason to have your text links in the same color as the font for all other text on the page except to obtain an inbound link. The point of putting it in a different color (I prefer the age old blue) is to draw attention to the words an hope people click on it. If you intention is deceit then it is probably not a good idea, don't you agree? Not only that, one day you may find your page buried into the 9,426 position.

Here is what Google says: "It's not safe to assume that just because a specific deceptive technique isn't included on this page, Google approves of it.Webmasters who spend their energies upholding the spirit of the basic principles will provide a much better user experience and subsequently enjoy better ranking than those who spend their time looking for loopholes they can exploit."

There is a lot more good info at Webmaster Guidelines. Remember, write copy for your visitors, not the search engines.

Greg Cryns