I’ve received a number of emails with questions about the Indexing Competition, so I’ll be posting the answers here for everyone.

I just registered a new domain yesterday (July 1st) - can I still use it in the competition?

I took a look at this reader’s domain, and it still had not resolved (it was showing the registrar’s park page), and there are no listings for it in any search engine that I could find. So I’m going to allow it, but his clock will still be started as of the registration date - July 1st.

If we have 25 pages, we would need to have site:domain showing 25? Or is there another way to have a site “fully indexed”.

Yes, I will be using a query of site:domain on both Google and Yahoo to determine if you’ve been indexed.

I have some promotional software that I would like to use. Do I need to run them past you first or just let you know what I am doing?

You may use any software you wish - you do not need to “OK it” with me.  Just let me know ahead of time what you’re using.

(With regards to obtaining inbound links)If I am not affiliated with them, how can I show email proof of that?

My criteria for links is as follows:  Would Joe-Bob Marketer be able to obtain that link?  As long as you are not leveraging your relationship with the owner or moderator of another site, it’s fair game.  If you post in forums and use your link in your signature, well Joe-Bob could do that, so I would never ask for any sort of proof.  However, if your link appears on the front page of eBay, I’m going to want to see the emails that you exchanged with eBay in order to get that link, to make sure you’re not best buds with eBay’s webmaster.

If you have any other questions, feel free to send them - marc@marcquarles.com