Getting Search Engine Traffic? Starting it?

I have the web site in place. It's got good SEO. Keywords on the pages, links are optimized, everything is ready.

How do I go about getting a search engine to recognize it (google) and how do I get a higher search engine positioning with it?

If you have strong content to refer (good articles or tutorials), you could submit them to digg or del.icio.us or any other "social" website that could give you some starting traffic and referrals. You can also go to other forums related to your topic and if allowed submit your link or use it on your signature. And submit to free directories. You might also try your luck at DMOZ.

1. Some lists of free directories to which you can submit your site:

http://info.vilesilencer.com/

http://www.abilogic.com/

http://www.best-web-directories.com/free-directories.htm

http://www.seocompany.ca/directory/web-directories.html (the guy that owns this one is a scam artist but no reason not to use his info)

Note that these aren't the directories themselves but rather lists of free (as well as paid) directories that will accept submissions in various categories. What you do is locate a directory and click on that link, then locate the best category for your site in the directory, and finally submit your site to that category - just follow instructions on the site.

2. Buy SEOBook.com (http://www.seobook.com).

The short answer is -- Backlinks. Get other sites to link to yours. The more related to your site subject, the better. It'll take time, but as you get more links back, you will climb in the search engine results.

Acquiring some inbound links from other websites will help get your site indexed quickly. As for ranking, that depends on how competitive your key phrases are, but again inbound links will help.

If the site is brand new, I wouldn't discourage yourself by checking your rankings in Google. It's going to take a while to rank well in that particular engine.

If you want some initial encouragement, I recommend checking MSN / Live search. You'll see your site begin to rank there long before Google.