how do i get my web site to the top of the list on a search engine?

[JLChauvin]

how do i get my web site to the top of the list on a search engine?

[MiXa]

Make good use of meta tags such as Keywords and Description.

[pinoy]

1) Submit your URL to major search engines.
For google go to
http://www.google.com/addurl/?continue=
and
http://base.google.com
for yahoo go to
http://search.yahoo.com/info/submit.htm
for msn it is
http://search.msn.com/docs/submit.aspx

2) Add meta tags..i.e. keywords describing your website in meta tags.
3) add more incoming links to your website from other websites.
4)Share your website links with similar sites.
5) do have a sitemap.
6) prefer static html wherever possible.
7) One tip, which is less known that make a lot of pages like your index or default page and have hidden links to them all over your website