Should I start submitting before my website is live?

I was asked this question a few weeks back, and not for the first time either. Should I start submitting my URL even though I don't have a website on it?

NO!

I know the basis of the question is probably that the site owner has heard of the sandbox at Google and wants to be getting into the listings by the time their site is developed, but never, ever submit a domain that has no site at it. It's SEO suicide. Google will attempt 3 times to find a site there, and if it doesn't your URL will be dropped. After that, it's not clear how much it takes for your URL to be picked up again.

Same goes for other search engines. If they send their spider to a site with no content they will drop the URL.

My best advice is to put together a small site of just a few pages covering all the main topics that will grace the pages of your fully developed site. Upload this site to the server and then submit to search engines. This way your initial listings will at least match what is going to be on the site, and you will actually get some listings, and maybe even some customers before your real site is live.

One other note, on this mini-intro site, don't use phrases like "under construction" or "coming soon". These are red flags that show your site isn't complete. (I can use them on this page because Google knows this site is full of content and improving daily).

So, in summary: Build a mini-site and submit that. Don't ever submit until you have some form of website live.