I guess this is pretty basic but if you don’t know it can be a world of hurt.
Get yourself a google webmaster account. http://www.google.com/webmasters/
This is a great way to show google you exist. Then, you can start getting your pages indexed, and start getting some real traction. Uploading your sitemap in conjunction with getting a google analytics and installing the tracking code will really put a sign in google’s face saying, “I’m here! Love me!”
It’s also a good way to see how many broken links you have. And, let me tell you, keeping that bad-boy at zero is what you want to aim for. Set up a 301 redirect – but just keep that number LOW. L-O-W.
At one point our company exploded in a frenzy of broken links, and our indexed pages actually went DOWN. I put in a re-direct and the broken link counter started to go down – and our indexed pages went up.
So – to recap
1) Get a google webmaster account.
2) Upload your sitemap there.
3) Get a google analytics account.
4) Install the tracking code.
5) Make sure your broken links on your google webmaster account is low.
And you’ll be money.