>How do I get my site to appear in search engines such as Google, Yahoo, Lycos...?
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>How do I get on top and stay there without paying too much?
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>What price do I have to expect to pay when I have to pay?
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>Are there any sites that would help me with placement in search engines? (tips & tricks)

Try WebPosition Pro. It's a killer software for that if being used within a good set of parameters.