How long does it take to get listed on the search engines?

Some engines say they will list you within a couple of days or weeks, but realistically, a site embarking on search engine optimization and submission will start to see results in about 2- 3 months. You can begin tracking a results in a couple weeks after your first submission and then begin resubmitting again to trigger the engines to notice your site. The timeframe also depends on the competitive nature of your industry.