Web Directories
Free web directories - another great way to build inbound links
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Website Promotion 3 - Web Directories
Expected birth during July / August 2009
Web Directories are similar to other business directories. They are useful when you know what you are looking for (information or products), but don't know who supplies it. Web directories provide a description of, and a hyperlink to, each website they list.
The most useful web directories are controlled by human editors who ensure that the entries in the directory correctly reflect the website they are listing, and that the website itself meets the standards of the directory.
There are some free web directories which are entirely automated, and do not have human editors. Their trustworthiness is much reduced.
Top Web Directories provide two benefits
Search engines are interested in web directories, especially those screened by human editors. Search engines pay particular attention to those web directories that are very selective about which websites they accept.
Having an entry in a selective web directory confers credibility, in some cases prestige, on the listed website. Search engines prefer websites they can trust, and rank them higher than other sites.
An entry in one of the top web directories gives you two benefits, both of which improve traffic to your website:
- directory-users may find your website-listing in the directory and visit your website
- better search engine ranking of your website improves your position in the search result pages.
Most of the top web directories are not free, but there are several notable exceptions. See Links/Resources
Other Web Directories provide a minor benefit
Less highly regarded directories will not be able to send much (if any) traffic to your website because they attract few users.
Search engines also take less notice of links from these directories. An individual listing in a minor web directory will cause little improvement in your website's ranking, unless the directory concerned has a reputation for being very selective. (Most don't.)
But if you have many entries in minor web directories, perhaps 100 or more, the cumulative effect on your website's search engine rankings may make the effort worthwhile. As there are thousands of web directories, it is not difficult to obtain thousands of links, just hard work!
Most free web directories offer a free or paid listing. Paid submissions will be published quickly and will list at the top of their categories. Free submissions may take several weeks (or even months) to list - that is if they are accepted.
Many free web directories will only provide a free listing if the entered website includes a (reciprocal) link to the web directory. This is not an unreasonable request, but you will have to decide for yourself whether or not you want to include links to web directories on your website.
Website submission to top web directories
Because of the double benefit of a good listing in a selective, top web directory, it is worth taking the trouble to submit your entry correctly to the top 10 or 20 directories. It's best done manually.
Prepare in advance for each web directory submission by researching which directory category is most appropriate for your website. Look at the other entries in that category to get a feel for the style of writing expected.
Find out what information is required by the web directory for each entry. Normally this information includes:
- Website URL
- Website Title
- Website Description
- Keywords (some directories only)
Preparing entries for top web directories
The easiest way is to prepare the information in advance so that you can copy from it and paste into the web directory's entry form. Take care to produce error free, well-written text.
If your website already has an official title (not necessarily the title of the home page) then use it. Otherwise create one now and stick to it. The title should be no longer than the other titles listed in the web directory category you aspire to, usually 10 words or less. Include a good key phrase if you can.
Create a meaningful and interesting description of your website to use in the web directory entry. Directories often specify a maximum character length for this field. Prepare several versions, in lengths of 150, 200, 300 and 500 characters, and use whichever version the web directory allows. (Use a utility to count the number of characters.)
The entry should be written as an objective description of your website, not in high-powered sales-speak. Do not use unnecessary capital letters or other devices to make your entry stand out. It must stand on its own merits. But include some of your key phrases if you can, without making your description sound unnatural.
Take careful note of any other instructions provided by the web directory and be careful to follow each of them. Then make your submission.
Be prepared for a long wait, and for possible rejection. The top directories are notoriously difficult to list into. If they do not accept your entry, you will probably not hear from them.
It might be beneficial to practice on some minor web directories before going for the big ones.
Website submission to minor directories
When you have entered your website into 10 or 20 directories, you will appreciate that this is a very time consuming process.
The remaining directories (as many of them as you select) can be handled by the same process if you wish, or you can look for an easier way, either a directory submission service, or directory submission software.
Web directory submission services charge a small fee, currently around $0.10 to $0.15 per submission. Web directory submission software enables you to keep the same control over the process as if you were doing it manually, but allows you to work more efficiently. See our Links/Resources
The submission process to minor web directories is essentially the same as for top web directories, but your entry is more likely to be accepted. Placing a reciprocal link in your directory will get you into more directories. Paid listings will get you even more.
Sometimes the links from a web directory are in a form which cannot be resolved by search engines. You can check this for yourself. Right click on any website link in the web directory. If you see a normal website URL then the search engines will also be able to follow that link and give you credit for it. Some lists of web directories already eliminate those whose links cannot be resolved by search engines.
That concludes this tutorial on web directories. In the next tutorial, we continue with our theme of website promotion, as we look at publishing Ezine articles...
Links / Resources
Web Directory Lists:
Seo Company: Web Directory Lists
Netvouz: Website Directories
Directory Critic: General Web Directory Lists
Lists of Top Web Directories:
IVS: Trusted Directories
Seo Company: Top Web Directories
Web World index
Lists of Free Web Directories:
Seo Company: Free Web Directories
VM Options: Free Directory List
Tips n Tutorials: Top Directories
Directory Critic: Free General Directory List
IVS: Top 100 Free General Directories
List of General Web Directories:
Seo Company: Free and Paid Directory List
More articles on Web Directory Submission:
A Promotion Guide: Boost your traffic with website directories
A Promotion Guide: How to submit to the ODP
A Promotion Guide: How to submit to Yahoo
Search Marketing: Directory submission Tips
Web Directory Submission Software:
SubmitEaze
Web Directory Submission Services:
Directory Maximizer
Zosap
Website Submission Service
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Free web directories - a reliable way to build inbound links to your winning website