Directories are web sites that categorize links into specific groups. Directories are designed to provide visitors with easy access to the best web sites in a specific category.
Directories can be a very useful resource for shoppers and companies. They can drive targeted traffic to your web site, increase your link popularity and raise your Page Rank. This can translate into better sales.
There are three different types of directories that one should submit their web site to. Each type is listed below, along with examples of directories that I recommend.
Free Directories Requiring No Reciprocal Link
These are the easiest directories to submit a link. They require no payment or link back. All you have to do is fill out the form and submit your information. These directories are great because they take very little time and cost nothing. However, they are also the most risky because they can easily turn into link farms. Make sure the site has a high Page Rank and looks like it has restrictions on what types of sites it accepts.
Free Directories Requiring Reciprocal Link
These types of directories are very controversial. Only brand new websites should consider these directories because they are a good way to raise your link popularity up from zero. They are not very useful for established sites though because better link partners can be found. If you own a brand new site and plan on submitting to these directories, it is recommended that you create a "partners" page to keep your links manageable and off of your index page. There is a fine line between reciprocal directories and link farms, so be sure you do not cross that line. As always, be sure the directory is reliable and has a good Page Rank before submitting.
Paid Directories
Most people cringe when they think of paying for marketing and promotion. However, a site is worthless if it has no visitors. Paid directories are a great way to build your link popularity on very respectable sites. Some of these directories also have a reciprocal link option. Although these directories do cost money for inclusion, they normally pay off the best in the long run.
Getting listed in directories is almost as important as a good search engine ranking. This is because these directories are moderated by real live human beings who look at the content of websites that are submitted and place them in the relevant categories.
Also search engines usually spider directory listings, so this is a good way of getting your site indexed on the search engines. This helps to reduce the amount of spam found on the normal search engines.You should try and get your site listed at such places like Yahoo.com, ClearChoiceDirectory.com or some other active directory.
Some education is essential to enlighten you about this form of interactive marketing. Directories aren't Search Engines; they are web sites or information portals which use analysts on staff to review submissions from companies who want to be listed in their Directory.
Here are some tips
1. Directory listings are a great value, do your homework and find one you like, they provide a long-term listing, unlike Search Engine rankings which are much more volatile.
2. Be patient when submitting to Directories, as most are getting thousands of submissions per monthly - some list you immediately while others will take 30-90 days to actually get listed. Keep an accurate record of sites you have listed on.
3. Never submit a site unless it is ready for primetime, with no broken links, under construction pages, incomplete text, graphics that aren't loading properly, etc. Indexers are very busy, once they see a site which has problems they will click to the next entry on their list and your hard work is to no avail.
4. Be prepared with the proper marketing materials for this type of a campaign, including a working title for your site which is 6-8 words.
5. Part of the required expertise involved in this process is in the actual category selection - carefully select which category or categories where you think your site fits by looking at others in this category to determine if you fit into this classification.
6. Be aware we are seeing a shift to fee-based submissions to shortcut the process - Yahoo started the trend over a year ago, now LookSmart and other top tier Directories are starting to do the same as well as ClearChoiceDirectory.com which is a popular search engine, shopping portal and Business Blog all in one. The tradeoff is of course minimizing time to market.
7. Want to know if this process has actually done anything for you? Check your log files or web site analysis software and look at where your traffic is coming from.
8. If you are getting significant traffic from a small list of Directories you may want to go back to their web site and pay for their premium listing services to drive more traffic. These enhanced listings services typically enable you to post to a featured listing or add your company logo which enhances your position on the directory, usually only for a few hundred dollars per year.
Recommended Directories -
Yahoo.com ($299 per year)
ClearChoiceDirectory.com ($245 per year with included logo)
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