Do We Need Web Directories?

WEB DIRECTORIES

Directories play an important role in aiding a site's web visibility. Crawler-based search engines will, upon finding your site on a directory, or series of directories, consider these directories as one-way links. This will then add importance to your site's relevance in the "eyes" of these search engines and will most likely increase the chances of your site being added to their listings.

Relevant reciprocal link exchanges are given some importance by search engines but the most valued links, those which are most likely to boost a sites rankings in the major SES are one-way links - sites that accept your link without requiring a reciprocal link from you. These links are highly regarded due to the reasoning that other sites must hold your site in high enough esteem that having your link on their site is acceptable without an exchange requirement. Consequently, the more one-way links, the better!

Few, if any, sites today will agree to a one-way link favoring your site. The only way to achieve this is thru submitting to web directories.

Web directories and search engines have made a conscious effort to exclude bulk submitters. You've seen the ads - "We submit to 1,500 search engines and directories for $10.00, etc." For this reason, many directories require your registration and possibly entering a security code. Practically all of these directories require you provide an email address. Although hot mail or gmail is usually accepted, some directories will require an email corresponding to your domain name and will allow you to submit your site only after verification so it is best to establish an email specifically for web submissions.

An important consideration in submitting is to be sure the directory has a page rank of no less than three. Four or more is better - the reason being that the big search engines like Google and Yahoo will attach more relevance to the link if the directory is well rated. In fact, submitting to a directory with a low or no page rank can - if done frequently - lower your own site's page rank.

One of the best sites in which to find relevant web directories is Vile Silencer (www.vilesilencer.com). This site will guide you to appropriate directories and even displays the page rank of each directory.

Since directories are search engines edited by humans, detailed preparation must be made by the site owner or webmaster prior to submission. Be sure to offer a concise description of the sites offering, staying within the word allowance limits of the directories. In addition, the description should not include such self-promotional terms as "the best", "the largest" or "best prices". Directory editors consider this marketing hype and will undoubtably reject the submission.

Regarding cost, many directories offer the option of free as well as paid submissions. Many older directories with a large database may no longer accept free submissions - although some still allow freebies despite their size. Newer directories almost always allow free submissions in order to more quickly increase their database. The larger these directories grow, the more their importance on the web becomes and the more likely they are to charge for submission.

Stuart McHenry is President of Site Sift Media, Inc. which owns an operates http://www.site-site.com/