What are Web Directories?
Prior to search engines, the web was a confusing mess of websites that made it difficult for users to find information they wanted. Thus, web directories were born. Web directories served the purposes of organizing information on the web through a strict human-edited review process. Sites are listed in relevant pages of the directory so users can find sites they are seeking by navigating to a specific directory subpage for that theme. The largest and most well-known directory is the Open Directory Project (DMOZ).
Are Directory Submissions Worth Doing Anymore?
Most definitely yes, even if you have to pay review fees. While some SEOs believe the value of a submission lies in the traffic potential, I believe that the directory listing offers an opportunity to increase link popularity from a quality, relevant page of another site. Directories were initially designed to solve issues with spam in the search results. Once the problem of search was solved (at least mostly), many believed that it was going the way of the wind. Directories still served a purpose even though it’s small. A search engine would never be able to establish site quality based on algorithmic factors. A directory editor, on the other hand, would be able to review the site on factors such as ease of use, look and feel, content quality, etc.
Which Directories Should You Submit A Site To?
The top directories on the web to go for first are DMOZ.org, Yahoo Directory, Microsoft Small Business Directory, and Best of the Web Directory.
For an inside look at the operations of top-tier directories, check out the interviews with Greg Hartnett of Best Of The Web and Shawn Walters of Uncover the Net.
What Factors Can You Use to Establish Directory Quality?
To determine what other directories would be worth the time and money, consider these factors:
- Age – The older the better. Generally, we look for sites having been around for more than 5 years. BOTW was registered back in 1996. It’s even older than DMOZ.
- Authoritativeness – How does it rank for it’s industry keywords? How well is it known in it’s industry?
- TrustRank & Inbound Link Profile – The more authority a site has, the more “trust” it gains in the search engine. With the proliferation of spammy sites, age and authority play a bigger role in establishing whether a site is trustworthy. Trust levels can also be measured by the type of links it has. The more .GOV, .MIL, and .EDU links to a site, the stronger the link profile.
- PageRank (PR) – The higher the better as it measures, in part, the authoritativeness of a site. While PR is no longer as important as it used to be, it offers a quick and easy way to evaluate a site.
- Recently Cached – The more often the search engine spiders visit the site, the better chance a link on the directory page will be seen and counted.
- Alexa Traffic Ranking – Since you can’t get actual traffic figures from the site owner, we can do the next best thing. By visiting Alexa.com and selecting the Traffic Rankings tab, anyone can get a quick estimate of site traffic as compared to its peers. Check the section where they list other sites that people visit in addition to the site entered. You’ll gain some insight as to how it ranks. A word of caution though. These numbers can be easily manipulated and thus any figures derived from this measurement should be taken with a grain of salt. In general, it offers a decent method of evaluating a directory’s quality.
- Editorial Review – Sites accepted into the directory should meet quality standards and not just because the site owner was willing to shell out cash. There must be clear editorial guidelines that are followed not just posted for display. Sites in the directory should be checked regularly for broken links and for “bait and switch” techniques.
What Other Directories Are Still Worth Your While?
For the month of May: Best of the Web (BOTW) Directory celebrates 2 years of web directory promotions by running a contest. Each site that is submitted to the BOTW Directory gets 10% off submission fees and for a chance to win an Apple Mac Book Pro.
To submit, click on BOTW.org and enter the promotional code WINMAC! when submitting.