A Web Directory Provides Quality Backlinks That Improve Your Link Popularity.
A Web Directory or a Link Directory is a website that is in the business of arranging various websites in a wide range of categories and sub-categories. It provides links to those websites from its own website.
 A web directory is an excellent place to submit URL of your website and secure a backlink to give boost to your link popularity and as a result your search engine rankings.
A web directory is not a search engine.
A web directory should not be confused with a search engine. The most prominent difference between the two is that while a search engine displays a list of web pages based on keywords, instead a web directory compiles lists of websites by categories and sub-categories. A web directory is human edited whereas a search engine uses web crawlers to compile data. Web directories often allow site owners to directly submit URL of their website for inclusion and have human editors to review the quality of submission to maintain their standards.
Mostly a directory is quite general in nature and covers a large number of categories to encompass a wide variety of website listings. However one can find special niche directories which cater only to some particular fields of interest.
Submission of websites to web directories is considered as a common SEO (search engine optimization) technique to get vital inbound-links for the submitted web site. Not only do they offer a backlink, but traffic also and this traffic from these directories is highly targeted!
There are free and paid web directories on the World Wide Web.
Other topics discussed on this page are:
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Free Web Directory
A Free Web Directory does not charge anything for the review or listing of a website. Free directories get tons of website URL submissions and since most web directories are human edited there is a huge waiting period before these submissions can be reviewed. Sometimes the waiting period can stretch up to months. And even after that it is not sure whether your submission will be accepted or not.
Even if your website is accepted the listing in the free directory is never permanent and can be removed without any prior notice. It is also possible that your site is listed in a category which is different from the one you desired in the first place. Sometimes even the free directory itself disappears from the internet.
However, not all free directories are like that. There are very reputed free directories as well and one should strive hard to get their website listed on these, even if there is delay in getting it reviewed. Open Directory Project (or DMOZ as it is also called) is the most reputed free web directory but the submission review is very slow and they are very choosy in selecting website listings. But if you have the patience and the persistence then getting listed in their directory is worth the waiting.
Some directories offer Reciprocal Link facility wherein your submission is not charged for getting listed. But they expect you to place a link to their website from the URL that is submitted to their directory. That way they too earn a backlink and as long as both the parties abide by the agreement their links stay good.
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Paid Web Directory
A Paid Web Directory charges a one time or a recurring fee for reviewing and listing the submitted website link. Their charges are usually structured in two types : (1) Regular Listing, wherein the submission is inserted alphabetically, chronologically or link popularity wise in the sub category and (2) Featured Listing, wherein the link is awarded a premium position over and above the regular listing and sometimes in the main category too.
Submission to a paid directory is a better route to get the desired backlink. The most important advantage of a paid web directory is that the paid listing is a permanent one and stays for a life time. The submitted link will be taken off only if the web directory itself ceases to function or if someone has chosen the recurring fee plan and has not paid for the renewal of the link submission.
All submitted URLs to a paid directory are reviewed on priority and if accepted are placed in the proper category within 24-48 hours time. There is hardly any waiting list and in most cases you will get placed in the category that is most suitable to the niche of your website.
Usually most of the directories that pride themselves with a high PR (Page Rank) value are paid web directories and command hefty fees. These are called the Major Directories. Yahoo! Directory is the most important paid web directory and for their quality of backlins they charge $299 annually. Another example of a major directory is Business.com which also charges $299 annually for listing your website.
The 2nd Tier Directories are lower in rankings and are relatively cheaper. Their charges usually vary from $20 to $60 for permanent listings. These directories are not much crowded to dilute your links and are easier to gain an entry into. Such directories offer a wonderful opportunity to seek quality backlinks on an economical budget. Most of the directories will either refund the fee collected in full or partially in case your website submission is rejected.
Another advantage of seeking paid web directory listing is that some of these directories offer Deep Linking facility. A deep link is a link to a page other than the home page on your website. This goes well with search engine rankings and your link popularity. These directories usually offer 3 deep links in their Regular Listing Plans while 5 deep links in their Featured Listing Plans. Make the most of these.
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Steps To Submit URL To A Web Directory
Submission to a web directory is very simple. Following is a list of the steps involved and the information you are most likely to be asked for:
- 1 - Select the directory you wish to submit your URL to.
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We have prepared lists of the best web directories and categorized them as per their PR ranking. This is the most important criteria to select a link directory. Backlinks from directories with higher PR rankings are more valuable to you. We have further listed these directories as per their Alexa rankings, Google backlinks and Yahoo backlinks. Click on the Submit Now link to submit URL to that directory.
- 2 - Search for your website URL if it is already listed on the web directory.
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Before you proceed to submit URL it is advisable to check if the URL of your website is already existing on that directory or not.
- 3 - Browse and select the most suitable category and sub category.
- 4 - Once inside the chosen category look for links like “Submit URL” or “Add URL” or “Link your website” that will take you to the page on URL submission.
- 5 - On the submit page you will first be prompted to select the type of listing you desire. If it is a free directory then maybe you will not have to select any plan. But in case you opt for a paid submission then choose your appropriate fee payment plan.
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Depending upon the type of fee structure you choose you will be required to fill in your website information. All the necessary and compulsory fields marked with a star cannot be left blank. Although it varies from one directory to the other but following is the information most likely to be asked for from you:
Website Information You Should Be Ready With:
- 1 - Website Title
- 2 - Website URL
- 3 - Your Name
- 4 - Your e-mail address
- 5 - Website Description
- 6 - Meta Tag Keywords
- 7 - Deep Link Title ( for approx. 3-5 deep links)
- 8 - Deep Link URL ( for the above 3-5 deep linked titles)
Since most of the web directories seek some or all of the above information it is better to save this data in a notepad or word document template to cut and paste in the required fields. - 6 - Verify the information supplied and check for any typos. Most directories have word limits for title and description fields. Check that you comply with these limits.
- 7 - Click Submit to send your URL for submission.
- 8 - In case you had opted for a paid submission you will now be taken to PayPal or any other site to process your payment. Pay as per the plan and once the payment is successfully collected your website URL be reviewed within 24 to 48 hours. Your payment receipt from the merchant and the receipt of URL submission from the directory will both be sent on your e-mail.
If you had opted for a free submission you will be sent a successful submission note. This does not ensure that your website URL will be accepted. That will be confirmed on your e-mail.
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Reputed Directories
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