How To Manage Directory Submissions

'More than 80% of the traffic comes from the top ten search engines'.

You have probably read this statement many times and it's true at least for the majority of websites.

So how about web directories? Is submitting your site to them a waste of time?

Even if directories usually don't deliver a lot of traffic they contribute inbound links to your site increasing its link popularity a very important factor used by search engines to rank websites.

When someone queries a search engine using a keyword relevant to your site, higher is your site link popularity higher are its chances to come up near the top of the results.

Submitting your site to web directories will help you increase its visibility and attract more traffic from search engines.

However you need an overall strategy to successfully manage your directory submissions or you will only lose your time and energies.

Is your site ready?

You should never forget that directories don't exist to give away free links. Their purpose is to provide their visitors with good quality sites.

If you want some chances to get listed you need a well designed web site containing useful and original content or offering useful services.

Your site must also be complete without broken links or links to 'under construction' pages.

Other things that can cause a rejection of your submission are: too many ads (especially pop-ups and pop-unders), automatic redirections to another domain, having the same exact content of other sites (example: the 'self replicated' sites some companies provide to their affiliates).

Preparing your listing details

Open your favorite text editor and write down the following informations:

1) your web site URL.

2) your website Title. Some directories accept only the official site name as title, others allow some descriptive keywords, but in general stuffing a lot of keywords in your title is not acceptable.

Write 2-3 different titles in compliance with these different rules.

3) your website description. Write what your site is about in a couple of sentences. Avoid superlatives, exclamation marks, excessive hype and generally everything that makes your description sound like an ad.

Description should be written in third person. Avoid expressions like 'we offer', 'we are ...'.

4) a set of search keywords related to your site. Separate the keywords with commas, then write down the same set of keywords this time separated by spaces. Some directories require the first format, others the second one.

5) your full name and email address.

Once you have done save the document. By copying and pasting these informations into the submissions forms you will save time and avoid errors.

Finding web directories

The next step is finding directories where you can submit your site.

You can use browse the 'Directories' category of top directories like Yahoo and DMOZ to find minor and specialized directories.

Spend some time to determine how each directory is organized and find the most appropriate category for your site.

Submitting to the wrong category usually causes a rejection of your submission.

Compile a list of all directories where you have submitted your site indicating the date of your submission.

Verifying the results

Not all directories send you an email when your site is listed.

You should periodically visit your list of directories and make a search for your site title or url. Flag all directories where you find your site.

If your site has not been listed after about 2 months from the date of your first submission you can try to submit it again. My advice is to not resubmit more frequently.

You can also contact the directory owner and ask about the status of your submission, but if you don't receive a reply, don't insist. There may be many reasons why a directory doesn't list your site, simply accept the fact that not all submissions are successful.

Submitting your site to web directories is an essential part of your website promotion strategy. It's a time consuming task, but with the right planning you will be able to manage it successfully.

Directory submission - A Direct Route to Search Engine Recognition

Directory submissions are not mandatory, however they are likely to contribute demonstrably to your website promotion. Becoming familiar with reputable directories and crafting your submission registration for search engine recognition can provide you with backlinks, a higher ranking, and increased traffic when a successful directory submission strategy is in place.

Directory submission is a direct route to search engine recognition. Submitting a website to reputable directories such as DMOZ and the major search engines is often, (but not always), an automatic reflex for SEO experts. On the otherhand, SEO experts ignore the opportunity for multiple directory submissions over a short period of time – as this is considered search engine spam and can blacklist your website. Knowing when to submit and whom to submit to is a fundamental requirement of successful directory submission.

Submitting your website to a directory is not only beneficial for building up your links. Search engines look to directory submissions for websites to spider (scan) and include in their search engine result pages. Ideally, a directory will request submissions because they are trying to provide a person with relevant information. Thus, a directory submission will provide you with a backlink, recognition by other search engines, and a valuable resource for relevant traffic.

Directories should not be randomly chose for submission. Your website has the potential to be blacklisted for being “guilty by association.” If the directories are not reputable to the search engines, your website will not benefit by the directory submission. Likewise, submitting your website to a reputable directory will increase your stature within search engine rankings.

It is important to evaluate the requirements for registration for the directory submission. Website directories have different requirements for submission. DMOZ uses human editing, as do many others. The major players, such as Google, Yahoo, and MSN use electronic methods to analyze directory submissions. Ironically, they prefer directories that use human editing in their rankings.

When submitting your website to a directory, consider your content thoroughly and become familiar with the format of the website listings that are already included in the directory. Some directories will void your title tags of keywords and insert the name of your company. Thus, you must pay careful attention to how your website is presented to maintain a search engine presence for your keywords.

Directory submission is by no means mandatory, but it is a direct route to being recognized by search engine spider bots. Directories should be carefully chosen by reputation as well as content. A niche-targeted directory submission is far more likely to result in customer leads and customer conversions than a general directory submission. Geo-targeting plays a significant role in reaching prospective customers. Reaching customers that are most likely to be responsive to your calls to action is the goal of your website promotions.

Directory submission is a small, but meaningful facet in search engine optimisation. A successful directory submission strategy will result in search engine recognition, a higher reputation with search engines, backlinks, and increased traffic. If these results are not seen, (which could be due to a multitude of reasons), the directory submission strategy needs to be modified. Directory submission will get your website on the road to search engine result pages – and get your website on the road to success.