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Links from different directories have
different values. A webmaster's time is limited, and
most webmasters want to get the biggest bang for their
bucks. So where should they start when it comes to directory
submissions? Search engines assign value to links from
the various directories differently, so how do you spend
your time where it matters most?
Yahoo
Yahoo is still, to some degree, the king
of directories. Whether a Yahoo directory link is worth
"paying for" is still a debatable question, but there
is no doubt that a link from Yahoo is worth the effort.
Do not leave a Yahoo link to automated submission software
-- take the time to manually submit your links to the
Yahoo Directory.
Yahoo
Directory
DMOZ
Amazingly, it appears that DMOZ is still
relevant. While some webmasters complain that DMOZ is
outdated, it is apparent that a DMOZ link still matters
to the larger search engines. DMOZ is a human-edited
directory with different editors for each category.
As such, patience is critical to obtaining a listing.
Editors can become annoyed when sites are submitted
multiple times, and before they've had the opportunity
to review the quality of the content. Some editors work
quicker than others, so be patient and polite, and you
may get lucky with a DMOZ listing.
DMOZ
Wikipedia
A legitimate link that stays in Wikipedia
is very desirable. Wikipedia is a human-edited online
encyclopedia. Wikipedia links are very difficult to
obtain, and even more difficult to retain. But if you
build a unique quality resource on a niche subject,
you might find yourself linked on a page in Wikipedia.
Wikipedia
Major Download Websites
The major software download websites are
all capable of driving traffic, and can impact a websites
popularity. Make sure to manually submit your software
to these three major download websites:
Download.com
Tucows.com
Softonic.com
Popular Directories
The more popular the directory, the better
the link is considered to be. Link popularity matters,
and a link from a webpage with a high page rank (as
determined by the Google Toolbar) is desirable. You
can assess the general popularity and value of a directory
by viewing the page rank of the webpages on a website.
Related Niche Directories
Websites that are an authority on related
subject material are great sources of web traffic. Conduct
very specific searches to locate popular niche directories.
Where To Find Important Directories
There are a number of resources designed
to assist webmasters in finding both free and paid directories
that will accept submissions. Use the following resources
to boost your directory listings:
Web
Search Engines
One-Way
Text Links
Business
Seek Business Directory
About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll Feed
Editor software for creating, editing, publishing
RSS feeds and podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing
for RecordForAll audio
recording and editing software.
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Webmaster Elements
Submissions to Directories
