If you are not submitting your website to free online directories then you are missing out on one of the easiest methods of generating traffic and boosting your rankings in the search engines. And it’s 100% free.
Online directories are not like the search engines (Google/Yahoo/MSN). While the search engines build their databases of web resources primarily through spiders that automatically crawl the web, online (or subject) directories are human-selected sites that have been hand-picked by editors. These listings are usually organized into hierarchical subject categories for ease of use. Since the websites included in online directories have been reviewed by human editors before inclusion, these directories are much less likely than their search engine counterparts to include sites that are “spammy” or questionable. That is one reason so many people use these directories.
Another reason people use these directories is that there are many “niche” directories from which to choose. Someone looking for information on mortgages may seek out an online directory that contains only mortgage-related entries. Another person looking for spyware removal software may use a directory that contains only computer security related listings.
Since a growing number of people are turning to these web directories to find vendors and information, it just makes good sense that your website should be included in some of them. The Yahoo general directory is one of the most well known on the Internet. But it’s not cheap. Yahoo charges a $299 fee (per site - nonrefundable) just for the privilege to submit. If you have that kind of budget then you may want to consider getting a listing in the Yahoo directory. If you don’t want to spend that kind of money then you can turn to the free directories.
There are literally thousands upon thousands of online directories that allow a webmaster to submit their website(s) for inclusion for free. These include general directories and specialized “niche” directories. Many of these directories will, for a small fee, place your listing in a more prominent location within their directory .. a featured link that stands out visually from the other listings, or maybe even a spot on the home page. The choice is up to you.
To find these 1000s of free directories where you can submit your websites, you can perform some simple search engine inquires such as combining “online directory” with “free submissions” or “online directory” with “regular submission free”.
Once you get a list of the free directories, set aside some time each day or every couple of days to submit your website to a few of them. It generally takes several minutes to fill out the online submission form for each website that you wish to submit. But if you submit to just 2 directories a day, you have a potential of having your website listed in 60 online directories by the end of the first month. Not bad for being 100% free.
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