Improve your search engine ranking with directories

Search Engine Rankings can be boosted by submitting your website to directories.

The specific directory doesn't matter as such, but there are some general rules of thumb to look for.

A directory must have good [google page rank]

You will definitly want to check that links on the directory are not forced through some sort of redirection page.... make sure the link is direct.

Make sure the category pages URL's are search engine friendly.

A bad url will be as such:- thedirectory.com/cats/cat.jsp?id=25&pg=3
however a good url may be as follows:- thedirectory.com/marketing/directmail

You can see that the latter is keyword rich.... while the former is pretty ugly.

Make sure the diretories do not require a link back.... this is true of some directories and I certainly dont recommend them.

It may go without saying, but make sure the directory listings are free (With one exception... I'll explain below.)

If the directories you research can satisfy the above, then go right ahead and list your site there.

The top two directories to submit to are:-
http://www.dmoz.org/
http://dir.yahoo.com/

Both of these directories are extremely picky as to who they list.

I cannot recommend highly enough that you read the rules of submission along with all of the tips and guidance for submitting your website. Any indication that you have just submitted your site willy nilly fashion will result in an immediate rejection.

In fact, successful submission to these two directories is so difficult these days that companies have sprung up specialising in directory submission.

On yahoo, navigate to the page where you would be listed. If it has a pretty high PR (5 or above) then it may well be worth your while taking out the yahoo paid inclusion.... which seriously speeds up the length of time to get listed.

In both DMOZ, and YAHOO (free submission), be prepared to wait up to 18 months for inclusion.
The DMOZ directory forms the platform on which Google's own directory is build upon and as such is the best directory in which to be listed. It has been proven time and again that a listing in DMOZ does wonders for web site rankings.

With regards to all of the other directories out there, then you are still well advised to read any rules of submission to avoid any rejections.

Here are some other directories in which you will want to submit your website:-

http://www.earthstation9.com
http://www.smartlinks.org
http://www.josh.nu/
http://www.re-quest.net/
http://www.websavvy.cc/
http://www.qango.com/
http://www.directoryarchives.com/
http://www.geniusfind.com/
http://www.seekon.com/
http://www.turnpike.net/directory.phtml
http://www.blakkat.com/
http://www.gimpsy.com/
http://www.webworldindex.com/
http://www.wowdirectory.com/
http://www.yeandi.com/
http://www.worldwidewub.org/
http://www.thedirectorysite.com/
http://www.webworldindex.com/

A good search around google will reveal a lot more directories if you hunt around.

Hope you find the above useful!!

Rob Collyer
CEO and Founder of Webforumz.com
How to get excellent Search Engine Optimisation Advice for your non-forum websites

I think you mean http://www.seekon.info/ - not seekon.com. Seekon.com is kind of worthless, whereas Seekon.info was modelled after the gloriously beautiful SevenSeek.com and is worth submitting to.

This was actually the first thing I did adter reading about SEO. It really helps a lot.

ps: not all the directory's you posted are free. And some links don't work or have slow servers. http://www.webworldindex.com/ is 2 times on your list.

But thanks, I submitted to all the good ones

seocompany.ca

correction , http://www.seocompany.ca/directory/web-directories.html

I'm putting one on my site and really going to promote it after I switch names...

I've been adding the same site to high pr directories for 3 months now.. the high PR the better

Originally Posted by SouthernTn

correction , http://www.seocompany.ca/directory/web-directories.html

Great, I have some work to do

I notice you mention free yahoo. Is there a specific link for that or is that no longer available?

I spent 1hr looking for the free yahoo. I dont' think it exist anymore. Not sure if 300 a year is worth a pr5 link.

Originally Posted by JohnScott

I think you mean Seekon Web Directory - Sophisticated Collection of Web Sites by Category - not seekon.com. Seekon.com is kind of worthless, whereas Seekon.info was modelled after the gloriously beautiful SevenSeek Web Directory and is worth submitting to.

added my website to seekon.info only to find it costs $29.95 USD to be matched with a payment receipt to be added to the directory

is it worth paying for?

Originally Posted by Chris Powell

added my website to seekon.info only to find it costs $29.95 USD to be matched with a payment receipt to be added to the directory

is it worth paying for?

IMO, no.

There are better ways of getting links then spend hours upon hours of directory submission.

I have completed my mission to submit my site to every directory that I could find. But the poor quality and the lack of maintenance of most made it more a waste of time then anything else.

A tip: don't spend hours and days on this, choose a few good payed directories on the top of the list that don't ask for a monthly or yearly fee. And for free ones just try Yahoo and ODP.

Originally Posted by zompus

IMO, no.

There are better ways of getting links then spend hours upon hours of directory submission.

tell me then would really like to get more forum activity for one = more register. i myself don't take part in forums much that only have a few active members on-line - whether it's well known or not

Originally Posted by dutchbb

I have completed my mission to submit my site to every directory that I could find. But the poor quality and the lack of maintenance of most made it more a waste of time then anything else.

A tip: don't spend hours and days on this, choose a few good payed directories on the top of the list that don't ask for a monthly or yearly fee. And for free ones just try Yahoo and ODP.

cheers! already on odp and submited to the yahoo one last night.

any help would be appreciated guys

Is yahoo directory really worth 300 a year? I have looked and looked and dont' see where to include a free listing.