Why Should I List My Local Site On The Major Directories?
Posted 15th March 2012 at 03:41 PM by mattlaclear
Tags local site, matt lac, seo
In the world of search engine optimization, the goal is to get your local site listed on popular search engines which will in turn direct traffic to your site on certain keywords relevant to your website.
Why then, you may ask, is it important to list your site on a major online directory?
The World Wide Web is organized based on trust. Links from one site to another are virtual stamps of approval. A link from a highly regarded directory like the Yahoo! Directory or Dmoz (also known as the Open Directory Project or ODP) will in turn boost your site's reputation and perceived worth. Google, the most popular search engine in the world, uses an algorithm called PageRank to evaluate a site's importance and how authoritative it is, and ranks search results based on their PageRank scores.
Getting listed on DMOZ or Yahoo! is a vote of approval from one of the largest and most reputable online directories. With PageRanks of 8 out of the highest possible score of 10, Google and other search engines like Yahoo! and Bing take both online directories very seriously and a listing will positively influence your site's standing and ranking in search engine results.
How to Get Listed in the Dmoz Directory
Often considered the king of directories, Dmoz accepts free submissions to its vast and comprehensive set of listings. Submitting a site is relatively easy. Visit Dmoz.org and find the category that best suits your page. Click "Suggest URL" in the top-right corner. This will direct you to the site submission page which will ask you to fill in the site URL, title, a description, your e-mail address, and a CAPTCHA. You will need to agree to the submission agreement and press "Submit." That's it! It's just that easy, but the hard part is the waiting. Because of the ease it takes to submit a page to Dmoz and Dmoz's overworked editors, it may take months for your site to be indexed and listed.
How to Get Listed in the Yahoo! Directory
Yahoo! Directory offers a Paid Listing option that trims down the number of low quality or spammy sites that are submitted to this major directory. Go to the Yahoo! Directory home page and click "Get Started." Login with your Yahoo! account or create a new one. You will need to input the site URL, description, and other pertinent data like your contact information. You can then submit and pay your $299 for a listing request (or $600 for a site that has adult content). Yahoo! editors are generally quicker than their Dmoz counterparts in considering your site for a listing.
Here are few more directories you can use to help you with your SEO push:
* The Librarians' Internet Index
This site contains a treasure trove of information. Sites that want to be listed in the LII are required to have a large quantity of high-quality content and must undergo a thorough review.
* Business.com
Business.com is an excellent resource for business listings. Submissions cost $299 a year.
* JoeAnt.com
If you become an editor on this directory, you can have your $39.99 submission fee waived. JoeAnt promises to review your site in two business days.
* The Hot vs. Not Directory
With Hot vs. Not, you get a high PageRank link on this directory for $60 a year. Alternatively, pay $200 for a permanent link.
* Best of the Web
The great thing about Best of the Web is that if your local site is non-commercial, Best of the Web will list it for free. Best of the Web's sterling reputation makes it a highly regarded directory.
Why then, you may ask, is it important to list your site on a major online directory?
The World Wide Web is organized based on trust. Links from one site to another are virtual stamps of approval. A link from a highly regarded directory like the Yahoo! Directory or Dmoz (also known as the Open Directory Project or ODP) will in turn boost your site's reputation and perceived worth. Google, the most popular search engine in the world, uses an algorithm called PageRank to evaluate a site's importance and how authoritative it is, and ranks search results based on their PageRank scores.
Getting listed on DMOZ or Yahoo! is a vote of approval from one of the largest and most reputable online directories. With PageRanks of 8 out of the highest possible score of 10, Google and other search engines like Yahoo! and Bing take both online directories very seriously and a listing will positively influence your site's standing and ranking in search engine results.
How to Get Listed in the Dmoz Directory
Often considered the king of directories, Dmoz accepts free submissions to its vast and comprehensive set of listings. Submitting a site is relatively easy. Visit Dmoz.org and find the category that best suits your page. Click "Suggest URL" in the top-right corner. This will direct you to the site submission page which will ask you to fill in the site URL, title, a description, your e-mail address, and a CAPTCHA. You will need to agree to the submission agreement and press "Submit." That's it! It's just that easy, but the hard part is the waiting. Because of the ease it takes to submit a page to Dmoz and Dmoz's overworked editors, it may take months for your site to be indexed and listed.
How to Get Listed in the Yahoo! Directory
Yahoo! Directory offers a Paid Listing option that trims down the number of low quality or spammy sites that are submitted to this major directory. Go to the Yahoo! Directory home page and click "Get Started." Login with your Yahoo! account or create a new one. You will need to input the site URL, description, and other pertinent data like your contact information. You can then submit and pay your $299 for a listing request (or $600 for a site that has adult content). Yahoo! editors are generally quicker than their Dmoz counterparts in considering your site for a listing.
Here are few more directories you can use to help you with your SEO push:
* The Librarians' Internet Index
This site contains a treasure trove of information. Sites that want to be listed in the LII are required to have a large quantity of high-quality content and must undergo a thorough review.
* Business.com
Business.com is an excellent resource for business listings. Submissions cost $299 a year.
* JoeAnt.com
If you become an editor on this directory, you can have your $39.99 submission fee waived. JoeAnt promises to review your site in two business days.
* The Hot vs. Not Directory
With Hot vs. Not, you get a high PageRank link on this directory for $60 a year. Alternatively, pay $200 for a permanent link.
* Best of the Web
The great thing about Best of the Web is that if your local site is non-commercial, Best of the Web will list it for free. Best of the Web's sterling reputation makes it a highly regarded directory.
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