Submitting to Directories: A Comprehensive Guide - Why submit to a Directory?
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There are two major reasons for submitting to Directories:
- Targeted traffic
- Link popularity
Clearly, the same benefits can be derived from a link from just about any site -- not just from a directory. However, there are some significant differences between the two link sources:
- Directories have only one 'purpose in life': to provide links to other sites.
- Directories are an established source of 'authority' in regard to various subject matters. Being listed in them serves as testimony to the site's 'worth'.
- It is much easier and simpler to be listed in directories than in subject specific sites (not forgetting the fact that there may be a conflict of interest issue!).
Perhaps we should first review the concept of 'Directory', understand the exact difference from Search Engine and get to know the various types of directories - and what advantages each one has.
What is a Directory?
Many users don't know the difference between a Directory and a Search Engine, and (quite frankly) they actually don't care. This is not surprising, as most sites that started as a Directory, incorporate Search Engine results (like Yahoo) and most Search Engines also use data from directories (like Google). To the uninitiated, it all looks the same. However, for web masters and site owners understanding the distinction between the two is vital.
In my opinion, the only difference nowadays is what I call 'the building block': Search Engines use a web page as their building block, while directories use the web site. To illustrate, if the web was a library, then Directories would be a catalog of books, while the Search Engines would be the index of the books.
Much like catalogs, there are many ways to organize or categorize web sites. Although many sites have adopted the Yahoo method, others have pioneered different approaches.
Next: Types of Directories >>
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