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Which Directories Should You Submit To?
By: Jerry West
Updated: September 26, 2008

Face it: The traffic you get from most web directories is just a trickle, even from Yahoo! and other large directories. The game has changed. Users want to use directories to find websites about as much as they want to search the yellow pages to make a phone call. They want information now, and web directories don't provide quality instant results like search engines do.

So why take the time and expense of submitting your site to directories when the traffic received often doesn't match the cost of submission?

Here's why: Link Popularity, Link Reputation, PageRank, Link Juice or whatever you want to call it. Directories carry a punch in that department, but you have to know which ones because they are NOT created equal. This is especially true when you look at what transpired in the last Google Toolbar PageRank update (October 2007) which downgraded truckloads of directories.

According to Aaron Wall over at SEO Book, "The single biggest reason to list in directories is they help search engines understand what your site is about and help improve your relevancy." Aaron's a smart guy. That is exactly why submitting to the RIGHT directories must be a vital part of any online campaign.

If you think your SEO skills are good enough not to submit to the major directories, I have news for you: you aren't that good. To be honest, I don't know anyone who is.

A word to the wise: Keep hype out of your directory submissions.

• This is not the place to cram your Title with every keyword phrase imaginable.
• Don't Spam. Your Title is your Domain Name or Company Name. Period.
• Keep your description professional and hype-free. Don't say that you are #1 or the "Best" at whatever you do. State what you do and one point of difference.

Hyped-up listings are often deleted.

Recommended and Tested Directory List
The below list is based on massive testing. Submit to these directories and you will see positive results.

As a convenience, I have listed the directories in order of importance.

Yahoo! Directory - $299 annual fee
For reasons unknown, Yahoo! stopped using their directory listings in their search results and now they have made it even harder to find their directory by burying the link on their home page. Try to find it ... it is close to an Easter Egg Hunt.

If you need help with the submission to Yahoo!, I have a Getting Listed in Yahoo! article, although it is old, is still relavant.

DMOZ: The Open Directory Project - Free
While I realize and openly admit this is a directory that is next to impossible to get listed in, it can happen. It seems the DMOZ editor are shrinking each month.

Your best bet is to submit your website twice, once to your main category and once to a local category. Many recommend to patience (submit just once and wait); however, I check every quarter, and if the site isn't listed, I submit again.

Best of the Web - $79.95 annual fee or $239.95 one-time fee.
I have personally met the owners of Best of the Web at Webmaster World conferences dating back to 2005. Not only do they know how to run a directory, they understand what SEOs and Webmasters want and need from a directory and they deliver.

Within a week of getting a site approved by BOTW it is listed as a link in Yahoo!. Now that is incredible. If your web site is "long term" project (more than three years) don't mess around and go with the one-time fee. Submit your site to Best of the Web.

Starting Point - $99.00 annually.
Even though their home page didn't get an increase in PageRank in this last update, many of their subpages did, which is important as that is where your sites will be listed.

Business.com - $299.00 annually.
After spending a few years on my "Black List" they come back on my recommended list as there has been consistent positive showings from getting sites listed here.

Those submission above will run you just under $950.00. Some webmasters may get a bit of "Sticker Shock", but the above directories are vital for you to effectively compete in the SEO world. What about the others? JoeAnt? Gimpsy? GoGuides? Site Sift? Unfortunately, right now, only the directories listed above are providing real value. As an example, Site Sift and GoGuide had their PageRank drop like a rock down to a PR3. Many of the sub pages are PR0.

We have officially cancelled our relationship with GoGuides Directory. The directory's structure no longer adhere's to Google's demands and the last two Google Updates has hammered this once proud directory. This used to be the "jewel" of the web directories. Now, you can't even count on love from Google or even one referral click a month.That hurts.

Things to Beware of:

• Directories that have been sold, or where all links have been "nofollowed" or are routed through a redirect server to strip out the passing of PageRank.
• "Garbage Directories" which place sites in semi-organized categories and they call it a directory. Google delists these as fast as they can find them.
• MFA Directories: Believe it or not, these are out there.
• Duplicate directories. Spin offs of DMOZ and others. These are also getting delisted as fast as Google finds them.

Summary

According to Wall, "Since search algorithms are just programs without intelligence, they must rely upon the intelligence of humans to structure their search results. Human edited directories, for this reason, are important to be listed in."

Review your budget and submit to as many of the directories as you can. I will be updating this list monthly, so bookmark it and come back next month to review the update.

Research Topics: Jerry West Best Directories Reviewed

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