How to submit your web site to Yahoo, the Open Directory Project and other Internet directories
This special article lists all parts of our special article series about how to submit your web site successfully to Yahoo, the Open Directory Project and other Internet directories.
What is an Internet directory and why should you care?
Have you ever wondered what the difference is between search engines and directories? If you don’t know the difference, then your site may be excluded from major sources of web traffic.
If your site is listed in Internet directories, then it can also have a higher ranking on search engines, for example Google prefers web sites that are listed in the Open Directory Project (dmoz.org).
If your web site is listed in industry specific and regional directories, then it can gain a higher link popularity score which can improve your rankings on other search engines. In addition, directories bring targeted traffic to your web site.
So what is the difference between search engines and directories?
- Search engines use software programs to index your web pages, often called robots or spiders. They are programmed to constantly crawl the web in search of new or updated pages. They will go from one page to another until they have visited every web site on the Internet.
Every search engine employs different criteria to determine if your web site should be indexed and how well your site should be ranked. The most popular search engines today are Google, AltaVista and AllTheWeb.
- Internet directories don't use software programs. They are compiled by humans who organize web sites by subject into categories. If you submit your web site to an Internet directory, your web site will be visited by real people who can decide whether they include your web site or not. The most popular directories are Yahoo and Open Directory Project.
If someone searches on a search engine site, the query must match the words on your web page. If someone searches on a directory site, the query must match the words in the description of your web site in the directory.
A listing in all important Internet directories will have a very positive effect on your web site. If you want best results for your site, you should make sure that your site is listed in all relevant Internet directories.
Next week, we'll tell you how to get listed in Internet directories and which errors you should avoid when submitting to search engines. We'll also tell you where to find the most important directories that are relevant to your web site.
We recommend using IBP 3 to submit your web site to search engines and directories.
How to get listed in Yahoo, DMOZ and other Internet directories
As explained in our last newsletter issue, a good listing in Internet directories can bring your web site a lot of traffic and it will increase the link popularity of your web site.
In general, to get your web site indexed in a directory, you have to submit your site to a particular category. In addition, you have to submit a description of your site. An editor will review your site and then accept or reject your site according to its quality.
Sometimes it's harder to get indexed in Internet directories than to get listed in search engines. There can be a variety of reasons why Internet directories won't list your web site.
If you follow our tips below, it's more likely that your web site will be listed in Internet directories. This will improve your search engine rankings and it will bring more visitors to your site.
The most important tip is: submit your web site to the right category and follow the directory's guidelines carefully.
Most directories are very specific. They list only web sites that fit their topic or world region. Even the major general directories are very picky, for example if you have a UK-based site, make sure it's in the appropriate regional category of the directory.
If you submit to Yahoo and your site is commercial, you must submit to the "Business and Economy" category. If you submit to the Open Directory Project (dmoz.org), you must follow these rules: If your site isn't written in English, you must choose the World category, if you have an adult site, you must choose the Adult category, if your site has regional information, take the Regional section.
So before submitting your web site to a directory, read the directory's submit guidelines carefully. Here are the addresses of the major directories and where you can find their guideline pages:
Further directories for the specific topic of your web site can be found at "directory of directory" sites, for example searchenginecolossus.com and beaucoup.com.
Submitting to general directories and industry-specific directories can improve the link popularity score of your web site and so it can improve your search engine rankings.
If you use IBP 3.0 to submit your web site to search enginesand Internet directories, then you already have all important general directories and industry-specific directories at your fingertips.
Next week, we'll tell you how to get your web site description accepted by the Internet directory editors.
Click here for Yahoo submission, DMOZ submission, part 2
Other special articles
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