Web Directories: What are they?
Wikipedia refers to web directories as:
“A web directory or link directory is a directory on the World Wide Web. It specializes in linking to other web sites and categorizing those links.
A web directory is not a search engine and does not display lists of web pages based on keywords; instead, it lists web sites by category and subcategory. Most web directory entries are also not found by web crawlers but by humans. The categorization is usually based on the whole web site rather than one page or a set of keywords, and sites are often limited to inclusion in only a few categories. Web directories often allow site owners to submit their site for inclusion, and have editors review submissions for fitness.”
About.com lists their description of a web directory as follows:
“A Web directory organizes Web sites by subject, and is usually maintained by humans instead of software. The searcher looks at sites organized in a series of categories and menus. Web directories are usually much smaller than search engines’ databases, since the sites are looked at by human eyes instead of by spiders.
There are two ways for sites to be included in a Web directory’s listings; either the site owner can submit the site to the Web directory, or the directory’s editor(s) will eventually come across that site.”
Link Directory Functionality
The dynamic aspect of database driven web scripts allow for very creative use of web directory styled websites. Listings included in the database can easily have dynamic data displayed on the individual listings. Some link directories function as link farms, and is of no use in the greater sense of the web. Nice and category specific directories on the other hand, can easily add value to your website, or even as a standalone website.
We have discussed various benefits of having a web directory, and these should make sense if you are in the process of setting up a web directory. What is worth considering is the functions you can add with your web directory, allowing the user the ability to get the most from your web product. We are not limited anymore to just provide a link in a category and users have to visit hundreds of websites to achieve the search result. Functions like video sharing, image sharing, website previews and rating and reviews allows for users to be more interactive with directories and ultimately benefit the greater user community by “sharing”; the links they like, and that addresses the core question of the keyword search.
Page Rank vs Paid for Submissions
Webmasters use web directories to increase back links to their sites, as well as including their websites in related and applicable web directories for their content. Most webmasters I know will never pay for an inclusion in a web directory. Web Directories can have the paid for submission, or link bidding functions as well, allowing the directory owner to generate some income from their work. The main concern we have with adding costs is the exclusion of websites and links that would actually address what the user of the directory is looking for.
Secondly, when requesting webmasters to submit their listing and requesting money for it, they will analyze your website and make some obvious discoveries. What is the page rank of your website? If the rank is that low (under 4) do you really believe webmasters will actually do anything to be included in your website directory? I think not.
Promote your web directory to create some page rank from Google, some traffic and some decent placements for the keywords you are targeting, and your web directory will become a useful marketing and SEO tool. It will also become better placed in SERP and then webmasters and website owners will find you, and at this stage the potential will be there to engage the client for payment, should your web directory justify that.
web directory – http://www.mydirectory.me
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