Author: Sharon Housley

Links from different directories have different values. A webmaster's time is limited, and most webmasters want to get the biggest bang for their bucks. So where should they start when it comes to directory submissions? Search engines assign value to links from the various directories differently, so how do you spend your time where it matters most?

Yahoo

Yahoo is still, to some degree, the king of directories. Whether a Yahoo directory link is worth "paying for" is still a debatable question, but there is no doubt that a link from Yahoo is worth the effort. Do not leave a Yahoo link to automated submission software -- take the time to manually submit your links to the Yahoo Directory.

Yahoo Directory - http://www.yahoo.com

DMOZ

Amazingly, it appears that DMOZ is still relevant. While some webmasters complain that DMOZ is outdated, it is apparent that a DMOZ link still matters to the larger search engines. DMOZ is a human-edited directory with different editors for each category. As such, patience is critical to obtaining a listing. Editors can become annoyed when sites are submitted multiple times, and before they've had the opportunity to review the quality of the content. Some editors work quicker than others, so be patient and polite, and you may get lucky with a DMOZ listing.

DMOZ - http://www.dmoz.org

Wikipedia

A legitimate link that stays in Wikipedia is very desirable. Wikipedia is a human-edited online encyclopedia. Wikipedia links are very difficult to obtain, and even more difficult to retain. But if you build a unique quality resource on a niche subject, you might find yourself linked on a page in Wikipedia.

Wikipedia - http://www.wikipedia.com

Major Download Websites

The major software download websites are all capable of driving traffic, and can impact a websites popularity. Make sure to manually submit your software to these three major download websites:

Download.com - http://www.download.com

Tucows.com - http://www.tucows.com

Softonic.com - http://www.softonic.com

Popular Directories

The more popular the directory, the better the link is considered to be. Link popularity matters, and a link from a webpage with a high page rank (as determined by the Google Toolbar) is desirable. You can assess the general popularity and value of a directory by viewing the page rank of the webpages on a website.

Related Niche Directories

Websites that are an authority on related subject material are great sources of web traffic. Conduct very specific searches to locate popular niche directories.

Where To Find Important Directories

There are a number of resources designed to assist webmasters in finding both free and paid directories that will accept submissions. Use the following resources to boost your directory listings:

Web Search Engines - http://www.web-search-engines.net

One-Way Text Links - http://www.onewaytextlink.com/links.php?type=free&pagenum=1

Business Seek Business Directory - http://www.businessseek.biz/page.php?page=web-submit

Blogging Fusion Blog Directory

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This article may be used freely in opt-in publications and websites, provided that the resource box is included and the links are active. A courtesy copy of the issue or a link to any online posting would be greatly appreciated send an email to sharon[at]notepage.net.

Additional articles available for publication available at http://www.small-business-software.net/free-website-content.htm

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About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds and podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for RecordForAll http://www.recordforall.com audio recording and editing software. "