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November 24, 2004Best
Internet Directories
Most directories offer minimal traffic. If you're looking for lots of
sales, don't ever rely on a single directory. And even submission to a large number of
directories isn't going to bring in a great number of sales leads.
That's because most surfers don't usually turn to a directory to find a
site - they usually turn to search engines or personal recommendations.
Of course, there are some good b2b and niche directories out there,
that people will use to help focus on vertical searches away from general search engine
noise. But many of these directories are not in commercial sectors and specialised
reference sites. Where such specialist sites exist in your market area and your site is
eligible for a listing, it is certainly recommended that you consider submitting to them.
However, in my personal opinion, the biggest advantage that directories
can offer is for search engine purposes. In short, being listed on a wide spread of IP
blocks, across on-topic pages, and listed with other quality sites, can be advatangeous
for search engine purposes - as described in this article: Rise of the Directories.
This page offers a list of some of the best directories out there for
general listing purposes. All of which follow these important fundamentals:
- directories whose pages can be easily indexed
- directories who offer links search engines can follow
- directories that are not DMOZ clones
- directories that are not black-listed FFA's
- directories offering some degree of quality control
What is truly astonishing is how small this list actually is.
Most directories redirect URLs, which - coupled with low traffic- makes them fundamentally
useless. Other directories have enough variables in their page URLs to choke even the
happiest search engine spider. And I am not convinced that DMOZ clones offer any
benefits whatsoever under any user criteria.
What this list reveals is that there are very few good directories
worth submitting to. Many of the ones listed below offer free listings. However, some are
offer paid-for listings only. That sometimes seems too expensive - personally, I'd say
it's a clear sign of quality control. Personal recommendation? Submit to as many as
you can budget for.
NOTE 1: I have *not* included directories that only require a
reciprocal link for a listing.
NOTE 2: There are other directories I have purposefully excluded, such
as Buzzle, TurnPike, Qango, and a number of others. This is on the grounds of my
submitting a string of quality commercial and non-commercial sites in January 2004 - none
of which were listed by Novemeber 2004. Either they are not actively taking submissions,
or else you are likely to be generally wasting your time submitting to them.
This list is not entirely comprehensive or exhaustive. But it's pretty
darn close.
Directories (in alphabetical order)
- 01WebDirectory COST: Free or
$49 express
- 192 Directory COST: £25
one-time or £85 per year premium
- 1st Spot COST: $15
- 4intrepid COST: Reciprocal link
or $19.95
- Ajdee COST: Non-profit $1; Commercial
$25
- Allestra COST: $39
- All the Bizz COST: Basic, free;
Express, $10
- AllTheWebsites COST: Free
- AllWebDirectory COST: $15
- America's Best COST: Free for
non-commercial, $4.95 normal listing, $9.95 sponsor (US sites)
- Arielis COST: $25
- Around the Web COST: $15
- Bcentral (Microsoft) Business
Directory COST: $50 per year for 3 listings
- Bigall COST: Basic, free; Premuim
$10
- Biz Directory COST: $40;
Sponsor $100
- Bluefind COST: $50
- Best of the Web COST: Non-commercial
free; commercial $29.95
- Business Plexus COST: Free
- BusinessSeek COST: Free;
sponsored from $19 per year
- CannyLink COST: $19.95
- Category Web COST: $16.95 per
year; $34.95 lifetime
- Data Spear COST: $40 fee
- Directory Archives COST:
free (for directories)
- DirectoryHere COST: $19.95
- DirOne COST: Free
- DMOZ COST: Free
- Elib COST: Free for reciprocal links,
or 50 Euros
- Find Hound COST: Free basic,
£10 submit
- HeDir COST: Free
- Gimpsy COST: Free, or $40 express
- Go Guides COST: $39.95
- Great Nexus COST: $60 per year
- GreenStalk COST: Free
- Haabaa COST: Free
- In Crawler COST: Reciprocal link,
or $24.95
- Index Unlimited COST:
Reciprocal link, or $29
- Info Web World COST: Free
- Jayde COST: Free
- JoeAnt COST: Free as editor;
Express, $39.95
- LifeStyle UK COST: Free, £25,
or £50
- Limey Search COST: £9.95 (UK
sites: database shared by Abraxa)
- Linkopedia COST: $9.95
- Massive links COST: Free Basic
or $9.95 Express
- Net Zoning COST: Free
- Ozami COST: Free non-commercial or
$40 commercial
- Pharos SearchCOST:
Non-commercial, free; Commercial, $25.95
- Platinax Directory
COST: £9.95 per year
- Primo COST: Free
- PutMyFinger COST: Free
- Primo COST: $19.95
- SearchTurtle COST: $4.95 or
$19.95
- SevenSeek COST: $40
- Sezza COST: Free
- Site Sift COST: $12.95
- Skaffe COST: $39.95
- Small Business Pro
COST: Free
- Smaller Bizz COST: Free basic,
or $10 express
- Spheri COST: Free
- Stormer COST: Free
- Submit Services COST: Free
basic, or $25 premium
- Sun Steam COST: $24.95 per year,
or $45
- Tek Guide COST: Free, but must be
IT based
- This is our Year COST:
$19.95, requires membership
- Tygo Directory Free, or $19.95
express
- UKwhizz directory COST: Free
- Uncover the Web COST: $9.95
- Web Atlas COST: $24.95
- WebBeacon COST: $39.99
- Webmaster
Toolkit directory COST: Free
- Web World Index COST: Free
basic, Premium $25
- World Site Index COST: Free
basic, Premium £7.05
- Wow Directory COST: Basic,
free; Express, $20
- Yahoo COST: Non-commercial, free;
Commercial, $299 per year
- Yeandi COST: free
- Zeal COST: Free (only accepts
non-commerical sites).
About the Author
Brian Turner is a U.K. based SEO professional and the administrator of
http://www.platinax.co.uk .
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