| Submitting your website to the various online | | | | keyword you are aiming for ranking in in the title, but |
| directories is an important part of any Link Popularity | | | | make the use of it appropriate, don't just bang a |
| campaign. Whilst your traffic from many directories | | | | keyword in for the sake of it; you could get your site |
| may be minor or irrelevant, relevant incoming links to | | | | submission rejected. |
| your website will help in your overall search engine link | | | | Write Description |
| popularity. | | | | Describe your website in a way that will attract |
| Other than Yahoo!, which is quite frankly beyond the | | | | visitors. The length of your description will vary from |
| reach of many smaller websites, paying for your | | | | directory to directory, but most will be under 250 |
| directory submission can be a waste of money. You | | | | characters. Some will allow up to 1,000 characters, and |
| can get just as good a resultfrom submitting to free | | | | in those cases write the most comprehensive |
| directories, or those that are free with a reciprocal link. | | | | description of your site and its features that you can. |
| If the directory is exceptionally good, the cost is low, | | | | It is a good idea to write several descriptions of |
| and your directory ranking will be improved by paying | | | | different lengths, say from under 50 characters for a |
| a fee, do so if you wish. Personally, I wouldn't | | | | brief overview, to around 150 characters for a fuller |
| recommend you pay for what you can get free | | | | description, up to 250 characters for a yet more |
| elsewhere. | | | | comprehensive listing, and finally a full description as |
| To start with on your submission campaign, in my | | | | previously mentioned for over 250 characters. Keep |
| opinion it is better to submit to those directories that will | | | | your listing pertinent to your website, insert keywords |
| allow you to easily modify your listing. That way, you | | | | where relevant and appropriate, but do not just submit |
| can correct mistakes and get your campaign down | | | | a keyword listing, as most directories will reject your |
| pat before submitting to directories that don't allow you | | | | submission. |
| to logon and modify your submission, thus saving | | | | Save all your descriptions in a text file, and just copy & |
| yourself from wasting or reducing in value your efforts | | | | paste into the descriptions boxes when needed rather |
| in those directories. | | | | than typing the same descriptions out again and again. |
| What Directories to Submit To | | | | Choose Keywords |
| The best are Search Engine Friendly directories (those | | | | Again, as with the description mentioned above, the |
| that actually have your site URL listed at some point, | | | | amount of keywords you can use will vary from |
| rather than outlinks that are simply code). Some will | | | | directory to directory. Some will not give the option, |
| ask for a reciprocal link, some will not. One list of | | | | some will allow you numbers of keywords, whilst |
| non-reciprocal directories is at Opinion at the moment | | | | others go by numbers of characters. Make a list of all |
| is suggesting that non-reciprocal or one-way links are | | | | relevant keywords for your site, from most important |
| better, although any relevant link is useful. Directories | | | | to least, and basically keep adding keywords until either |
| that encode their links are mostly useful for traffic if | | | | you get to the bottom of your list (unlikely unless your |
| their Alexa Ranking is high enough. Directories that do | | | | list is really short) or you run out allowed characters |
| not encode outgoing links will help your website's | | | | keywords. Check what keywords your competitors |
| Search Engine Ranking. | | | | are going for if you need inspiration. This can often be |
| Choose the Relevant Directory Category | | | | done by viewing the source of a web page and |
| Most directories will have many categories you can | | | | checking the META tags. Again, save your keywords |
| submit your site to. Decide on the one that is most | | | | to a text file. |
| relevant, preferably a keyword that you are aiming for | | | | Keep Track of Your Progress |
| high search engine ranking in, and try to submit to the | | | | Keep a careful record of what directories you have |
| same or similar category in every directory, at least for | | | | submitted to, and your progress. It is far too easy to |
| your main page (also see Deep Linking below). This will | | | | totally lose track of what you are doing, which does |
| increase the ranking of your site relating to the | | | | not help your linking campaign at all. The best way is |
| keyword chosen. | | | | by using a spreadsheet, such as Excel, to keep track |
| Deep Linking | | | | of your campaign. |
| It can be worth linking to other pages on your site | | | | At a minimum, you need to keep track of the following: |
| other than your main page. Before doing this, make | | | | Directory URL, Directory Name, Date Submitted, User |
| sure that the directory you are submitting to permits | | | | Login & Password for those directories that allow you |
| you to both submit URLs other than your home page | | | | to alter your details and Response (accepted/declined). |
| (some only allow top level submission), and for the | | | | Other categories can include: Directory Alexa Ranking, |
| same site to be submitted to different categories (not | | | | Directory Page Rank (this will be for the home page |
| all directories permit what are essentially multiple | | | | only), Referral URL (if the directory will improve your |
| submissions of the same website). This will work | | | | ranking for referring visitors) and any Notes. |
| especially if you have online tools or directories (such | | | | If you are using the deep linking and multiple |
| as your links page) on your site that are useful and | | | | submissions strategies above, also keep track of what |
| relevant to add to other directory categories. | | | | other pages you have submitted to each directory. |
| Submit to Different Categories | | | | Make a seperate entry for each URL submitted. For |
| If the directory allows multiple submissions, and your | | | | example, your spreadsheet columns could go as |
| website is relevant in several categories, submit to all | | | | follows: Directory Name, Directory URL, URL |
| the relevant categories you can. This will increase the | | | | Submitted, Referral URL, Login, Password, Alexa |
| number of incoming links to your website. Again, | | | | Ranking, Page Rank, Date Submitted, Response. I |
| carefully check the terms of any directory before | | | | would advise keeping the list in alphabetical order, |
| trying this to make sure it is permitted. | | | | rather than order submitted, as that way you can |
| Write Title | | | | check more easily whether or not you have submitted |
| Write the title for your website. Try to include a | | | | to a particular directory. |