A web directory or an internet directory is like a powerhouse packed with sites that are organised according to user-specific needs that save time, energy and cost. They are an immensely useful tool for webmasters who are looking for a way to promote their sites, increase inbound traffic with SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and gain a higher Page Rank on Google. If you are a webmaster imagine having to surf and go through innumerable link exchanges and instead just adding your link to a popular web directory and getting more traffic on your site by targeting people looking for a specific service.

Though not all directories are significant, the most popular directories include The Open Directory Project (ODP or DMOZ), Yahoo, Zeal and Buzzle. Google, along with many other popular search engines tend to generate their search results by dipping into these directories for reference. If you were to run a Google search, you’d notice the number of results that directly use the ODP links and categories. A plus point is that the information stored in ODP is literally borrowed by thousands of other websites and search engines so that just sets up a chain reaction for obtaining more free links! The same goes for the Yahoo directory.

Directories fall into two main categories, namely: general and niche. A general web directory is a directory that contains a listing of many sites of different categories and then sub-categories. A niche directory would be a directory that aims towards a specific grouping like a shopping directory is a directory for all listings for Primitive Arts and Crafts, Consumer Products. This helps in searching harder-to-find content that generally doesn’t show in a prominent position on a major search engine. Then there are free directories that do not charge any fees for inclusion, paid directories that charge a fee for site submission and reciprocal link directories that have a link back to the directory as a prerequisite. Sometimes free directories may offer a prominent link or a higher listing for a nominal fee. The ODP is an example of a human-edited directory which is created and maintained by human editors who are volunteers and may have excellent command over a certain subject. Human edited web directories are known for more relevant links as they are edited and maintained manually and the sites scanned and approved for content.

There are also directories like Yahoo that archive lists of certain sites they choose as a “cool site”. This cool site directory could be in the form of an archived list, a random site generator that generates a site-per-click irrespective of category or the current cool pick. Some of these sites maintain an archive of their older cool picks for visitors to browse through the formerly chosen sites, others have themed sections and still others could probably generate a list of the Top Ten cool sites classifying them on good site principles. The knowledgeable networking system and general-to-sub hierarchy also cross-references links across categories with similar content to make searching with generic keywords more efficient.

Directories are an easy way to find something for everyone. As a surfer with a specific necessity or a webmaster wanting to promote their site, a directory could serve as a handy contrivance to obtain optimum results.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 6th, 2007 at 4:26 am and is filed under Paid Web Directories, Web Directories. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.