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Directories function different from search engines. But both of two search services implement each other and make it convinence from users to locate information they want.
Directories
The main difference between a search engine and a general directory is that a directory will not list your URL if you do not register it with them. They do not make use of indexing software agents and so have no way of knowing it's out there. As a result, their registration form will be considerably longer than just your URL. Directories are usually subdivided into categories and you have to submit your URL under the most appropriate heading.
A directory will require more specific information during the registration process. Since directories are subdivided into categories, they require you submit your URL under the most appropriate heading. You need to write a short description to the directory for your site, and a editor will then review your site based on your submission request and other factors to decide whether to include you in the directory, and, if so, where it should stay.
Information that is useful for improving a listing with a search engine may have nothing to do with improving a list in a directory. The HTML on your home page or sub-pages has little or no influence on your ranking in directories. The list is normally arranged alphabetically, unless you pay a fee to move you up the ladder. But if you use search engines in the directories, which are powered by other main search engines as a secondary group of results, these search engines rank the web sites, by evaluating the pages' HTML.
There are four major directories that you can not ignore: Yahoo, LookSmart, Open Directory, and Snap.
You can read the article Secrets of Searching the Web & Promoting Your Website to get more detail.
Yahoo
Yahoo is the web's most popular search service and has a well deserved
reputation for helping people find information easily. The secret to Yahoo's
success is human beings. It is the largest human-compiled guide to the
web, employing about 150 editors in an effort to categorize the web with
over 1 million sites listed. Yahoo also supplements its results with those
from Google (beginning in July 2000, when Google takes over from Inktomi).
If a search fails to find a match within Yahoo's own listings, then matches
from Google are displayed.
Each submission to Yahoo is reviewed by a human being. Their editors go to your site and check for content, style and navigation. If they like it, they will include it. You also can submit your site in more than one category if suitable.
Many users note that it is some frustrating and time-consuming to register their URLs with Yahoo. The average time of submitting to Yahoo reported is at 4-7 weeks, and the average accepted sites reported is approximately 25%. To avoid failure of acceptance; do not submit under construction sites; pick the right category; write a proper description including your keywords but don't make it a list of keywords. Regional submission sites may be accepted faster.
Open Directory
The Open Directory uses volunteer editors to catalog the web. It was launched
in June 1998 and acquired by Netscape in November 1998. The company pledged
that anyone would be able to use information from the directory through
an open license arrangement. Lycos and AOL Search also make heavy use
of Open Directory data, and InfoSpace, Google, HotBot prominently feature
Open Directory categories within their results pages.
The Open Directory is available to anyone if he sign the Free Use License; and, like Linux, anyone can make enhancements atop the directory that can be sold at a profit. All its work relies on a vast army of volunteer editors. Anyone can apply to be an editor if s/he has interests and some knowledge. By the end of 1999, more than 18,000 volunteer editors had indexed more than 1.2 million web sites.
LookSmart
LookSmart is another human-compiled directory of web sites. It launched
independently in October 1996. In addition to being a stand-alone service,
LookSmart provides directory results to AltaVista, MSN Search, Excite
and many other partners. AltaVista provides LookSmart with search results
when a search fails to find a match from among LookSmart's reviews. Inktomi
also licenses and resells LookSmart's directory as an added feature on
its recently launched Directory Engine, an automated Web directory.
LookSmart has more strict criteria for selecting a site. You must pay them to get your site in their directory. The basic submit costs $45 and will be reviewed in 8 weeks. You also can pay $199 to let them review your site within 48 hours. LookSmart will waive the submission fee if you are a not-for-profit organization. But they do not guarantee the turnaround time, and you must meet other criteria.
Snap
Snap is a human-compiled directory of web sites, supplemented by search
results from Inktomi. Like LookSmart, it aims to challenge Yahoo as the
champion of categorizing the web. Snap launched in late 1997 and is backed
by Cnet and NBC.
There are two types of directory in Snap. You can sign for a membership to submit your web site to their LiveDirectory. It's straightforward and easy to use. Every one can get their sites on this directory. Sites in Snap's LiveDirectory collection are ranked according to their popularity in search. The most popular sites rise to the top of the list in their respective topics. The very best of sites are reviewed by Snap's team of editors for inclusion in Snap's main directory.
The Smart Community Center Online has a overall introduction about all the directories and search engines, and the ways to submit to them.
