Submitting to directories
Directories are different
People often confuse directories and search engines, thinking they're the same. This is not true. Search engines use spiders or robots to index web sites, while directories use people. Directories tend to have smaller but cleaner indexes.
Yahoo! , Open Directory Project (ODP) , and Ask Jeeves are the top directories.
Note: LookSmart, a former directory, is now a pay-per-click web site. You can no longer submit your web site to LookSmart without paying a registration fee and then paying per-click premiums. The Express Submit and Basic Submit services are no longer available.
With LookSmart's new pay-per-click program, webmasters can control the description and title of their web sites. The regular price to change the listing is $49.
Do-it-yourself
When it comes to directory submissions, forget about software and web-based submission applications and do it your-self. You'll need to choose an appropriate category for your site and write a description of it, neither of which can be done by software. Many directories will only give you one chance to submit your site. Use it wisely.
Will your site be accepted?
Directory editors reject sites they consider to be of poor quality. Yahoo! is the toughest directory to get into; some sources claim it only accepts about 5% of all submissions. To increase your chances, avoid common mistakes.
Speeding up submissions -- paid options
Yahoo! requires commercial sites to use their paid submission programs. These programs can also help speed up the review process for non-commercial sites.
1) Yahoo! Business Express
- Cost: $299, $600 for adult sites
- Review within 7 business days
- Doesn't guarantee inclusion in the directory
- No refund if the site is rejected
- Yahoo! chooses appropriate category
- Required for commercial sites
2) LookSmart's Express Submit and Basic Submit are no longer available.
LookSmart has recently switched to the pay-per-click model.
Follow directions!
It's impossible to overstate the importance of following directions when submitting to directories. If Yahoo! says not to use promotional language in your site description, don't do it! Don't risk months of hard work and all that potential traffic through carelessness.
Submitting to directories
- Submit your site to directories first
- Your site should be completely functional
- Yahoo! Offers paid options
- Follow directions careful
 
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