Importance of Web Directories in SEO

Search Engine Optimization is a fair and popular way to attract more traffic to your web site. When it comes to off-page optimization, directory submission assumes importance. Lots of flaws are committed by site owners while doing directory submission. Ravenous attempts to gain popularity in the net can make you overlook the quality of web directory.

In directory submission, the focus should be on quality rather than the number. If you submit your link in directories which have been black-listed, the fate of your web site will be more or less the same. It is useless submitting your site repeatedly to the directories in the same C class IP. A well ranking web directory with functional links is a good choice.
Directory submission assures targeted traffic through directories as well as natural traffic by higher search engine positions. This gives a nice way to get quality back links. Search engines often crawl to your site, indexes all pages and your site will be ranked well.

General web directories accommodate a range unrelated topics, but often categorized. Submitted links are checked and if found adhering to the directory regulations, considered for listing. Some directories allow the users to suggest a more specific category. Placing the URL in the appropriate category deserves importance as this influence to some extent, the grouping of sites by search engines for want of other indexing aids. Web sites are usually listed based on their importance with the paid members given preference over others.

Now, which is good? Paid submission or free submission? Paid services involve either a one-shot payment or an annual fee which has to be renewed every year. As far as my knowledge is concerned, search engines patronize natural listings. But there is no harm in risking an insignificant sum for a not-so-remote chance. I say this because I have seen web sites being abandoned due to their reluctance to pay out. Free members are less preferred and they have to wait longer to get listed. Ultimately, it is your decision, think well before that.

For quality back links, try to get listed in the niche directories. Niche directories possess restricted categories confined to a particular topic. Find out the niche directories of your site and get listed. Search engines will give more credit for such links. Moreover, the traffic you derive from these sites will be further targeted and there is every chance for a paid listing to come out well.

Bid directories list the web sites according to the bid amount on the site. The top positions ensure increased conversion, if not for the search engines. If you wish, keep the quality back links for a small price exclusively for the search engines.

There are certain guidelines for most of the directories. The title, description, key words and URL have to be in the prescribed format. For email address, provide the corporate ID. Before directory submission, check whether the links are working properly or not. Web site content should be adequate and unique. It is a good practice to keep a record of the details of submission mainly to avoid resubmission.

Search engines give importance to quality one way links with the key words and gives higher rankings to such sites. Always resort to manual directory submission. That will ensure that the URL is placed in the most appropriate category which will eventually boost the link popularity.