The use of website directories is not only popular, but it is an incredibly effective SEO tool. These directories organize and categorize massive lists of websites in very simple and relevant lists. Even though most people today do all their searching with search engines, these directories house such a vast amount of information and number of websites, they are received very well by search engine robots! And that means good things for you!

Now, the benefits to using directories are clear. They allow your site to gain back links, increase page rank, bring in more traffic and increase your positions in search engine results! But how do you know when these directories are worth paying for?

The first thing you should know is the difference between a free and paid directory. Here is a break down of their differences :

Free Directories :

-Will Increase one way links, page ranks, traffic, etc…
-Improve search engine positions
-Free directories are usually poorly maintained and your link can be lost in a sea of websites
-The less visible your link is, the less traffic your site will get from it
-Generally low acceptance rate
-Time consuming

Paid Directories :

-Increase one way inks, page ranks, traffic, etc..
-More traffic
-Professionally maintained and rich in content
-Increased exposure to your website
-High acceptance rate

Now, with that being said, it doesn’t mean that free directories are bad. It only means that if you choose to use them, you should be selective with what ones you submit to. Many of the things I’m about to tell you about paid directories also rings true for free ones.

Things To Look For And Avoid In A Paid Directory :

When considering paying for a link in a directory, you should first look at the other sites in the category you’d be submitting to. If the directory fails any of the following items listed below, it serves little value and isn’t worth a paid submission:

1. What is the quality of the sites already listed? A good rule of thumb is to never submit to a directory filled with sites you don’t want to be associated with. If the other sites seem low in quality or seem spam filled, search engines may assume your site is just like theirs, giving you the opposite effect you are trying to achieve by submitting in the first place.

2. Take a look at the themes. Make sure that all the links listed on a page in any given category are related to that category. A directory that lumps unrelated sites together appear like ‘link farms’ to search engines and can hurt your site. What you want to see is that all links are relevant, including any links placed in the header, footer, or edges of the main content.

3. Check for text relevance. Search engines simply love when link text and description is in direct correlation to the subject of the page being linked to. You want to see link text that is clear and allows you to easily tell what that site’s subject matter is.

4. See if you can find any sites of ‘Authority’ listed in the directory. These are sites that have a page rank of 7 or higher. They are large and very informative sites usually for large companies or universities. These sites carry a greater weight with search engines. If you find any sites like this listed, that is a good sign that the editors are really looking to only add the best websites with helpful and relevant content to the directory.

A Few Tips in Closing :

-If you find directories that qualify for some but not all of the above listed items, it doesn’t mean they are not worth your time. If they seem to have relevant and quality websites listed but you can’t find an ‘authority’ site, they can still be worth your submission. A few slightly lower quality links are ok!

-The key is to make sure you are getting what you pay for (if you are in fact paying.) A site that charges a few dollars to submit is just about always worth it as long as they appear to have quality information and a category that fits your needs.

-Some sites charge as much as $50, $100, or more per submission. Don’t waste your money on an expensive directory unless they hit all of the above listed items and leave you very impressed.

-When using free directories, keep in mind they will not be as clean and effective as a paid directory. It may take several free directory listings to get the same effect as one paid listing. But if you have the time and dedication, there still are some decent free directories to be found.

Popularity: 53% [?]