Optimizing Web Directory Submissions To Maximize Acceptance, Quality and Traffic

Quality directories can be an excellent source of one-way links to your site, especially if you optimize your submissions. You probably already know it’s important to vary your anchor text, but there are other techniques that can improve your chances of getting your site listed and maximize the SEO power of your listing.

Start with relevance and quality. Start with the best directories – not just the ones with the highest toolbar PageRank, but the ones that truly appeal to you and fit your industry. Make sure you will be proud of the company you will be keeping by checking out the other sites in the category that best fits your site. The “neighborhood” is a good indicator of the longevity of the directory.

Both your website and most directories are best served by making your titles and descriptions stand out from the rest. Think “unique” content.

Start with your title. Make it unique whenever possible – many quality directories insist only the company or website name can be used for the title. But many will allow keywords if they are not excessive. Widgets from The Red App Company may slide through or The Red App Company – Cincinnati Widgets may be acceptable.

The more variations in the anchor text of incoming links, the more natural your links will look to the search engines, so don’t worry when a directory insists on the company name as the link’s title.

Do prepare at least 10 or 12 unique titles and descriptions for your directory submissions. Some directory editors will Google your site and if they find a lot of duplicate listings for your site, they may turn you down. In order to maintain the quality of the directory, they want to present original content.

Have titles and descriptions of varying lengths handy. If you use a word processor to compose your variations, you can easily cut and paste from that file. Most directories cap it at about 250 characters, but some allow for more. Take advantage of those that have larger limits. The more relevant content in your link, the more value your link has both for SEO and traffic.

Don’t keyword stuff. Instead write about what will actually be found on the site. Don’t use superlatives. You product may be the best, but if the directory editor doesn’t know it, don’t include it in your description. In other words, try to be objective. Put yourself  in the editor’s shoes. If your site is Google, they will know it’s the Internet’s “most popular” search engine, but chances are if you’re still doing directory submissions “best” just doesn’t apply. What do you offer?

Write that! For example:

Offers hosting reviews, rate comparisons on 200 hosts, resources list for webmasters. Also offers discount coupons.

Make sure your site isn’t listed – you will waste your time if your site is already in the directory.

Read the submission guide. Even if you are submitting to a paid site and you are sure your site meets the quality guidelines, it’s important to comply. You might get accepted but your title and description may be edited to suit their style. Better to offer them a title and description that suits their rules and best serves your website.

Do check the style of other listings on the site; they will give you an example of successful submissions as well as helping you to avoid submitting a duplicate title.

If you can afford it, go for the paid directories. But even if you have a big budget there are plenty of free directories that are well worth your time: DMOZ, Yeandi, JoeAnt, for a start.

Newer free directories can also be worthwhile – especially if your site is new, too. Don’t ignore free directories just because they don’t have any PR or or few indexed pages. If you like the quality of the site, add yours – your site is likely to be at the top of list when the site gets PR.