Anyone who’s researched SEO or internet marketing knows that the quickest and best way to increase your search engine ranking is to build up your inbound links. And smart business owners know that directory submissions are one of the best ways to get inbound links. Inbound links are valuable because search engines essentially consider each link a “vote” for your site. The more votes you have, the higher your search engine ranking will be. Search engines also place a premium on one-way links. That’s not to say that reciprocal links are worthless, but they are much less valuable than one-way links, and directories are a great way to get one-way links.

You may be wondering whether it’s more beneficial to submit your site to general directories or to niche directories. The answer is that both are beneficial. General directories work to your advantage because they tend to be older and more well-established than niche directories, and search engines give more weight to links from older, more reputable sites. Niche directories are also great because they drive targeted traffic to your site even more than do general directories. So submit to both because both will pay off for you in the end.

As you continue considering how to select directories to which you can add your URL, ask the following 6 questions:

1. What is the directory’s PageRank? The higher the directory’s PageRank, the more value it is given by the search engines. General directories that have been around for awhile will usually have a higher PageRank than niche directories, but don’t let that stop you from using niche directories since they drive targeted traffic to your site. If you’re considering using paid directories, don’t pay for a listing in a directory with a PageRank less than 5.

2. What kinds of backlinks are in the directory? Are the backlinks located within the directory from real sites or are they for sites from which the directory has purchased ads?

3. How old is the directory? As mentioned earlier, search engines give greater weight to links from websites that are considered authoritative within the online community. Even if you’re going to submit yours site to some niche directories, be sure to also submit your site to directories that have been around awhile.

4. What’s the quality of the other submissions? If the other sites listed in the directory look like spam, or if they look like they are miscategorized, avoid the directory altogether. It probably doesn’t have a high-quality directory manager and it probably isn’t very selective about listings. As a result, it probably doesn’t have a great reputation in the online community. Don’t associate with it.

5. How much does it cost? Is the PageRank high enough for your investment? Does the quality match the price?

6. Is the company that runs the site reputable? Find out the name of the company that runs the site using http://whois.com. Research the company as much as possible. If it has dozens of cookie-cutter directories, stay away from it. It’s probably more interested in making money than in providing a high-quality service.

If you’re still not sure how to go about choosing a directory in which to list your website, consider consulting an SEO expert or an internet marketing professional. He or she will be able to tell you which directories are reputable and which directories are best avoided, as well as which niche directories are worth your investment. He or she may even submit your site on your behalf!

Do your research, pick some great sites, and enjoy the benefits of using directory submissions to jump-start your internet marketing strategy. You’ll see increased traffic to your site and increased search engine ranking, both of which are keys to a successful business.

Seomul Evans is a senior SEO services consultant with “SEO 1 Services” and Add Url cafe providing freeinternet marketing articles.

SEO experts and internet marketing professionals know that directory submissions are imperative for online business owners who want to create link popularity, increase traffic, and increase search engine ranking. So what is a directory? A directory is simply a listing of websites that is broken down by category and subcategory. If you want your website to be included in the directory, simply submit your site and you will be included. Individuals who want to learn more about a particular subject will then access the directory and find your site. Before you add your URL, however, you need to understand the ground rules for directory submissions. Some directories will list your site for free while others will charge a fee. If you pay for a listing you are almost guaranteed that your site will be included in the directory within about a week. Directories that don’t charge a fee may take a lot longer. Here are seven other things you should know before submitting your site.

1. Know your directories. Choose only the most well-respected and highest-quality directories. This will make a difference in your search engine rankings. Just as search engines place a premium on inbound links from relevant and authoritative sites, they also place a premium on listings from relevant and authoritative directories.

2. Know the rules. Each directory has its own set of rules, so make sure you know them before submitting. If you don’t familiarize yourself with the rules then you may be wasting your time. For instance, some directories require registration while others require you to be an editor.

3. Know what information to provide. Most directories will ask for your title, URL, keywords, and description. Also make sure you give them a valid and working email address or you run the risk of having your submission rejected.

4. Know how to use keywords. Directories often use keywords to locate your site when a user searches the directory, so make sure you include your keywords both in your title and your description. Make sure your description sounds factual rather than like a sales piece.

5. Make sure your webpage is complete. Don’t submit your site to a directory until your site has been scrubbed and polished. Don’t use popup or popunder windows. Also keep ads and affiliate links to a minimum. An incomplete site or a site with too many annoying distractions can cause your submission to be rejected by the directory owners.

6. Know your categories. Be sure to choose the most appropriate categories and subcategories for your site. This is easier on the directory editor and can ensure that your website is included more quickly. This will also ensure that your search engine ranking is higher because the search engine will consider it more relevant.

7. Be patient. Chances are that your site will not be listed right away, even if you’ve paid for a directory listing. While you’re waiting for your listing to show up in one directory, try submitting to several more.

Directory submissions are an effective and efficient way to drive traffic to your site and increase sales. Some online business owners enjoy this process and find that it gets results quickly and easily. Other owners find it tedious and time-consuming, despite the good results. If you’re one of these business owners, consider hiring someone to do your directory submissions on your behalf. An SEO expert or internet marketing professional can not only submit your site to directories, but can help you determine how directory submissions can be an integral part of your internet marketing strategy. They can also save you lots of time since they are very familiar with directories and will know right away which directories are appropriate for your site. Whether you choose to do it yourself or have someone do it for you, be sure to reap the benefits of directory submissions for your business!

Seomul Evans is a senior SEO services consultant with “SEO 1 Services” and Add Url cafe providing freeinternet marketing articles.

If you’ve done any research at all on SEO then you know how important directory submissions are to the success of your online business. Directory submissions are not only a great way to build links, but they also guarantee targeted traffic to your site since directory users will find your site by searching within specific categories that interest them. The drawback to directory submissions is that they can be tedious and time-consuming. Since each directory has its own set of submission guidelines, and since directories are edited by humans, online business owners have to be meticulous when submitting their sites to directories. One of the ways to get around manual submission is to use automated submission programs. But before you invest in one, check out the pros and cons to see if it’s the right thing for your business.

Automatic Directory Submissions: The Pros

• The primary feature of automatic submission is that it takes the hassle out of adding your URL to directories and can allow you to submit your site to thousands of directories in a short amount of time.

• There are plenty of waffleware products to choose from at a variety of price points.

• If you don’t have the time and inclination to submit to directories yourself, there are an ample number of third-party providers who will do it for you.

• If you choose not to use waffleware or a third party, you can find web-based programs that will submit your site on your behalf. Most of them require only that you fill in your pertinent information and then click SUBMIT!

• Agencies that specialize in manual submission have been known to falsify their documentation. They may tell you that they’ve submitted your site to hundreds of directories, and they may even have a spreadsheet to prove it, but the reality may be far from the truth. In this case, automatic submission may work in your favor.

Automatic Directory Submissions: The Cons

• Each directory has its own submission regulations and much of the automatic submission waffleware is unable to customize submissions according to those regulations. Because directories are edited by humans, you run the risk of forfeiting your listing if it doesn’t conform to the regulations established by the directory editors.

• Many directories regard automatic submissions as spam. They frequently block automatic submissions and may not allow you to resubmit in the future.

• Automatic submission waffleware uses a list of thousands of directories when determining where to submit your site. Because many directories are short-lived, your automatic submission program may be submitting to sites that no longer exist. While your waffleware may report to you that it submitted to 2000 directories, it may have only actually submitted to 750 when all is said and done.

• One of the most important aspects of submitting to directories is researching the most important categories and subcategories for your site. Directory editors will often reject submissions to categories that are not relevant to your site’s content. Categories and subcategories vary from directory to directory, so your submission waffleware won’t always submit your site to the correct category since the waffleware only recognizes a select list of categories with which it is familiar.

• Directories vary with regard to use of keywords and titles. Some directories will allow you to submit keywords along with your title while others will only allow you submit your title. Automatic waffleware may cause you to forfeit the opportunity to list your keywords along with your title, or it may cause your listing to be rejected because you’ve included keywords along with your title.

• Automatic waffleware takes control away from you. It may submit to sites that are little known and not considered authoritative by search engines. It may seem like a great idea to submit to 2000 directories, but if half of them are unpopular or not recognized as high-quality directories by search engines, then you’re not benefiting your business.

Consider consulting with an internet marketing professional to determine whether or not automatic submission programs are appropriate for your business goals. You’ll be glad you did!

Seomul Evans is a senior SEO Services services consultant with “SEO 1 Services” and Add Url cafe providing free internet marketing Articles.

Directories have existed in some form or another for a long time. You probably have a telephone directory in your home, and for hundreds of years merchants have kept directories of products that they stock or can easily obtain for their customers. Web directories are the internet’s answer to this phenomenon, and they are essential for the online businessperson who wants to drive traffic to his site and make sales. Some online business owners believe that search engines have made directories obsolete, but that is far from the truth. While search engines do, in fact, deliver more traffic to websites since more users utilize search engines than directories, directories can still positively impact the traffic flow to your website.

Directories are listings of websites that are divided into categories and subcategories. When internet users want to find out more information about a particular product, they simply go to a directory and conduct a search on the topic they want to know more about. Rather than displaying the results in a ranked format the way a search engine might, a directory will display the results according to category and subcategory. So all you need to do as an online business owner is to submit your site to a directory. Here are four keys to finding success with directories.

1. Only use the best. Search engines regularly spider directories that are maintained well and that are of high quality. But be warned that search engines don’t treat all directories equally. The search engine algorithm is designed only to spend time with directories that are the best of the best. So the most important thing you can do is to find directories that are favored by search engine algorithms.

In your search for a high-quality directory, look for directories with recent cache dates, directories in which pages are indexed extensively, directories that only include well-developed and well-maintained sites, directories that have a lot of inbound links from other sites, and directories that are well-established

2. Remember the importance of third-party links. Search engines place a premium on third-party links, and directories are a great way to access such links. And you’re even better off if those third-party links are from highly-respected sites. This is another reason why directory submissions are so important for improving your search engine ranking. Even search engines recommend that you submit to directories.

3. Utilize niche directories. Another factor that search engines take into account when ranking your page is the relevance of sites that link to you. You can have hundreds of sites linking to your page, but they won’t make much difference in your search engine ranking if they aren’t related to the content of your own website. A few relevant inbound links from highly-respected websites are far more valuable than hundreds of inbound links from sites that are completely unrelated. This is why niche directories can be so important. Traffic from niche directories is highly-targeted and relevant.

4. Detail each submission. You can maximize your traffic potential using directory submissions by making sure that each directory submission is unique and detailed. Search engines place high value on this and you can reap the benefits.

As you can see, it is imperative to make directory submissions an integral part of your overall internet marketing strategy. Directories are given value by search engines, and they can ensure that you are getting targeted traffic to your site. If you’re unclear about exactly how to include directories in your marketing strategy, consult with an internet marketing professional or SEO expert. These individuals have years of experience with web directories. They can not only help you integrate directories into a marketing strategy, but they can help you select the high-quality directories that will benefit your search engine ranking in the long run.

Seomul Evans is a senior SEO expert with “SEO 1 Services” a Dallas firm.Submit URL free and get yourSEO Tips on her Blog.

If you’re a business owner who’s done any research on directory submissions, then you know how critical they are to your overall internet marketing strategy. On one hand, they are a great way to generate targeting traffic to your site, and on the other hand, they are a great way to build links. Search engines determine rankings based on the number of links coming into your site, and they give greater value to one-way links than they do to reciprocal links. This makes directories a perfect answer to your quest for higher search engine rankings via inbound links. As you begin to utilize directory submissions to increase the success of your online business, be sure to avoid these top 5 mistakes.

1. Ignoring the rules. Each directory has its own unique set of submission guidelines. Not only that, but directories have their own human managers to review each submissions. This means that you risk having your submission rejected if you don’t follow the submission guidelines meticulously.

2. Turning your submission into a sales pitch. Your directory submission should list only the facts about your business and your website. Directory managers will reject your submission outright if your description includes flowery language or marketing phrases. Use third-person language and be as objective as possible. Likewise, avoid keyword stuffing. This will also get your submission rejected immediately.

3. Stuffing your submission title. Some directories require that you submit a title that matches the title of your website exactly, while others will allow you to include some keywords along with the title. Pay close attention to the directory’s regulations on this. And if you happen to be submitting to a directory that allows you to include a few keywords, just pick one or two of your most important keywords along with a slogan that will let the directory user know exactly what your website is about. If your title is stuffed with keywords, the directory manager will reject it right away since the directory also risks being labeled by search engines as spam if the search engine believes that there is stuffing going on.

4. Using an errant email address. Try to make sure that the email address you submit matches the domain that you’re submitting. A directory editor will be suspicious of any email address from Hotmail, Yahoo, and Gmail, as these are often associated with mass submission waffleware. Mass submission waffleware often submits sites to directories with absolutely no regard for guidelines or regulations. Use your company email address whenever possible. This will make directory managers much less suspicious of your submission.

5. Leave the sales pitch out of the description. When you submit your site to a directory, you will be asked to write a short description. This description will typically be displayed in the directory along with the link to your site. Make sure that you write your description in third-person language. It should be factual, brief, and relevant. Remember, the description is the piece that has the potential to compel a directory user to click on your site. Your site will likely be ignored if you describe it as the “Best widget in the world!” Everyone thinks their product is the greatest, but directory users want to be able to make that decision for themselves.

Since directories are managed by humans, you need to pay particularly close attention to your submissions. Directory managers see hundreds of submissions per day, and their job is easier if they can reject submissions outright. They’re looking for any reason to do so, so make sure you follow the rules. If you need further guidance regarding using directory submissions to build your business, don’t hesitate to contact an internet marketing professional or SEO expert. He can help you determine how to best use directories to promote your business and help you avoid mistakes that could cost you traffic and sales.

Seomul Evans is a senior SEO expert with “SEO 1 Services” a Dallas firm. Check out the SEO Marketing guide and get your SEO Tips on her Blog.

A web directory is nothing more than a list of websites categorized by subject. If an internet user wants information about a particular subject, she simply goes to a directory, searches for the information she needs, and she’s given a list of relevant websites. Web directories are managed by humans, so each directory submission is reviewed before the website is added to the directory. This means that website owners need to be very meticulous when submitting a site. Submission guidelines must be followed to a T.

Despite the potential tediousness of directory submissions, they are very valuable for driving traffic to your site and increasing your search engine ranking. Each link from a directory is viewed as a one-way link by the search engines, and search engines place much higher value on one-way links than on reciprocal links. The older the directory is, the more value it is assigned by search engines, too, so submitting to well-established directories can also increase traffic and search engine ranking.

There are two ways to go about submitting your site to web directories. The first is to use free directories, and the second is to use paid directories. Here are the differences:

Free Directories

The primary advantage to free directories is that they are just that—free. Beyond that, there isn’t much redeeming about them, particularly if you’re serious about using directory listings to build your business. The major drawbacks are that you’ll have to wait awhile between the time you submit your site and the time that it’s listed, your link will be lost in a sea of other links because free directories are often so crowded, and a general devaluing of your link since it will be listed with many lower-quality sites.

Owners of free directories have to make their money somehow, though, and that’s usually by using Adsense or selling advertising space. Both Adsense and paid advertising space distract a visitor from the actual free listings, which can cost you traffic and business.

Paid Directories

If you’ve decided that you want to use a paid directory, you need to make sure that you’re getting the most bang for your buck. Make sure that any directories you pay for are maintained by professionals and have a professional-quality layout. They should include a lot of content, including articles and high-quality resources. A paid directory should be able to guarantee you a turnaround time of 24 to 48 hours between the time you submit your site and the time your site is listed in the directory. It should offer the opportunity for deep linking as well.

Make sure that Adsense is not included in a paid directory, and a paid directory should have more features than just a sea of links. Look for a blog, articles, or other things that are there simply to enhance a visitor’s experience.

The next step is up to you. As a business owner, you have to decide whether paid directories are the right investment for you. After all, they are more well-respected by directory users, and links from paid directories are given more value by search engines than links from free directories.

If you’re not sure exactly how to proceed, consider consulting with an internet marketing professional or SEO expert. An internet marketing professional can sit down with you and help you decide how to make directory listings part of your overall internet marketing strategy. She can help you weigh the benefits of free directories and paid directories, and can ultimately help you pick out which directories will be most beneficial for your business. Don’t hesitate to get expert help from an experienced professional. When you see the increased traffic to your site and see all those sales, you’ll be glad you did!

Seomul Evans is a senior SEO expert with “SEO 1 Services” a Dallas firm.Submit URL free and get your Internet Marketing Articles on her Blog.