Monday, December 29, 2008

5 Things You Need to Know About Directory Submissions

In a world where we can access information almost instantly, some online business owners have a hard time understanding that search engine optimization (SEO) tasks can often be time-consuming and tedious.

One of the most productive SEO tactics is directory submission.Unfortunately, it is also one of the most time-consuming.If you're considering using directory submission as part of your overall online marketing strategy, here are five things you need to know.

1.How Directory Submissions Work:


Web directories, at their most basic level, are nothing more than lists of websites broken down by category.

As a business owner interested in submitting your site to a directory, you should be aware that most directories offer both paid and free listings.

There are two great reasons to use directories.The first is that most directories boast a fairly high PageRank, causing search engines to place great value on links from directories.

The second is that links from directories are considered one-way links, and search engines place higher value on one-way links than on reciprocal links.Directory links remain available for a long time, so the traffic that directories drive to your site is self-sustaining.

2.How to Submit Your Site


As a business owner, you can choose to submit your site either manually or automatically.

While it's possible to submit your site to a staggering number of directories in a short amount of time using submission software, you can also submit to a respectable number of sites manually.

If you set aside time each day to add your URL to ten directories, then it will only take a month for you to achieve listings in 300 directories.Not bad!

3.Manual Submission


The drawback to manual submission is that it is extremely time-consuming.

Each directory has its own submission guidelines, so each time you submit your site, you have to familiarize yourself with a new set of regulations and fill out a new form.

4.Automatic Submissions


But while manual submission is tedious and cumbersome, automatic submission software presents a whole new set of problems.

Each directory is managed by a human, and that human reviews every submission that comes through.

If your automatic submission software doesn't take into account the unique submission guidelines of each directory, which is almost always the case, then your submission will most likely be rejected.

Not only that, if your flaunting of the guidelines is too egregious, some search engines will actually ban your site.

5.How to Be Successful


Directory submission is a volume game.

The more sites to which you submit your site, the more likely you are to get your submissions accepted by directory managers.So the decision is yours.

If you find reputable software that can keep up with the submission guidelines of each directory, then you may want to consider doing that.You can also maintain control of your submissions by doing them yourself manually.

If you're just starting out in the world of SEO and directory submissions, you may find it helpful to consult with an SEO expert or internet marketing professional.

These individuals can help you create your overall internet marketing strategy, and can help you determine how directory submissions can play a role in driving traffic to your site and increasing your search engine ranking.

An internet marketing expert can help you choose which directories are worth your time and which are not.This includes helping you identify niche directories that can create a large amount of targeted traffic to your site.

Finally, an internet marketing professional can help you decide whether manual or automatic submissions are right for you.Either way, directory submissions are a great way to increase traffic to your site and build your business!


About the Author

Seomul Evans is a senior SEO services with "SEO 1 Services" a Dallas firm.

Add Url at add url cafe and checkout our internet marketing Blog.

Relaited Links:

Labels: , , , ,

Thursday, December 25, 2008

4 Tips for Creating a Directory Submission Strategy

Internet marketing professionals and SEO experts know that 80% percent of the traffic to your website comes from search engines.If that's the case, then is there any point in submitting your site to web directories?The answer is a resounding yes.

While directories themselves may not generate an overwhelming amount of traffic to your site, they can greatly improve your search engine ranking.

Search engines place a premium on one-way links, and that's exactly what links from directories are one-way links.So simply having a number of one-way links from directories can improve your search engine ranking immensely.

Not to mention that directories can drive targeted traffic to your site in a way that lots of other linking strategies cannot.Now that you know the value of web directories, use these four tips to create your directory submission strategy.

1.Prepare Your Site.If you don't have a high-quality site then chances are you won't get listed by directories.Your content should be useful and relevant.It should be free of "under construction" pages and broken links.Make sure that you keep ads to a minimum, that you don't redirect users to other pages, and that you don't have duplicate content on another site.

2.Get Your Listing Details Ready.Keep the following information in front of you at all times to make directory submission easier: Your URL, the title of your website, a description of your website, your keywords, and your name and address.

When preparing your website title, remember that some directories will only accept your website's official name while others will allow some keywords.If you submit your URL to sites that allow keywords, don't succumb to the temptation to keyword stuff.

When preparing your description, just write two or three factual statements about your business.It should never sound like an advertisement.

Some directories require you to separate your keywords by commas while others require you to separate them by spaces.Write them out in both formats to make this job a little easier.

3.Find Good Directories.Use DMOZ and Yahoo to find more-specialized niche directories.When you're checking out each directory, pay attention to how it's organized, and spend some time determining which category or categories are most appropriate for your site.When you submit your site, note it on a log with the date of your submission.

4.Check Your Results.Some directories notify you when your site is listed and some don't.Be sure to check the directories to which you have submitted often to find out if your site is listed.If it's been over two months and your site still isn't listed, try submitting it again, but don't resubmit any sooner than that.

You can also talk to the directory owner and inquire about your submission status, but don't make a nuisance of yourself if the owner doesn't respond to you.There's probably a reason that your site isn't listed.Remember that not all submissions are successful.This may be one of those cases.

Directory submissions have the potential to be a time-consuming and tedious task.If you're up for the job then go for it!If not, don't hesitate to contact an internet marketing professional.This person can offer tons of assistance.

Not only can she tell you which niche directories are most appropriate for your site, but she can help you submit to those directories, and even help you decide how to integrate directory submissions into your overall internet marketing strategy.

Whether you do it yourself or hire a professional, be sure to make directory submissions part of your search engine optimization plan.Drive traffic to your site and turn visitors into loyal customers!


About the Author

Seomul Evans is a senior search engine optimization services consultant with "SEO 1 Services".

Submit Url at add url cafe.Read more in our SEO Blog.

Relaited Links:

Labels: , , , ,