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
also 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.
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