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What is a web directory?

A directory is usually a book containing classified listing of names, addresses, or data, such as telephone numbers, of specific persons, groups, or firms. If it's a listing of phone numbers, it is a phone directory. A directory can also be established online. So, a web directory is an online resource for a specific listing. The idea is to help online users to find whatever they search for. Even though search engines have been playing the roles for the task, due to millions of web pages, it is very overwhelming and often confusing to the users to find their needs in search engines.

The attempt by a web directory to assist Internet surfers functions as a supplement resource to search engines. In fact, many search engines still rely on quality websites that are listed in web directories. The reason is that many web directories are humanly edited. It means that editors check and review each submitted website before the inclusion. This creates an good environment for the web directory as well as the Internet. Dmoz was the first one to create that environment. However, being the biggest web directory online is not easy. The maintenance of the directory is done by many editors, but they simply can not keep up with the growth of the Internet. Thousands of websites are submitted to search engines and directories everyday. It requires a time-consuming hard work to keep the environment quality as well as safe.

Navigating the Internet users to their desired web page is a big challenge today due to millions of spam sites and adult sites. Those sites are obviously lowering the quality of entire Internet. Even Google with its technology can not eliminate junk sites that are often listed at high ranking pages where many people find those sites and visit them just to find useless content. Web directories are very valuable resources for this reason, and that's why search engines rely on their quality.

How can I use a web directory?

Using a web directory is a different experience from search engines. You would have to type a keyword for your search in any search engine. Then, the search engine will list web pages based on your keyword. This means that if you do not know how to pick a good keyword for your finding, you will be brought irrelevant web pages. For example, when a new online user tries to find a recipe for Teriyaki Chicken in the Internet, he/she may type something like, "how to make Teriyaki Chicken" instead of using the keyword "recipe". Either way, Google will find relevant web pages. But the search results are very sensitive to what your keywords are. The order of keywords can alternate the search results, too. Thus search engines rely on your keywords.

On the other hand, web directories usually do not have to rely on surfers keywords. Listings are sorted by categories, so the surfers can simply click on the category link. They will be led to sub-categories and deeper sub-categories as he goes on for a better niche searching. This could be very easy for the users because all they need to do is clicking on categories till they can find interesting websites. Of course, if a web directory is more specific in a particular niche, this is even better for the visitors. Let's take a look at various web directories in the Internet.

Popular web directories are listed below.

General Web Directory Business Web Directory Webmaster Directory Free Web Directory Paid Web Directory Niche Web Directory

Web directories and advertising

Web directories are great places for online businesses. Since the visitors are always looking for their needs in directories, adding your link to a web directory is very important marketing method. For example, Yahoo! directory is one of major directories for businesses. Their advertising price may be expensive, but the directory is known for one of the best advertising places in the Internet. Any serious webmaster and online marketer should consider of listing their URLs in Yahoo! directory. The statistic says that Yahoo! directory is the best for listing businesses.

When it comes to advertising online, a webmaster usually expects good traffic, potential buyers or customers. This is a core value for any web promotion strategy. If you do not gain traffic, you simply can not do well with your online business. The competition is severe. Your advertising campaign must be strategic and well planned. Choosing web directories for your promotion resources is one of fundamental marketing strategies.

Let's not forget about search engine optimization when using web directories for your promotion resources. You can add your URL with your choice of anchor text. This is one of the most popular SEO methods. Getting listed your site in a web directory is basically a text link ad. This means that your text link is not just for the visitors to the directory where your site is on, but also for search engines to find it with your keywords. However, all web directories are not search engine friendly unfortunately. Some web directories use scripts and placed links are all redirect to the original link owners; thus those text links do not help in search engine result pages or the rankings in search engines.

Reference Link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_directory

Check also our directory page for other general directories and search engines.