Search Directories
When people think of search engines they often think of places like Yahoo!. Actually, Yahoo! is classified as a search directory. Directories are significantly different than search engines. Instead of using spiders to crawl the Internet and gather information about web sites, directories such as Yahoo! and Open Directory Project have real people (editors) individually review and index web sites into their database. Directories also require web sites adhere to specific guidelines in order to be included in their databases. As a result, directories contain a comparatively small number of high-quality, hand selected web sites.
Consequently, because the indexing processes are different, the factors that influence search engine rankings don't apply to directory rankings. Instead, directory editors look at the quality of a site: its functionality, content and design. This means that webmasters hoping to see their sites listed on directories have to use very different strategies than for search engine placement.
Another consideration for directories is that they take (usually) much longer than submissions to search engines. This is due to the personal attention given to each submission and that some categories have a backlog of submissions to review. So, be prepared to wait weeks and even months before your site is listed in some directories.
Directories are a near necessity to any web marketing campaign. However, a word of caution: Submitting a web site to a directory can be a little tricky. An appropriate category must be chosen, a well written description is part of the submission and they will ask for other information as well. Software can't do this for you. So, subscriptions to an automated service to do your 'registrations' or other software that claim they can do this, simply won't work. Also, many directories will give only one chance to submit. Be smart about your one chance; hire someone to make sure it's done right the first time.
Yahoo!, Open Directory Project (ODP), and Ask Jeeves are the top directories.
Journey Internet has a professionally trained search engine specialist on staff. Call today for a consultation - 719-638-9925.