Anyone who has done research on SEO or Internet Marketing knows that the easiest and best way to increase your search engine ranking is to build up your inbound links. And intelligent 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.

If you are thinking 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 if you are wondering, how to select the directories to which you can add your URL,
ask for the following questions:

A). What is the PR of the directory? 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.

B). 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?

C). 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.

D). 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.

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

F). Is the company that runs the site reputable? Find out the name of the company that runs the site using 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 own research, pick some best sites, and enjoy the benefits of using directory submissions to start with your internet marketing strategy. You’ll see increased traffic to your site and increased search engine ranking, both of which are ways to a successful business.

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