So, this is the beginning, the beginning of The Directory Review, and by the title, it shouldn't take a genius to figure out exactly what the concept behind this blog will be, but just incase you can't I'll explain.
Anybody who has ever tried to start or develop a website will understand the importance of search engine optimization, or SEO as it is commonly known. And knowing this you will no doubt also understand that building backlinks whilst using the right Keywords is an integral and vital part of this process. To put it simply, your site will not gain any PR (Google Page Rank) without having any backlinks, but more importantly you are reducing your potential traffic, how can anybody even find your site if you don't show them the way?
Backlinks, Directories and other Options
Arranging Link Exchanges with other websites of a similiar genre is a tried and tested method for acheiving this, but it can be very hard work and involves alot of networking with other Webmasters, which can be a job in itself! This is where Web Directories come in.
Directories offer Webmasters the opportunity to increase their backlinks without all the fuss and time consuming efforts of arranging Link Exchanges. Some Directories offer free listings whilst some charge a small fee, this is usually dictated by the amount of Page Rank or Traffic that being listed on their pages can offer you. Placement of your link can also play a part in the price, for example, being listed as a 'Featured Listing' will mean that your link is placed in a more prominent position on the page or at the top of the list. Don't let the idea of having to pay to be listed put you off submitting, the vast majority of Directories still offer the Free option.
Submitting your website to a directory should be an easy and painless experience, you submit the URL of your site into the relevent category along with a title and breif description, your site is then approve or rejected by a Human Editor and your Link should appear on their pages! Depending on the Directory the approval of your submission could be as quick as 12 hours or as long as 6 months, any good quality directory should state somewhere on their site how long you can expect to wait for approval. Please note aswell that some directories do not use Human Editors, instead they are automated. I will not be including any of these automated Directories in my reviews. If they can't be bothered to manually approve mine and your websites, then I can't be bothered to review them!
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
New Directories appear to be popping up all over the internet at an alarming rate these days, every man and his dog seems to be running one! Whether this is a good or bad thing I couldn't say. What it does mean though, is that it can be a difficult job to pluck the really worthwhile ones from the masses of worthless efforts.
I hate to say it but unfortunately the overwhelming majority of these new Directories are pretty usless in terms of what they can offer. They will have low PR (Google Page Rank) and not much traffic to send your way, if any, but I can forgive them that, afterall, everybody has to start somewhere, and hardwork is rewarded.
The worst ones, and the ones I hate, are badly managed, difficult to navigate, confusing to submit to, overpriced, and forgive me for being so shallow, but a lot are just plain ugly to boot! All these unforgivable attributes suggest to me a lack of effort and care on behalf of the Webmasters, as it would if you experienced it on any other website.
Sorting the Good from the Bad and the Ugly
So, how do you find out which Directories are worth a second look?
How do you find that hidden gem amongst the rubble?
Hopefully that is where I can help. In the coming weeks, months (years?) I plan to help declutter this jungle for you by selecting some of the most useful, good value, and attractive looking Directories I can find on the net. Of course, if you're the Webmaster of a Directory, you could make my job alot easier by simply emailing me at editor@randyboo.com and offering your Directory for review. I can't promise your directory will be featured but I do promise that I will take the time to look at and consider it.
Don't get me wrong here, this blog isn't about finding random Directories and then ripping them apart. I'm simply not interested in waisting my time reviewing bad directories. All I am interested in is giving the recognition to those Webmasters who have made the effort to think outside the box and given much thought to every element of their directory. Those people deserve to be mentioned!
Of course, nothing in life is perfect (except me!) and I will cast a critical eye rather than a pandering eye over those Directories I do review, and have no doubt that I will mention any ways inwhich I think a Directory could be improved, if it can be.
Meeting the Standards
So, what sort of things will I be looking for when reviewing a Directory?
Basically I will be taking all of the below attributes into consideration:
- Design / Layout
- Ease of Navigation
- PR or Traffic or both
- Originality
- Value for Money
- Category Structure
- General Maintenance including Approval Times and Quality Control
That's Not All Folks!
It certainly isn't all. Of course I can't spend every single day of my life on here reviewing Web Directories (although it would beat my real job!), but I will be keeping you updated with what's going on in the world of Web Directory Ownership, inlcuding the latest scripts, mods, offers, templates, whatever I can find that might be of some use to you lot I will try and bring to your attention! So make sure you bookmark this site so that you don't miss anything.
That IS All Folks!
That's more or less it for now. Just a quick reminder that you can request your directory be reviewed by emailing editor@randyboo.com . You can also contact me via that same email if you have any questions or suggestions.
Until next time
SuperZombieBaby
