Most website owners fail to differentiate between a directory and 
search engine, failure to do so has resulted in failure to 
harness the powers of Internet directory effectively.

Search engine uses the spiders – (an automated software program) 
to locate and collect data from web pages for inclusion in a 
search engine's database and to follow links to find new pages on 
the World Wide Web. While directories depends on human editors, 
who in most cases examine every single new listing before they 
are added to their directory. Most major search engines these 
days use links from human edited directory to measure the quality 
of the site they index. That is why you should place emphasis on 
the type of website or directory you list to and how to do that 
effectively.

Below here are the steps to be followed, before you will list in 
most human edited Internet directories that place emphasis on 
building an effective directory. DMOZ, Yahoo and other new human 
edited directories consider the following before they consider 
your site for inclusion.


(1) Design or look of your website: 

Is your website properly designed? Most website owners do not 
take into consideration on how their website is designed. The 
look or design of your website is the most important factor for 
success in web marketing – its effectiveness also applies to site 
visitors. Website designers offer to help you create an effective 
website that will boost your website marketing and also enhance 
your site visitors experience thereby increasing sales or 
repeated visits. Spending money in building an effective website 
for Internet marketing should be the first step for Internet 
marketing success. 


(2) Follow Directories Submission Guideline(s) Carefully: 

Reading the instructions before submitting to directories is one 
of the keys to success to listing effectively in directories. You 
can neglect or even bypass the instructions in most search 
engines since spiders can take care of your listings, while in 
directories the result is the opposite. Make it a point of duty 
to read twice the instructions in every directory you are listing 
in and follow what they need. 


(3) Telephone Number in Shopping Sites: 

Most directories rate shopping sites without a phone contact as 
an affiliate sites. Telephone also plays a very important role in 
selling products to Internet shoppers. Most 85% of Internet 
shoppers may not buy from shopping sites that do not include a 
contact address or telephone number or both. One question that 
goes in the shoppers mind is – what will happen if I need to call 
for help? For technical support, returns etc. The same emphases 
are placed by editors of most directories like Yahoo, Dmoz and 
other new directories. 

Although this rule may not apply to some paid directories, but 
there are some paid directories that still adhere to the above 
principle. Most paid directories may not refund your payment when 
they fail to include your listing in their directory.


(4) Listing with the Right Title, Description and Keywords To 
Appropriate Category: 

Lay emphasis in the Title, Description and Keywords you are using 
when submitting to directories. Make it a point of duty to study 
the directory you are submitting to, prior to submission and find 
out how majority of their listings are placed. Use simple 
keywords or phrases that relates to your site content. Do not 
include keywords that do not relate to your site content, since 
most directories rely on keywords to structure results, placing 
wrong keywords may inflame some editors.


Since most major search engines these days lay emphasis on 
quality links from human edited websites like directories, make 
it a point of duty to do your homework and save time doing it.
 

Copyright © 2005, Ezilon.com

Authors Information:
Charles Hopkins is a developer and senior editor for Ezilon 
Search Engine and Directory. Website:  http://search.ezilon.com 
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United States and Canadian Websites.