Līve Ambitions

This is the age-old question that never seems to go away.  I think the answer depends on a number of factors.  I always try to do some preliminary research on the directory I’m thinking about submitting to, especially if I’m spending money on it.  Here are some questions to ask yourself before deciding to submit.

How old is the directory?  Websites are like fine wine, it gets better with age.

Is the directory banned or penalized in any search engines?  Run a simple check on all the major search engines.  Simply run a search on the domain name – if the site shows up in the results, it means that directory has been indexed by the search engine and is not banned.  If the directory isn’t ranked top 5 for it’s own domain name, then that’s a red flag for me.

Does the directory have a Google PageRank?  Having a greyed-out PR bar could mean that the directory is too new or it’s being penalized by Google.

Are the directory links “do-follow”?  Obviously if the links are “do-follow”, you’ll be getting the benefit of some link juice.  However, the amount of link juice you get will depend on the strength of the actual link page.

Does the directory have lots of backlinks?  The more backlinks it has, the stronger the directory it is.

Does the directory rank for popular keywords?  If the directory ranks for many popular keywords, it may be an indicator that it receives considerable organic traffic.

Does the directory have a good linking structure?  I look at the linking structure for 2 reasons:  One, to make sure that the directory is SEO-friendly.  And two, to make sure that your site can be found within a reasonable amount of clicks.  I think 1 to 3 clicks away from the homepage is good.  Although, some of the bigger directories like DMOZ or Yahoo will have deeper sub-categories.

Does the directory feature unique categories?  If you have experience with any of the popular directory scripts out there (such as php link directory), you would know that most of them come with pre-filled categories.  I’ve seen hundreds of directories using the same default categories.  This tells me that the directory owner is really not that serious about building a unique directory experience.

Is the directory using a dropped domain name?  Beware of directories that simply use dropped domain names.  Often times, these type of directories are put up overnight to make a quick buck.  Dropped domains normally have an existing PR from their previous website, so people are often fooled into thinking that the directory itself has the PR.

Does the directory have a unique custom design?  Seeing a unique design on a directory tells me that the directory owner is serious about his business, or at least investing money to promote his directory.  Not only that, it’s more appealing to the user.

Do you see a future for the directory?  If you get the sense that the directory was built to make a quick buck, don’t submit!  Try to target the directories that you feel will continually work to improve themselves and plan to hang around for long-term. 

Is the directory inundated with excessive advertising?  I think having moderate advertising is ok.  However, too much advertising can degrade the appearance of the directory and deter users from browsing. 

Are there recurring fees?  I usually try to avoid directories that have monthly or yearly recurring fees.  The only exception I make is for the bigger directories like Yahoo or Business.com.  For BOTW, I pay the extra for the permanent listing, so at least I won’t have to worry about recurring payments.

After weighing out the goods vs the bads, it’ll be easier for you to decide whether to submit or not.