The first job of your web site is getting listed in the major directories
and search engines. Getting listed in search engines isn’t that much of a problem. So your first goal should be getting
listed in the directories. Because humans review sites submitted to directories, you have to prepare your site to meet the
directory’s standards.
The major directories are Yahoo, the ODP and Looksmart. Other directories
that can send you traffic include About.com, Gimpsy, Websavvy, wowsearch, Skaffe.com and many more.
In order to get your site listed in the directories, it has to be professionally
designed and has to contain useful information. My advice is “keep the design simple and add rich content.” For
example, if your web site is about music, add 3-5 or more pages linking with your homepage and discuss artists or different
styles of music. If you can’t design a good looking web page then get someone who can.
After you are confident with your design and content, go to each of
the directories, read the directory’s submission rules and instructions and then submit your site to the appropriate
sub-category.
It takes a few weeks for the submission to be reviewed, so wait for
a few weeks, if you don’t start seeing traffic from the directory you submitted to, you could submit your site again.
At freelinks.com you can find a list of directories and search engines you can submit to. Make sure you submit to all the
search engines together with the directories.
After you are listed in the directories, you will start seeing some
traffic from them. To boost the traffic you get from them (especially Yahoo), your site has to meet the ranking algorithm
to be displayed at the top when a user searches the directory. Here are some hints on how to rank well.
