Thinking about paid directories and trying to decide whether or not it’s worth it to participate with your site? Paying for a quality directory listing can and does have its benefits.
Not so long ago, getting listed with the major directories was a sure fire way to draw lots and lots of traffic to your site — directly from the directory. Remember the time when you would actually start a web browsing session by browsing the Yahoo! Directory and looking for cool newly recommended sites (these were marked with an icon of sunglasses)? It’s amazing that this used to be a primary source of traffic. Of course, this time of the past was also quite awhile before Google and search eventually became the way of the web.
But back to directories today.
Getting listed with the reputable directories has pretty much just one major benefit these days — it helps you build credibility and high quality backlinks. In other words, a good directory listing isn’t likely to provide you with any remarkably level of traffic directly from the directory listing itself, but the increase in link popularity can certainly influence your search engine rankings with a positive impact.
So, which directories are worth the effort (and the cost)?
Since it doesn’t exactly fit the requirements of "paid directory," let’s get this out of the way first… you should try to get listed with DMOZ. It’s a free directory — and while it’s managed by very "selective" editors, it’s worth your best shot if you do happen to get a listing.
When it comes to paid directories, the primary player in the game is still Yahoo! Directory. Purchasing a listing in the directory will set you back a couple hundred bucks (actually, $299 as of right now), but if you get listed, the link credibility will be worth the money spent.
And we say "if you do get listed" for a reason — paying the fee actually purchases a review of your site for a potential listing in the directory; it guarantees nothing more than this, so it’s important to properly prepare your listing for submission in order to maintain the likelihood that you’ll be accepted. It’s not that they are overly picky or anything, but it’s never a good idea to take chances when money is on the line.
Who’s next up on the paid directory list? Well after Yahoo!, the list kind of dwindles down to more niche type options. The Business.com directory is a good possibility if your site fits the mold. Applying to this popular directory will also set you back about $299.
There are a handful of decent directories on which you can obtain a listing in the $25-50 range — but in the long run, these probably won’t be worth it for most. When you get down to this level, placing an increased focus on scoring free links on reputable free niche-specific directories is probably the best strategy.
So in the end, applying for a listing on a couple of paid directories might just be a pretty decent idea if you’d like to give your site’s link credibility a quick jumpstart. Not essential, but if you’re willing to spend the money upfront, it can certainly help!
Until Next Time.
George Chaney
President/CEO
SEO King, Inc.
