What are Top Directories nowadays?

[Marek]

I am looking for top directories where to submit our sites. What is the latest list of highly reputable top directories where we can submit our sites to get the SE ranking boost? Our vertical market is Financials / Investments.

Also if you have any feedback on the following directories that we are currently using I would greatly appreciate it!

Directories we use:
Paid:
Looksmart
Best of the Web (BOTW)
Business dot com
Go Guides
Joe Ant
Bluefind
Sevenseek
skaffe
wowdirectory

Free
dmoz
gimpsy
netinsert
zeal
craigslist


Thanks a lot!

[Chris Boggs]

I noticed the Yahoo Directory is not on your list of Paids...it should be. Your basic list looks pretty good though. You may want to search for terms in your industry + "directory" and see what shows up high. Also, look for them in the search results for terms without adding "directory." Also, look for them in the reported backlinks of high-ranking competitor sites. We have a list of established directories that can be discussed in the Other SE's and Directories section of this forum here (http://forums.searchenginewatch.com/showthread.php?t=10226).

[Marek]

Thanks Chris, I appreciate the feedback on Yahoo directory... and the link to your other post. That is exactly what I was looking for... you guys ROCK! :)

[Chris Boggs]

no prob Marek. don't forget to come back and share your experiences/results if you want. :)

[dannysullivan]

Zeal closure discussion split to Zeal Directory To Close (http://forums.searchenginewatch.com/showthread.php?t=10701).

[Marek]

As Chris requested, here are the results.

Following Chris’ and others’ advise, we developed a scoring model based on inbound links directories receive from authoritative sources. We also added to the mix how well sample pages rank on G with specific keywords.

Here is the “refreshed” list of directories we have decided to use in descending order of relevancy, based on our scoring.

1. Dmoz.org – future uncertain… ?
2. Business dot com – Paid
3. Alivedirectory – Paid
4. Wowdirectory – Paid
5. Exactseek – Paid
6. BOTW – Paid
7. Thisisyouryear - Paid
8. Dir.yahoo – Paid – high cost
9. Joeant – Paid
10. Gimpsy – Paid
11. Netinsert
12. Whatyouseek – (Paid option)
13. Craigslist
14. judysbook
15. superpages - Paid

Thanks again for your input.

Marek

[glengara]

Thanks for that Marek, matter of interest, did your scoring model include directory links showing up on G for listed sites ?

[Chris Boggs]

yes thanks marek for coming back to share. glenngara asks a good question... did you also ensure that all of your choices still have a large number of indexed pages, as of recent fluctuations?

[chris2001]

Marek, would you please explain the meaning of the "future uncertain" note for Dmoz.org? Thank you :-)

[atlanta404]

Hello. How do I use Craigs List as a directory? I used it to find my apartment! Thanks!

[Marek]

... please explain the meaning of the "future uncertain" note for Dmoz.org? Thank you :-)

At the time of evaluation (April/May'06) dmoz did not accept any of our submissions we did 6-10 months prior. Attending SES conferences I hear some rumblings of dmoz uncertain future. If you search SEO forums for "dmoz future" you see the buzz as well. I am not sure what to think of it for certain, but I know there is the buzz and my listings are not getting into dmoz. Hence my focus is else where, however dmoz is still probably #1 as far as G "link love." IMO.

Please correct me if I am off here.

[Marek]

... did your scoring model include directory links showing up on G for listed sites ?

yes. See my reply to Chris' post for detail.

[Marek]

yes thanks marek for coming back to share. glenngara asks a good question... did you also ensure that all of your choices still have a large number of indexed pages, as of recent fluctuations?

We did not verify the number of indexed pages since May 06. Good idea to do that again next. Thanks for the tip.

Here is what we did…

Our scoring took place in April/May 06. We focused only on Google. We found link popularity score using marketleap’s publinkpop tool.

We used an assumption and a method (suggested here by Bob Mutch and others) that a directory goes up in value with the number of inbound links from two legitimate directories (Yahoo and DMOZ), plus links from any government and educational domains (GOV and EDU).

Each link from these domains received the following score:
Yahoo: 1 points (average of 15 links per sub, therefore an average score of 15)
DMOZ: 60 points
EDU: 90 points
GOV: 135 points

(Thanks Bob)

I will be glad to share our results showing the scores. I did not want to post it here without permission, because it includes bunch of links to those directories. I did not want this post to be rejected as link spam post :o . You know what I mean.

We eliminated some directories that appeared higher on the scoring list, but we felt were not relevant to our needs or the neighborhood. For some of you, there may be directories that are higher on the relevancy list that are not on my list. So, your top list may be slightly different from my top list, it will most likely include more directories. My detail result’s document shows all directories considered.

BTW… Bob Mutch has a handy page on his website showing top web directories rated by the quantity inbound links - www.seocompany.ca/directory/top-web-directories.html

Thanks

Marek

[Marek]

... How do I use Craigs List as a directory?

We list job openings on craigs list. So, if you have something to offer, e.g. employment, you can get listed on craigs list. It is repetitive process, because the postings expire after 30 days. As long as you have something legit to offer every 30 days, you can have presence on craigs list.

[chris2001]

Thank you for the details :-)

I´d be careful with rumours regarding ODP: SEO forums have been full of rumours that ODP would be dead the next day for years, and I haven´t seen anything in recent SEO discussions that would make me take them for more then rumours.

What I know, because the volunteer community announced it in their April report, is that ODP´s technical staff is currently replacing ODP´s servers. That may involve pulling some plugs, but only to add new ones and additional ones ;-)

You can find more facts&figures in the monthly reports, http://forums.searchenginewatch.com/showthread.php?t=10091 has the links.

[Chris Boggs]

Hi Marek and thanks again for the answer. Bob's ILQ is pretty good, and we are still running some candidates through this type of system to see how they stack up compared to other similar/dissimilar methods.

As Chris says, beware what you read, unless you are reading case studies or statistical analyses. :p The rumors about DMOZ are abundant and some may be pretty sound, but I don't see Google suddenly dropping them any time soon. (Unless of course they get a huge influx in Co-op registration???)

[Marek]

You can find more facts&figures in the monthly reports, http://forums.searchenginewatch.com/showthread.php?t=10091 has the links.

Chris thanks for this link and a reminder to stick with the facts :o.
I wish I could edit out my original comment about it. Sorry for contributting to more rummors. This was not my intention.

Long live DMOZ! :D

[geordieboyz]

Hi,

I also find that a lot of free submissionpoints work as well - I use a lot of different free to submit which do in fact send some traffic and PR

take a look at this nicly categorisedlisting site eldoops.co.uk

G

[olddocks]

infact most top directories are nowadays paid, except dmoz.

here is my collection:

Top 10 Paid Directories: paiddirectories.info
Best 25 Paid Directories: paiddirectories.info/best25directories.htm