The WebDev Buzz

The directory is a type of search engine which list is not automatically assembled by electronic minions. The directory is human-powered. That is, a qualified professional reviews a submitted website and based on the quality of the site, this professional, called the editor, will determine whether he will accept or reject the website.

Obviously, it is tougher to have a website accepted in a directory. But a website in a directory enjoys the reputation of having informative contents and quality website design. The process of submitting a website to a directory is quite simple. The relevant category must be opened and the description and URL of the website must be sent.

Although the process of directory submission is relatively easy, the acceptance of the website is quite a challenge. To have the website accepted, here are some things to keep in mind.

• The website must be complete and fully functional. A dead link or a web page containing the “under construction” will make the website unacceptable in directories. The design should be user-friendly and have easy navigation. The web pages should be loaded real fast. This means that a web page using a high MB is not advisable.
• Besides the technical aspects of the website, the quality of the contents are important. The contents should be complete, and not just teasers. Aside from completeness, the contents should be ideally informative.
• The website should be submitted in the appropriate category. If the site is sent to the wrong category, the editor of the category, realizing the mistake, will not bother to pass the website along the right editor. To find the appropriate category, the web marketers may conduct a keyword search, and from the list of similar websites, they may determine the category. The web marketers may also submit the website to several related categories. Multiple categories are allowed.
• When the web marketer is already on the web page showing the appropriate category, he must look for buttons or links that will allow him to submit the website. These buttons may be “Add URL” or “Suggest a site”.
• Each human-powered directory has its own guidelines, suggestions, and procedures that are meant to instruct the web marketer on how to submit the website. These procedures and guidelines must be strictly followed. Otherwise the submission of the website will be considered a failure.
• Since Meta tags, ALT tags, and HTML comments bear no influence on the editor reviewing the website, the sole path to having the website accepted and approved is the well-written description. The description should accurately portray the website, including major characteristics that will be both relevant to the category/topic and attractive to Internet users

A website, to have a successful promotion, must be submitted to major directories, such as the Yahoo, the Lycos, the AOL Search, the AltaVista, and the HotBot. And lastly, when the website is submitted for the first time, it should be sent manually. While this may take one to two hours, a confirmation of the URL being submitted will appear, assuring the web marketer that the process was successful.