comprehensive list of free, spiderable directories

[disgust]

I will try to keep this up to date with any suggestions for additions anyone has. I'll post this on multiple forums to get input and additional directory suggestions.

the only requirements are:

1) a decent PR, so the pages with the listings are at least spidered and cached by google
2) can't have any sort of "work arounds" for not counting as a "real" link (ie js redirects)
3) urls for the categories must be SE friendly
4) must have a free (not paid) submission option
5) can't require a recip link
6) it can't be free only for editors

general/all-purpose directories:

http://www.dmoz.org/ (base page PR9)
http://dir.yahoo.com/ (base page PR9)
http://www.earthstation9.com (base page PR6, it uses frames, but it is SE friendly)
http://www.geniusfind.com/ (base page PR6)
http://www.re-quest.net/ (base PR6)
http://www.qango.com/ (base page PR6)
http://www.wowdirectory.com/ (base page PR6)
http://www.directoryarchives.com/ (base page PR6)
http://www.gimpsy.com/ (base page PR6)
http://www.smartlinks.org (base PR5)
http://www.josh.nu/ (base PR5)
http://www.blakkat.com/ (base PR5)
http://www.webworldindex.com/ (base page PR5)
http://www.yeandi.com/ (base page PR5)
http://www.turnpike.net/directory.phtml (base page PR5)
http://www.websavvy.cc/ (base page PR5)
http://www.webworldindex.com/ (base page PR5)
http://www.worldwidewub.org/ (base page PR4)
http://www.thedirectorysite.com/ (base page PR4)
http://www.seekon.com/ (base page PR3)

directories with special circumstances:
http://www.webmasterschannel.com/ (base PR7, only web/computer related sites)
http://www.webmaster-toolkit.com/directory.shtml (mostly web/computer related, preference in order given to recip urls, base PR6)
http://www.buzzle.com/ (free only for non-profits, schools, and government sites, base page PR6)

other resources to check out:
http://dmoz.org/Reference/Directories/ (great list of specialized topic-specific directories)

so, if you want, start submitting to those directories. also, if you can spare a link from any of your sites- LINK TO THESE DIRECTORIES. show directories that we appreciate spiderable, free directories. it could motivate others to move in the same direction, and it'd also increase the overall PR of each directory and help us all in the long term.

if you have any I haven't included, feel free to post them here.

if you have problems submitting to one of these directories (perhaps because they change their submission policies), let me know please.

[schlottke]

Nice post- some of these are a little weird..

http://www.earthstation9.com/ email them to add? Seems so 1987

[disgust]

yeah, that one did seem a bit odd to me too, and there were a few (josh.nu? what an odd name for a directory..) that didn't seem very professional, but they're accepting free submissions and are completely spiderable with live links.

worst case scenerio you lose a few seconds of your time applying for one where you won't be added. if one's actually completely dead, though, let me know and I'll remove it from the list

[kash]

Looks like Geniusfind.com is being sold!

[schlottke]

Yeah I already went and turned myself in kash.

[GuyFromChicago]

Do links from http://www.re-quest.net/ show up as links?

[GuyFromChicago]

Originally Posted by GuyFromChicago

Do links from http://www.re-quest.net/ show up as links?

Same question for http://www.sezza.com/

[disgust]

yep, they do. why would you think they wouldn't?

edit: actually, you're right, sezza's links don't count.

[anthonycea]

Thank you Disgust, you are not so disgusting

[North Carolina SEO]

Thanks Disgust!

[schlottke]

I think people ignore my posts or think Im not funny- I thought my comment above was hilarious.. lol.

[anthonycea]

SB, since you took your logo down, you have become a junior member here, as "Forum Snitch Baby Champion", you were a legend on the forum circuit.

It must be that name you are using now

[disgust]

I didn't get it. I'll just blame it on a lack of sleep. yeah, that'll work.

GuyFromChicago: was there any particular reason why you were wondering if re-quest's links wouldn't count?

[Arnica]

Originally Posted by disgust

yep, they do. why would you think they wouldn't?

edit: actually, you're right, sezza's links don't count.

I wouldn't be too quick to dismiss sezza until the lower directory listings rank above PR4 and have gone through a Google update. I have backlinks from directories using similar server-side redirects to log the hits and Google picks them up correctly and registers the backlinks accordingly.

Mick

[disgust]

do you have any specific examples of google registering backlinks with a redirect like that?

I've never seen those before.

it isn't a PR issue, it's the fact that they use that cgi redirect so it's not a direct link.

[GuyFromChicago]

Originally Posted by disgust

I didn't get it. I'll just blame it on a lack of sleep. yeah, that'll work.

GuyFromChicago: was there any particular reason why you were wondering if re-quest's links wouldn't count?

Anytime I see a directory that's using any kind of redirect in the link I assume the SE's won't pick it up as an actual link.

Directories don't really bring any traffic, so if the link doesn't "count" it's not really worth the time to submit IMO.

[JohnScott]

I'm really hurt that BlueFind wasn't included in that list...

[digitalpoint]

BlueFind is good, but that list are the free ones.

[JohnScott]

You can search BlueFind for free.

:P

[digitalpoint]

hehehe... fair enough, but I don't think that's what they mean.