Do web directories work?

I have never in my whole life said: "Well, I am going to check a web directory, because I need to find a certain website." Also, I've never seen Google indexing any sites according to a web directory. So my question is: Who are the web directories for and why are they still so popular? (At least among some people).

 

Do they work in what sense?

 

Its depend on the directory it self, if it has good quality than it will work.

 

I just checked wikipedia and found the answer. I never really thought that a web directory could be useful, but I guess they are. I guess the most useful ones are the ones that have some sort of website reviewing in them. Similar to angie's list but for websites.

 

Be sure that good directories includes useful information to users will working all the time.

 

I am new to this we directories discussion and thanks for sharing it

 

I think it will be working completely

 

They are still Popolur bec of the following reason
1. Target traffic.
2. Key word ranking
3. One way backlink.
4. PR improvement.
5. Online visibility of web site, etc

 

Think of a directory as a phonebook. Websites get listed under their category and when a user needs to locate websites related to that specific category they can do it easily. These websites are reviewed for quality (usually) so the user can assume all the listings are accurate and useful for the category. A search engine is much more popular and mainstream but directories have a purpose and people do use them. Especially the niche directories dedicated to a very specific topic that are very high PR.

 

Thanks guys, I am more aware now of the need for directories.

 

Good its new info for me.

 

Right! That is why there are so many directories in the world.

 

Thanks, i have directory : directory.gov.vn well come submit////

 

Most are usually used as backlinks for webmasters. Visitors don't really benefit from them...because most visitors are impatient...they want to see what they are looking for NOW!. Directories were useful before search engines had good results but now...most people just use search engines.

 

100% disagree, and its pure ignorance.

Yelp is a directory. When I travelled I used it regularly to decide which bar/restaurant to visit. Real reviews, from real people in a directory format. Heck I used tonnes of different directories when travelling. I used Google too, but you know what I used Google for? To find the directories

Google? It's just a search engine, it can't tell me what the best restaurant in town is, for that I have to go to the real people, and real people exist in directories not on automated-search-engines

 

Web directories are for people wanting to build high quality back links form related and unrelated sites. They are a very good way of link building (at least the good ones) because thy give you a key word rich back link embedded by you sites description.

 

The first 2 pages of Google have max 15-20 websites. If you are beyond page 2 then getting traffic is pretty tough. Specialized niche directories give websites the opportunity to be seen if they don't appear in the top Google results. Along with reviews, they can be highly valuable to the user.

 

website and article directory is the most easy way to build Natural backlinks.
and sometimes directory was resource for some people.

 

Wow!!!! Lots of replies and i got the answer . In the last i can say that good directories are those who includes the useful information to users will definetly works all time.

 

Web directories nowadays are made mostly for search engines. There are only few directories for humans: yahoo dir and dmoz for example, but dmoz is going to be compromised shortly.