Because I've seen the opposite. Whilst most people are there to submit for free, it is also true that when people navigate to a category that relates to their site, they also see other websites that interest them (as they are related to their field). Some of my biggest referrers are from free directories - no DMOZ isn't one of them.
As far as I saw, they are comming, submitting and never came back(maybe to check back if they got listed or not, but even that is not sure they'll do ). first accessed page: index second: a top-level category third(if you are lucky): a deeper category fourth: the submission page and that's it folks. PS: I owned a free directory and I would never start one again. I had some statistics that made public would make some look at me like a rasist.
I think it is important for some to start out free because it allows them to populate a directory and to also gain a steady stream of traffic. If you have no listings and you have no traffic and you start out as a paid directory, who is going to bother with your directory?
As silencer said you should use several methods to promote your site. Think about it, there are many reasons to do this. So submitting to free directories is probably worthwhile if you have the time. The reason I say have the time is I have seen a trend that a high percentage of those free directories will not be around very long to turn paid. To run a quality directory takes time. More time than most realize when they start a free one. Once the realization sinks in with no return they abandon the site or they start accepting everything without review and turn it into a spam site. I submit to free directories, but not nearly as many as I used to. You need to hit alot of them to get a sustainable link back. Not to mention any kind of quality link because few of the free directories that stick ever actually offer a quality link. Sure there are some, but how many free directories do you need to submit to in order to get a nice quality link back? Quite a few I think. The directories that send me traffic are all pay for review submissions. At least the ones I notice anyway. Not listed at dmoz.
What ARE you on about? That is the biggest load of nonsense I've heard recently. People are warned about submitting to too many free directories regardless of their quality, not against submitting to them entirely. You can't guarantee anything, you don't work for any of the major search engines, neither do you have enough experience in the field to make such bold statement. Not even Google 'guarantee' anything. Good for you, I'm a butcher, I'll send someone down to the local health store because its 'good for them', I won't bother selling them my product which is just as good, if not better? The first thing on this post you got right. People should ignore you completely because unfortunately you don't seem to have a clue what your saying.
Man, ive got you on ignore and i still cant escape you, unfortunately caught the reply in my subscribed emails. Whatever you say, im wrong if it makes you feel better, again your correct i have not enough experience, thats right again, ignore me completely because i dont know what im saying, thanks for correcting me and putting me in my place, thank you, im silly i forgot my position, thank god your around i almost had a opinion of my own for a moment, thinking huh its a dangerous pastime. For those wondering, im being baited, the guy above me thrives off of a good argument, if i get sucked in il waste the rest of my day, i dont intend doing that, its bank holiday for me. Puts Jamie pack on ignore. To keep the peace.
All I have done for my website is to submit regularly to free directories and I am number 3 for my title on google. I would say free directory submissions are useful.
Glad you explained it cause I had know idea what you were talking about since I have him on ignore also. I much prefer not having to read that .....
Me and Jamie,Kevin,Jaboora,The_pheonix,minstrel, have lovers tiffs, basically anyone connected to them so i prefer to put them all on ignore. Its unfair to have all that in a thread, so i figure if i dont debate with them im one less person messing up perfectly decent threads.
I have one of those 'submit to many directories' programs....is this ok to use or will it dilute my pr?
No-one is 'baiting' you at all pipes, I simply 'questioned and debated' points you made. It would have taken one line, from you simply saying you don't agree without all the nonsense you just went through. We're all entitled to our opinions pipes, mine just differs from yours on this one. Enjoy your holiday and stop getting worked up.
I'd say it is pretty much a waste of time submitting to free directories and even low quality paid ones
Agreed, and you should not overlook a directory just because it has a low page rank if it has lots of backlinks you will benefit from it if you get a backlink from that site.