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Do you ever (now be honest) read directory submission guidelines?

Discussion in 'Directories' started by sabian1982, Feb 12, 2007.

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Do you read directory submission guidelines?

  1. Yes, always!

    9 vote(s)
    25.0%
  2. Nope, never!

    8 vote(s)
    22.2%
  3. Sometimes / depends on the directory and submission type

    19 vote(s)
    52.8%
  1. #1
    In this ever expanding directory world, where new directories popup every single day, theres an ever increasing number of directories to submit your website to. The question is, being totally honest, do you ever read the guidelines?

    I've been repromoting the completely free Unleashed General Directory for about 3 weeks now (which i will eventually sell when we get the new PR update) and i have written, what i believe to be, reasonable submission guidelines.

    Currently im on about 630 active links (my target being the 1000 mark before i sell) the problem is 50% of website details that are submitted simply don't follow the guidelines!

    If i'm being perfectly honest, i never read guidelines on people directories (unless of course its a paid submission and really worth it) - the reason being i feel that my tite, description etc would generally conform pretty much 99% of the time to every average directory and its guidelines.

    So do you read submission guidelines on directories or do you just submit regardless?

    (in some cases i have even seen submission guidelines BELOW the input form - whats the point in that?)
     
    sabian1982, Feb 12, 2007 IP
  2. bloom2008

    bloom2008 Well-Known Member

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    #2
    i never read guidelines on people directories too.because my english is not good.
     
    bloom2008, Feb 12, 2007 IP
  3. smub

    smub Notable Member

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    #3
    i do when i submit ... most of the times .. Not gonna lie there are several times i just submit the site in the most appropriate category ... and hope that the site didn't say we don't allow general directories because if they do they wouldn't have a directory category .. :p
     
    smub, Feb 12, 2007 IP
  4. aspidov

    aspidov Well-Known Member

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    #4
    I never read anything on a directory. :)
     
    aspidov, Feb 12, 2007 IP
  5. YMC

    YMC Well-Known Member

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    #5
    I try to, but many site owners make it like finding a needle in a haystack.

    The biggy questions for me are deep links, can title be something other than site name, length restrictions on description, and if keyword lists are included what the delimeter should be.

    Don't know why so many leave these issues unclear?

    I also think the long-winded guidelines should be listed on their own page, with a shorter version right on the submission page.
     
    YMC, Feb 12, 2007 IP
  6. an0n

    an0n Prominent Member

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    #6
    i voted sometimes, because i use to.
     
    an0n, Feb 12, 2007 IP
  7. axemedia

    axemedia Guest

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    #7
    I give them a quicky scan. Most of the times.
     
    axemedia, Feb 12, 2007 IP
  8. syted

    syted Notable Member

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    #8
    If it looks like a standard submission I don't bother, but if there's extra fields such as deeplinks I give them a quick scan.
     
    syted, Feb 12, 2007 IP
  9. just-4-teens

    just-4-teens Peon

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    #9
    i dont read guidlines for general directories.

    a] because i dont submit spammy sites
    b] my sites always have content, and are fully working
    c] my sites aint porn or illegal
    d] my submissions (90%) of the time use proper site titles (sometimes i will use a keyword or 2 in title) and descriptions.
     
    just-4-teens, Feb 12, 2007 IP
  10. seveneth

    seveneth Peon

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    #10
    Well, I've written simple guidelines/restrictions in my directory about what submission that I'll reject.
    But I still get 70% - 80% invalid submissions :(
    Seem most submitter is become blind about this one.
     
    seveneth, Feb 12, 2007 IP
  11. ccoonen

    ccoonen Well-Known Member

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    #11
    If it's a pay-per submission, I definitely read because I don't want a non-refundable link that might not get submitted...

    Otherwise, a Directory submission is a Directory submission... No need to read, hehe.
     
    ccoonen, Feb 12, 2007 IP
  12. hextraordinary

    hextraordinary Well-Known Member

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    #12
    i skim of the points, most of them are copying each other so, it's no big news...
     
    hextraordinary, Feb 12, 2007 IP
  13. Antonio

    Antonio Well-Known Member

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    #13
    I would like to read that if they have any.

    But in fact many directories I submit has not guidelines.

    Otherwise, I often receive the submission not following my guideline :(
     
    Antonio, Feb 12, 2007 IP
  14. Qryztufre

    Qryztufre Prominent Member

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    #14
    I've read over half of the guidelines of the places I've submitted too. Well, it would likely have been 3/4th of the directories, but it turns out some places don't like what I have to offer... or didn't have a proper category for my niche.

    I do think that it's important to at least skim through the guidelines, you never really know what you are signing away otherwise.
    Q
     
    Qryztufre, Feb 12, 2007 IP
  15. choice

    choice Prominent Member

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    #15
    I do read them

    I know 95% of people submitting to my main directory don`t as 95% of sites get rejected purely because they did`nt read the very simple guidlines
     
    choice, Feb 12, 2007 IP
  16. Obelia

    Obelia Notable Member

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    #16
    I read them, and I tend to get a decent acceptance rate as a result. I mean, it isn't exactly hard work to make that little bit of extra effort.

    I do think that non-standard guidelines should be highlighted on the submission page, as well as having a dedicated page for the detailed guidelines.

    I've actually got brief guidelines on the page, a separate page of all the guidelines, and a Javascript thingy that pops up when people submit certain words or tlds that obviously don't fit.
     
    Obelia, Feb 12, 2007 IP
  17. Mihai

    Mihai Active Member

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    #17
    It is very logical:

    1. I submit to 300 free link directories / day => I don't care if some of them don't list me => I never read the guidelines, its free, if I get rejected I come back again later

    2. If I pay => I sure do read everything

    Thats really simple isn't it ? :rolleyes:
     
    Mihai, Feb 12, 2007 IP
  18. deluxdon

    deluxdon Catch Me If You Can...!!!™ Staff

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    #18
    I always read guidelines if directory contains guideline at submission page. Because i don't want to get email containing "Your link Rejected" :D
     
    deluxdon, Feb 12, 2007 IP
  19. Clive

    Clive Web Developer

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    #19
    I don't bother reading unless I am rejected, then I'm trying to determine the reason by reading their guidelines :)
    So I go back and read whatever they have before resubmitting. Saves me time for the sites that are accepted in the first place ;)
     
    Clive, Feb 12, 2007 IP
  20. irka

    irka Well-Known Member

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    #20
    I voted sometimes too, there are a lot of low quality directories on the web that doesn't need us to waste time to read how to submit our spam sites.

    I was sure the result of the pole was 'sometimes', cause people are so lazy! They prefer submit to 100 directories a day and get 20 accepted. Than 30 submissions a day and 30 accepted.
     
    irka, Feb 12, 2007 IP
    deluxdon likes this.