Your site can be submitted to directories in two major ways – automatically by software or manually by someone. While automated submission could send your site to thousands of directories, often free of cost, the process suffers from several disabilities. These disabilities result in your site being ignored by almost all the directories to which it is submitted. Directories do not like automated submissions because of the thousands of junk sites that the submission software dumps on them. This is particularly clear in the case of directories that require to type a few characters displayed in a graphic. This device is to prevent automated submissions. Software cannot read characters displayed as graphic. So only submissions by humans would ever reach the directory. Even if the submission software manages to get your site to the directory's attention, it might not meet the several criteria needed for inclusion. For example, the software would not be able to drill down the category structure of specific directories. The standard classification that you give to the software might not be there for a particular directory. For the reasons indicated above, if you are serious about getting your site listed in directories, you have to do it manually by hand. It is here that the option of outsourcing your directory submission becomes relevant. Even if it costs a little money, it might be the better option. There is also the factor of expertise. A specialist focusing on directories is likely to be aware of the best ones to submit to. That person is also less likely to make errors while submitting.
99.9999% of software let you submit to spammy directories anyway...so it's up to you, choose spammy software if all you want is your backlink count to show a numerical value, with no weight behind the links and most likely some form of penalty.
I think there some semi automated tools also like Submit Suite, which opens a frame for the submissions, all you have to do it fill in the catchpa's. I still haven't used this tool to comment on how it is effective or even the results.
Both have its own cos and pros! Manual submission will spend a lot of time and money, and you can receive the highest approval probability, while automatical will only spend around 10 percent of the money, and 1 percent of the time, and less approvals. I was providing a manual directory submission service last year, which charges $49.9 for submitting to 1000 directories. Finally I gave up, because it's a waste of time for spending 2 days for only $49.9. By my experience, it's impossible to finish submitting to 1000 directories by hand in less than 2 days! Even by using those semi automatical software, I need at least 2 days full time work to submit to 1000 directories. Currently I'm providing an automatical submission services, Cheap Submission to Thousands of Directories in Minutes - Only $6.95. Only $6.95 and in around 1 hour, it will submit to 1000+ directories. You save at least $45 and 5 days of work! It's online live - you see the tool submitting to the directories one by one, together with the categories submitted and submission status. As for the quality, you will receive 200-300 confirm emails, which is around 70% of manual submissions.
@ hhheng: I paid for your service and also sent you a pm to discuss about bulk submissions. Now when I came back to see my page after payment, I see some automatic submission has began. It seemed ok initially, but then I see it submits to all types of directories. I see submissions being made to my own directories too which are paid. I see submission being made to reputed Paid directories too. I see a lot of Paid directories in your list. It can be made better dude, just maintain that list, I had to close my browser page to stop submissions to paid directories. Please maintain that list with free directories so one benefits from it. Why don't you caution buyers that you will submit in that manner?? I am very very disappointed with that service you are offering.