This question comes to mind very often when I see some questions about directories like this "Is Submitting directories is really helpful?" As you know most of the directory owners submit their website to directories inorder to gain PR and also for SERPS! I am asking the directory owners here whether directories can stand individually on their own without the help of Search Engines? that is whether they can flourish without the help of Search Engines?
Directories are not a website per say, they are a Business, and as such they will flourish in line with other well run internet businesses The search engine question is totally irrelevant, as all internet based business is in some way relative to SE's so therefore the question is totally incorrect and can not be focused on Directories singularly The question can be would all websites stand alone with out SE's The answer is that SE's are an inherent backbone to the functionality and operation of the Internet and will continue to be as such, until another system is developed to make SE's redundant Simplified can you drive a car uphill without an engine The answer is no
Yes, provided they are advertised in other ways. Every time I hear about Yell.com, it seems to be on the TV rather than through search engines. A directory needs traffic in order to thrive, but search engines aren't the only source of it.
You asked "whether they can flourish without the help of Search Engines?" One way they can flourish is by attracting direct traffic, which is exactly what some do. Many directories operate by getting indexed by search engines, and selling links with the (often unspoken) promise of search engine benefits. So I pointed out an alternative to this method. If that wasn't what you were talking about, you need to be more specific.
I am talking about directories that can sell the links mainly for other purposes (Not for Search Engines and indexing) Just like Dmoz or Business.com which do n't need the help of Search Engines
I wouldn't put Dmoz in that category at all. Aside from the fact that it doesn't sell listings, it sends a negligible amount of traffic. So if it were to sell listings (imagine that!), then approximately no-one (sane) would submit. The whole reason people get so bothered about that directory is the perceived SEO benefits of a listing.