Free Directories that will actually list you (or not)?

Discussion in 'Solicitations & Announcements' started by MattL, May 3, 2005.

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  1. #1
    I have submitted my sites to many of the directories on the lists found here and elsewhere. My sites are fairly high quality with useful info and are not spammy. I do have Adsense on most of them though. Most are listed in DMOZ.

    I notice that many of the Admins of these directory sites have visited my sites to check them out, but they don't list my sites. What's up with that? I have to wonder if many of the people running "free" directories are listing mostly their own sites, sites of their friends, just trying to get traffic and using the "directories" to get ideas for their new sites from people that submit.

    I realize that these people owe me and others nothing and can do whatever they want since it is their site. It's just a bit irritating when people promote and ask for submissions and then don't follow up.

    Does anybody have a "short" list of directories that actually list the sites that submit?
     
    MattL, May 3, 2005 IP
  2. T0PS3O

    T0PS3O Feel Good PLC

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    #2
    I have staff here submitting to those lists and I see the listing confirmations come in by e-mail but haven't checked whether they actually do so or not. I assume they do else why would they run a directory.

    That vsilencer or whatever it's called list is what we roll through. Yahoo picked up some of them as bcklinks so it is working to smoe extent.
     
    T0PS3O, May 3, 2005 IP
  3. MattL

    MattL Well-Known Member

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    #3
    Yea I assumed they would too.

    Some of them don't even email confirmations. I see the referrals in my logs though, so I know they looked.
     
    MattL, May 3, 2005 IP
  4. dejaone

    dejaone Well-Known Member

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    #4
    I submitted one of my sites to about 100 directories, and I'm aware of 17 approvals within 48 hours. There could be more approvals. I run adsense on it as well.

    try link: command on msn which picks up new links pretty quickly.
     
    dejaone, May 3, 2005 IP
  5. CanadianEh

    CanadianEh Notable Member

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    #5
    Here is an educated guess. It is possible that when you submit to a directory, that the directory's validation process connects to your site to verify that it is real URL.


    Here is a reviewed list of top internet directories.

    Brent
     
    CanadianEh, May 3, 2005 IP
  6. Tsection

    Tsection Guest

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    #6
    Tsection always sends a confirmation email - whether your site is accepted or rejected - however I know some directories don't do this.

    The other thing to keep in mind is that some directories take months to actually review your listing (unless you pay them something or backlink). They might check it out initially, however they could make you wait to encourage more paid submissions.

    One thing you need to be careful not to fall foul of is submitting too many sites at once. I know, as an editor, I hate to have to review 20 sites all submitted in a row by one person because:

    (a) I'm not getting paid much for this work (currently about $2 a day - third world factory employees get paid more!),

    (b) I want to list websites, but not entire portfolios of sites just so that one guy can get rich.

    Perhaps try spreading out your submissions over a few weeks or, as a courtesy, email the admin of the directory and ask if it would be okay if you submitted your many websites (however don’t be offended if they say no – just pick 2 or 3 and try your luck with those).

    Submitting heaps of sites at once only makes you look like a spammer - no matter how "good" you subjectively think your websites are.
     
    Tsection, May 3, 2005 IP
  7. MattL

    MattL Well-Known Member

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    #7

    Good point about the amount of submitted sites. I actually did think about that and I only submit about 3 sites at a time to a directory. Of course if they take months and months I may be submitting more before they even get reviewed, but at least they aren't all in a row.
     
    MattL, May 3, 2005 IP
  8. CanadianEh

    CanadianEh Notable Member

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    #8
    Tsection

    You have a nice directory, but you must be honest with yourself. People submit sites to get backlinks. Less than 1 out 100 directories today will give anyone any real significant traffic. Some people build websites as a hobby and others do it to pay the bills. For the pros, submitting to directories one a time may buy groceries but it won't send the kids to college.

    If you are still in the honeymoon stage and hope to create a nice directory for your "users" then ask yourself this question. When my user looks at a site on my directory, does it matter is the site was submitted alone or as 1 of 20?

    You said "Perhaps try spreading out your submissions over a few weeks or, as a courtesy".
    I don;t see the difference, exept for maybe the perception.
     
    CanadianEh, May 3, 2005 IP
  9. Tsection

    Tsection Guest

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    #9
    CanadianEh, you are absolutely right. But look at it from the directory owner's point of view. Most setup a directory as a business opportunity, or at least as a paid experiment. If we list every free website that is submitted, then:

    (a) we are going to spend every second of every day listing websites for free,
    (b) our directory is going to be full of spam / useless entries that no one will want to view anyway,
    (c) search engines are going to catch on pretty fast and our PR will plummet.

    All I am saying is that if you want to get listed with a directory fast, instead of blaming the directory, you need to start thinking from the directory owner's point of view. Treat them well, play by their rules, perhaps even send them a few bucks, and you'll be amazed at how quickly your website is processed. Treat the directory like a linking farm and you might as well not even bother. (Obviously I am not talking about all directories here. Some will list you regardless. They are possibly the directories you shouldn't be submitting to, but I digress....).

    For instance, I am usually so happy when I find someone who has formatted their submission correctly, that I approve it instantly with a high internal score so that it will rank near the top.

    But I'm not necessarily talking about my directory. After all, I've only been open a few weeks... but I've realised a few things since I've started editing the submissions and I'm sure that my comments will apply to the vast majority of directories out there.

    As proof of what I am saying, take your directory of directories for instance. I emailed you as soon as I setup my directory. Your response (after ignoring me for about a month and then a second email from me):

    Cool. I didn't mind. Fair enough even. But how can you then expect any differently from an editor listing one of your websites? (And I'm not saying that you do expect differently, you actually sound very reasonable and logical). No directory on the face of the planet wants to list websites just so the listed website can have have a nice backlink. CanadianEh doesn't list every directory and that's why his resource is one of, if not the best, in the world. Same logic applies to general directories.

    Most website and directory owners are quite proud of their creation. They want it to become something great. The secret is to realize that and then take steps to address that concern.

    Even if it is a simple, "Hey, great directory. great job" in the comments field, or taking the time to read the directory's style guide before you submit - these are surely going to help your chances.

    Sure, you don't have to email a directory webmaster and ask if it is okay to submit your 20+ websites - but don't you think he/she might speed your submissions through if they received that email?? Even if they were going to approve all of your sites, they might even be approved faster than they would otherwise because the directory owner feels like he knows you and that you are a good person for actually caring about their directory and their time.

    The difference is that the editor is likely to have forgotten you over this time and is more likely to include your site. I can't be hard to implement: just work on 2 or 3 websites max per day and shuffle down your list. Then rinse and repeat. I have a strong feeling that this will be more successful than simply blasting a directory with an entire portfolio in one hit.

    Michael
     
    Tsection, May 3, 2005 IP
  10. larysmith711

    larysmith711 Notable Member

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    #10
    larysmith711, May 3, 2005 IP
  11. CanadianEh

    CanadianEh Notable Member

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    #11
    Tsection

    I understand what you are saying. You may not be so passionate about it after 10 thousand submissions. Many free directory owners receive hundreds of submissions a day. What happens when you come back from vacation and there are a thousand submissions waiting.

    That's why a percentage of directory owner's stop adding free links, even though they start with the greatest of intentions. See more at the Problem with Some Free Directories

    I am just giving you a point of view of the people submiting to the directories.
     
    CanadianEh, May 3, 2005 IP
  12. Tsection

    Tsection Guest

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    #12
    Yeah, true, but how is someone submitting 20 websites in a row going to inspire me to process those 1,000 pending reviews? You've got to make directory editors want to process your link, or your 20 links, or whatever. That's all I'm saying.

    Although I can definitely see your point of view -- if a directory has no intention of processing free links, they should remove that offer from their website. It borders on misrepresentation.
     
    Tsection, May 3, 2005 IP
  13. CanadianEh

    CanadianEh Notable Member

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    #13
    But if a directory has a large queue they don't care if 20 submissions came in together or separately.


    There are a lot of directories out there in this situation. I might start a list when I have time and call it the "Directory Graveyard".

    As for your directory, you can also change your business plan. Some people run directories to attract people to their services, some charge a fee and some ask for recips. It is your choice. All I say is "don't blame the users".
     
    CanadianEh, May 3, 2005 IP
  14. CanadianEh

    CanadianEh Notable Member

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    #14
    This is a spooky directory. Best Web Directories is listed and I have no record of ever submitting to it.
     
    CanadianEh, May 3, 2005 IP
  15. Tsection

    Tsection Guest

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    #15
    Yeah, true. And that is the case for me, if and only if they are all correctly formatted. If I have to manually write the titles and descriptions for some guy's portfolio of sites, for free, I'm just going to say "forget it".

    MattL created this thread because he wanted to know why his portfolio of sites weren't being approved. I've tried to explain what goes through a directory editor's mind when he/she is editing. I can almost guarantee that a large number of directory editors feel the same.

    I've noticed that, generally, people with large portfolios try to keyword stuff, they submit to the top categories when there is a more relevant bottom category, all of their websites look exactly the same and the list of gripes goes on and on... They are the worst offenders in my book. I'm certainly not saying that MattL's websites fall into this category (I don't even know what websites MattL runs), however I expect that all directories do take note of who is submitting large numbers of websites to their directory.

    It's just more noticable when you submit 20 in a row. I want to help as many people as I can, and I'm sure other directory editors are the same, however if I have to write proper titles and descriptions for 20 websites so that some guy can send his kids to college, I can't be bothered. However, if the submissions were all properly formatted (or close enough), in the correct catgeory, and perhaps gave at least one backlink, or even mentioned the word "thanks", they'd ALL be approved in 20 seconds flat.

    Had a guy today who donated $40 to have his 8 sites added. They all went through within 8 hours in the categories that he wanted.

    I'm not saying you have to donate, but just play fair and be thoughtful and you'll stand a better chance.

    (By the way, Tsection is processing anywhere between 40 and 60 submissions a day, so it's not like I'm just shooting my mouth off for no reason).
     
    Tsection, May 3, 2005 IP
  16. Tuning

    Tuning Well-Known Member

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    #16
    My directory have around 45-50 submissions a day. I have accepted all submissions that are in proper category. All sites related to pharmacy and casinos are rejected though.

    Need to spent 20 minutes each day reviewing the sites. But i don't feel bad on doing it. Because i'm also submitting to other directories and wants fast approval.
     
    Tuning, May 3, 2005 IP
  17. dfsweb

    dfsweb Active Member

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    #17
    And while you are at it, submit to my directory too. Submissions require a recip link, but they are free of charge. Immediate approvals!
     
    dfsweb, May 3, 2005 IP
  18. NeoGen

    NeoGen Writer

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    #18
    I get around 30 submissions a day, one of the challenge that I face is people not submitting their sites to proper categories. So I need to spend some time and make my judgements on which category a site would go. I get around 5 such cases.

    Pharmacy, Casinos and poker gets automatic rejection. I also, spend some time on the sites submitted to assess the relevance of site and so on.

    I raise my flag in following order for further search on a particular site:

    - sub-domain submission... will see whether the main domain is already submitted. If yes, is there any connection... might also search google for that
    - Free domains (like cjb.net, .co.nr and so on).. wil explore site for content relevance, at least the site should have some content.
    - A domain with too many dashes (-).. same process as mentioned above

    I would say, its a learning process.. more and more you review site, one start learning the pattern of submission and helps in quickly deciding in approving the site submissions.
     
    NeoGen, May 3, 2005 IP
  19. dfsweb

    dfsweb Active Member

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    #19
    I manually approve/reject submissions to a little directory that I run for my photography site. It's not a huge directory (Was never meant to be), but it still gets a lot of rubbish submissions. After a while you just look at a submission and know (even before checking the site out) whether it's legit or not. :eek:
     
    dfsweb, May 3, 2005 IP
  20. silencer

    silencer Notable Member

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    #20
    I've never had a problem with getting added. There are some directories that simply do not add, or are very selective in their additions, but for the majority on the list I use I would say that you would get 160 to 170 additions at least out of the 190 listed.

    Sometimes when you submit you are in a queue of 1000+ submissions, and you just have to be patient and wait. Some additions have taken 3 and 4 months to add. You are getting a free link, you can't complain about the time it takes. If you want express addition then you pay for it, most of the directories stipulate this in BOLD on their submission page

    Other times, when you have submitted you may be on the cusp of the directory converting from free to pay for inclusion / reciprocal required. In those instances, they might have had a cut-off point for free submissions they would accept, then just blanket reject the rest, then change their policy. Last time I updated 10 such directories converted to pay for inclusion that were previously free. I had submissions-in-waiting with some of them, that I am assuming have simply been cancelled. No biggie, life goes on and I resubmit the same site to the 37 new directories. Lose 10 gain 37 :)

    Biggest tip: Be patient.

    If you were going for a DMOZ listing you'd be forced to wait for months and months and months and years and you still might not get listed. Treat the other free directories the same way. They don't have to add you if they don't want to, they probably have a huge backlog of sites simply because they are free to submit to, they probably have tonnes of spam to remove from their system, and for every one that drops off the tree another 10 replace it.
     
    silencer, May 5, 2005 IP
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