Hi, this might be very basic and most of you would be knowing. But I thought I would list them out for folks who are new to directory submission and SEO. This is based on my observation and there may be exemptions - Sometimes you might see great free directory and worst paid directory. Please add to this list if I had missed any. Free Directory More number of links submitted to these directories. Mostly of the sites listed would be low quality. A category may have thousands of links and hundreds of pages. No unique design. Since these directories earn very less (Only through) advertisements, I have never seen a quality design that is free to submit. Less PR. Most of the free sites are less PR. Few directoties may have lead time of few months. Some may not even review the links that are being submitted. That is why when you submit to 1000 directories, you may be accepted in 100 directories. Google cache - Most of the free directory lisitng pages do not get cached in Google. No support either! When you contact them, most of the time you can be sure that they won't reply. Paid Directory Mostly have unique design. Have high Page rank. Have very few listings and therby you have better visibility from users and search engines. Quick Review - Most of the paid directory review your links in few hours to couple of days. Good support from the admin. Top level submissions may boost your site PR. Most of the top categories have PR and it is a great advantage.
Sorry I don't recognise DMOZ the largest human edited free directory on the net in that first list. Maybe you should stop generalising, generalisations are usually wrong.
You are right. I said there are exemptions. DMOZ is reputed for its authority. This comparison is general thumb rule so to say. But on the other hand being the largest and oldest directory, I think DMOZ should have done a lot down the line. They have been static for so long time. New features like social integration etc., should have been in this directory. Additionally the lead time pisses users out of the water.
Nice Comparison,,, the greatest advantage of free directories to paid directories is that its "free"... thats it... free free free LOL
Well, Xania, I don't think free makes sense to me! Free is good as it is free but at the same time it doesn't help me give some link juice. I would probably mix both this when I do my submissions.
I think that the real problem is the the way a directory let webmasters complete their details. For example I own a directory that allows only original description of a site. You can not copy and paste everything. And my directory is FREE!
Sigh, yet again another idiot post full of generalizations that attempts to lump all directories into categories based upon their payment structure. Yeah, I know, you said there are exceptions. Well, this exception is sick and tired of seeing this crap. I therefore took the liberty of rewriting your list to what it should have said...
OP, http://web.archive.org/web/19981205154345/http://www.smsweb.org/ 1998 shows otherwise, directory is hosted on Indian based server, when did India first get www access? Question: Why not submit your site to 14 Years old......? Answer: Because its not a 14 year old web directory. Taken from your site: SMart Summary (SMS) of Web is an initiative to organize the global web in an unprecedented way. Total number of websites in the planet is growing in a rapid ... Meaning of unprecedented un·prec·e·dent·ed    [uhn-pres-i-den-tid] Show IPA adjective without previous instance; never before known or experienced; unexampled or unparalleled So of the thousands of directories that already exist.... lol
Good spot. I didn't even bother looking at the link. 14 years old and the vast majority of the categories are empty? Yeah, sure. Ever hear of the Strategic Management Society? Me neither, until I checked Archive.org for this domain.
"14 Years old PR 6 Web Directory" Yet OP managed to get only two pages indexed in google. Great achievement.
Lol, 14 years is about the same age as google as an actual company too i think thats unprecedented, 2 pages in all of that time
e.g. SMS (Strategic Management Society) - not a directory. Nice catch guys... Might want to pull that 14 year bull shit off your page... Guys like you make our industry look bad.
That is very true about free and paid directories, but why people keep spending their time for free directories. Free directories are just to say FREE or even if they approve it with low quality SERP coming back to link or site.
Yes, and he also does not know if people will PAY for listings... after 14 years in the biz? http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=2301695
Hoping for an explanation from the OP now, tis all silent after such a comparison between free and paid.
Well guys.... Why don't you stop bombarding me with you comments?? I have to say that I have not owned that domain for 14 years neither it was directory for 14 years. This is not a secret - It's an attempt to start a directory on a credible domain - Most of you would agree that people do this over time and time. I did a mistake by writing an eye-catching signature even before I fully developed the website. I agree to most of your criticism and respect that - Which was the reason I pulled down my signature. Now what do you guys want me to do?! I would suggest let's focus on the topic and stop shouting at me on my website And yeah, I will be working on the site taking all your comments into consideration. Thanks for everyone for pointing out even silly grammar mistake and will try to create value before launching it. Hope this makes things clear.
Obvious. Marketing tactics. Learn from it ! May be I will drop it - I will have to think through it. Mia, I suggest we stop talking about my website here. It doesn't make sense to talk about it here - This is not a review thread right? If you want one on one conversation, feel free to PM me.