Yahoo No Directory Tag Due in January 2007

Search Engine Roundtable reported this morning that Yahoo will be implementing a "No Yahoo Directory" Tag in their directory listings, hopefully in January.  This means that the traditional Yahoo Directory title that appears in directory submissions will not appear in standard search results and your traditional HTML browser title information should appear.  This comes on the heels of an announcement in October regarding a "NoODP" tag, which supported the removal the ODP Titles from Yahoo search results.

The core benefit to this is in the fact that webmasters and marketers will have more control of the messaging that appears in Yahoo search results, by way of the HTML title.  Proper messaging in the HTML title tag can help in a variety of ways, including:

• Better brand awareness and website association - having your brand/company name at the end or beginning of the HTML title helps enforce your name with the associated keyword
• Better click thru - research suggests that users searching specific keywords are more applicable to click results that have the keyword directly in the search title.  In addition, when the keyword is found in the search result, the keyword is presented in bold, adding additional relevance and support for clicking the result(s).

Up till now, variables in the Yahoo search algorithm enabled Yahoo Directory titles to appear in search results in place of the strategic HTML Title. If the title did not contain the proper messaging as related to the keyword search (Yahoo Directory submissions frequently only contain the company names), then searches may be less likely to click the given result.

Here is the current forum discussion at WebmasterWorld. 

Popular Web Directories

While the overall value of links found in web directories may or may not have a serious impact on your keyword rankings in today's search algorithms, there are still reasons to consider submissions into the major directory resources, including:

• Getting Indexed.  Search engines still crawl the best web directories, and they offer the opportunity to be found, if nothing else, by search engine spiders.
• Directory Data Feeds.  An unspoken value of the Open Directory is that it provides data feeds of its listings for webmasters to publish.  What happens then is that the syndications of its content (including Google and AOL), automatically feature your website in their specific directory listings, without any additional work from you.
• Categorical Reference.  Because most directories will have you specify a certain category for your submission, at the least your site gets placed within your strategic thematic relationship, even though the purpose of the website as a whole is not necessarily industry or business related.

Popular Web Directories
Here is a list of popular web directories that you should consider submissions for.  Note that today, most of these directories now require a fee of some sort for inclusion. 

• The Open Directory (DMOZ) - The original volunteer, human-edited web directory.  This is one of the largest and oldest directories out there.  Make sure to adhere to the submission guidelines as required.  More information on the submission process for the DMOZ can be found here.
• Yahoo Directory - The Yahoo Directory is an extensive catalog of websites organized by topic. Non-commercial sites may submit for free but most commercial sites require a $299 annual fee.
• Business.com - A comprehensive directory of business websites, and an ideal choice for B2B companies.  The directory requires an initial $199 submission fee and then $149/year thereafter.  One nice benefit for new listers is that they offer the ability to create 4 additional sub-links into deeper pages of your website.  They also feature a nice 800 number for questions and service.
• Best of the Web - Editor-based web directory since 1994 and now revamped with a blog directory as well.  There is a one-time fee of $149 for submissions, with a review process of 3 business days.
• GoGuides - General directory listing sites by ratings. The fee is now $69 per submission and you can pay through PayPal or traditional methods. 
• JoeAnt - General directory listing sites by ratings. Uses icons to aid content selection.  The nice thing about Joeant is that they encourage webmasters with interest in the directory to become contributors, and have a complete section of information and forums for Joeant editors to discuss topics and work together.  Outside of being an editor, there is a one-time submission fee of $39.
• About - A network of sites where visitors can find many targeted topic areas, each one managed by a personal guide.  The strategy for getting linked in this website is a little bit more difficult, as there is no commercial process for submissions.  Rather, webmasters should contact the appropriate guide and begin a working relationships demonstrating the relevance and value associated with their website and the specific topic at hand.
• Gimpsy - Holds reviewed, interactive sites, classified by the activity the user is aiming at, and provides a Natural Language search interface.  There is a one-time $40 submission fee.

The list here is a mere handful of web directory opportunities for webmasters to investigate and submit their material to.  It should also be noted that this list does not even touch on specialty directories, which include regional guides, topic specific directories and niche directories (for bloggers, RSS, articles etc)

Here is one of the best places I have seen for listing a ton of directories (free and commercial) in one place, but if you would like more information and additional resources, check out the links below:

• The Yahoo Directories own listing of Search Engines and Directories
• Wikipedia
• SearchEngineWatch.com's listing of major search engines and directories for consideration (somewhat outdated)

Say Goodbye to Zeal

One of the better, honest directories out there is shutting it's doors at the end of the month.  Posted originally in SearchEngineWatch the other day, the Zeal Web Directory is closing at the end of March.  From our end, it was one of the few directories that promoted non-commercial, information based resources, designed to educate, enhance and develop the Internet experience.  The more comprehensive set of guidelines for being accepted as a Zeal editor made it feel like it was more of a community of like-minded individuals, trying to provide a service to the web community.  While I can't say I've been back to the directory in over a year, the original rules and ideas provided for fundamental guidelines on how to properly use a web directory.

Guidelines for The Open Directory Project (DMOZ)

The Open Directory Project (DMOZ) is the largest, most comprehensive human-edited directory of the Web. It is constructed and maintained by a vast, global community of volunteer editors.  This community is represented by web users across the globe. Because it is a volunteer directory, and free, the time between submission and approval/rejection can take months, if not years based on the category, editor experience and volume. 

Website Address: http://www.dmoz.org/

As Search Engines like Google and Yahoo continue to de-emphasis the importance of general directory link relationships, it remains to be seen how valuable this inbound link will remain in the future. Given the fact that the submission process is FREE, there is no downside for a website owner to attempt to submit to the directory.

Reasons to Submit to DMOZ

1. The directory is used as the backbone for the Google Directory
2. Google will frequently pull directory titles and descriptions where it sees appropriate to better support its search index
3. DMOZ offers a free site feed to webmasters, allowing them to publish directory listings at no charge other than there time.  These “Quasi-DMOZ” directories of information may become secondary sources of inbound links for indexed sites
4. Finally – It’s Free

Submission Guidelines
General guidelines for submitting to DMOZ can be found here:

• http://dmoz.org/add.html
• With background information and FAQ’s located here:
  http://dmoz.org/help/submit.html
  http://dmoz.org/help/geninfo.html
• Comprehensive Guidelines
  http://dmoz.org/guidelines/

Be sure to read the guidelines in depth before submission.  Strict adherence to the rules gives you the best chance of being indexed in the directory.  Failure to do so may incur severe delays or permanent rejection from inclusion into the directory

General Summary of Guidelines

1. Navigate to the MOST APPROPRIATE category for your website
2. Click the “Suggest URL” link at the top left to get to the submission form.  Note that submissions are category driven and you cannot successfully submit a website using the wrong category.
3. Follow the instructions for the submission process as accurately as possible
   
   a. Important Rules
   
        i. Titles should be relevant to company names, website names etc
        ii. Avoid excessive marketing speak, promotional language and the use of repetition
4. When you are satisfied with your submission click the “Submit” button at the bottom.

Additional Comments on the Submission Process
As stated above, it may take months, if not years to receive approval or rejection of your listing in the directory.  They also will NOT contact you to let you know that you have been approved or rejected. 

We recommend that you check for your listing approximately two months after the submission completion.  The search functionality in the site does not always pick up recent additions, so you may have to go directly to your desired category. 

You should not repeatedly resubmit your website based on it not being listed.  If after 6 months the site is not listed, we recommend that you resubmit once.  Continued repeat submissions, submissions to multiple categories etc will usually delay or block any listing opportunity.

Modifying Your Listing in the Open Directory

Editors may alter your submission details as they see fit or to conform to guidelines.  If you do not agree with the editor’s alteration, or if there is a specific reason that you need to edit your listing (change in business, location etc), you should send notification to DMOZ to edit your listing.

General Guidelines

1. Navigate to the category that your website is listed in
2. Click the “Update Listing” link at the top left of the webpage
3. Follow the instructions found therein
4. Make sure to use a standard communication email address for the submission process and clearly state the reason(s) that the listing should be modified. 
5. Further information on modifying an existing website listing may be found here:
   
        a.  http://dmoz.org/add.html
             Under the section: “Updating Your Site”

Good Luck and Happy Link Building!