Bid directories are those wherein you bid for position. They are a relatively new way to build text links to your web site. However, you need to use them carefully in order to massively increase your web site’s traffic from targeted visitors.

Some of the great benefits that you can get from these directories include:

1. If you get in the top 10 to 20 of your category on a bid directory you will be listed on the directory’s front page. This will then get you more Page Rank, which is important.
2. Remember that a Search Engine will consider a link from any web site to yours as a vote for your web site. If the bid directory has a high Page  The higher the Page Rank, their vote will count a lot more, thus moving you higher up in the Search Engines.
3. As aforementioned, the higher paying bids are listed higher up in the directory. Therefore your listing will be more visible.
   

Of course, this does not mean you should just start paying to be listed in bid directories. There are some things that you should consider:

1. These text links should simulate natural linking and thus be purchased from various directories with various Page Rank values.
2. Various link titles and descriptions need to be used so that they are more valuable.
3. Make sure that the bid directory you use has a category structure.
4. Put your web site in the most appropriate category so that your keyword text of the other listings will increase your web site’s value.

There are numerous open directories available online.  The most popular ones include Google, DMOZ and Yahoo.  It was actually Rick Skrenta and Bob Truel who created DMOZ (a.k.a. ODP or the Open Directory Project), which then led to the creation of the numerous other open directories that are in existence today.  These open directories are valuable resources for getting all kinds of links, from back links to incoming links and even more. 

There are some distinguishing characteristics of open directories.  First of all, they are multilingual content that is available to all of the directories users.  Secondly, these are ran by volunteers from the web community.  As such, some of these directories are updated regularly, while others are not. 

These open directories are very popular with webmasters because they know that there are a lot of users who will frequent these directories.  They are also popular because they enable web sites to collect relevant links, which will then help them to get a better Search Engine position.  Plus, these directories also have their own traffic that they are able to send to web sites whose job it is to then convert this traffic into customers.  With all of this in mind, open directories really are 1 of the top strategies used to promote businesses.

If you decide to submit your web site to these open directories, there are some things that you should know:

1.        Check to make sure that there is an editor for the category that you plan to submit your web site to.  If not, you may consider applying as you will then be able to add your web sites a lot faster.

2.       Do not try to put keywords in your title if they are not already in your company name.  If you do, your site will either be edited or rejected outright.

3.       You also should not try to put extra keywords into your description as this will either get you edited or rejected outright.  This description also needs to be kept short and concise.  Your objective here is to state what your web site has to offer.

4.       Patience is definitely required here as it may take weeks or months for your web site to be reviewed.  If it has been quite some time since you have submitted your web site and it is still not listed, then you could send a polite note to the category’s editor in order to find out if there was a problem.

This may sound as though it is a lot of work, but it really is quite easy to do.  Of course, it is going to require some patience and time, but then again, what type of web site marketing is not going to take this.  There most definitely is not any magical trick that you can use to get your web site out and about quickly so that it can be seen.  So, take the time and do the work that is required, then you will be able to reqp some great benefits. 

Our clients often ask us, I have budget of $400 for paid directory submissions, Which paid directories do you recommend?

It is true, there are hundreds of directories so, it becomes difficult to find good directories. I’ve sorted out top 12 good quality directories those are recommended for SEO. No doubt there are many others, but when you have limited budget, you can start with these.

1. http://botw.org/
2. http://www.joeant.com/
3. http://www.goguides.org/
4. http://www.wowdirectory.com/
5. http://www.sevenseek.com/
6. http://www.gimpsy.com/
7. http://www.skaffe.com/
8. http://www.site-sift.com/
9. http://www.avivadirectory.com/
10. http://www.alivedirectory.com/
11. http://www.2yi.net/
12. http://directory.v7n.com/

Update: Many of these are no longer worth recommending. This is an old post and directories are rated and included at time of preparing list. So before you submit, check individual directories first. (July 18, 2008)