Get the Most Out of Web Directories and Article Directories

There are ways around promoting your site. And it isn’t even going to cost you a cent (only a bit of your time). There are what we call web directories and article directories. Web directories, simply, are directories of various categories containing website listings. On the other hand, article directories are directories also containing various categories where you can publish your articles. Why mention the two? You’ll soon find out.

First off, are web directories. Did you know that there hundreds of web directories exist all across the net? What you do is you submit your site to these directories, and there you go – instant links to your site! Did you also know that most of those web directories are free? That’s right, they won’t charge you anything (maybe just some occasional link backs to their site – “reciprocal linking”). What matters is that a site is linking back to your site. If you do this with hundreds of other web directories (thousands, if you have the time and perseverance), you would have that many sites linking back to you. By doing so, your link popularity will increase. Link popularity is the number of links pointing back to your site (the more links, and the higher their PR, the better). It also the basis on how search engines would rank your site. If a search engine sees that you have high link popularity, they would see your site to be important, and rank you accordingly.

Next are article directories. I know what you’re thinking. How would articles help your site get traffic? First reason – by submitting to article directories, you will have the chance to promote your site through the resource box or author’s biography. Like web directories, several hundred article directories exist. And again, they are also free. What you want are directories that let you submit and use their other articles for free. Why use free articles? Second reason – if your site is lacking content and you want people to regularly visit you, use these free articles as your web content (always include the author and source). With your site having more content, more traffic will eventually come to you.

These are two ways of boosting your link popularity, page rank, and of course, traffic. Other than these, you can try getting inbound links through forum participation and link partnership with sites that are related to yours (but that’s another story). I hope you would find this useful, so enlist to web directories and write your articles now.

True Reciprocal Link

You may be familiar with automatic link exchange services, however, being a member of several of them I can assure you there are some shady webmasters out there who do not reciprocate after they have agreed to exchange or they hide your reciprocal link "in the back" where the automated link exchange software can locate it as directed, but the search engines will never find it.

Manual link exchange does take more time, but it's worth 10 fold more than an automatic link exchange service can offer. Dead links on your site or exchanging links with webmasters who are not reciprocating properly is of no value to you.

True Reciprocal Link Exchange is of great value and these Link Partners are GOLDEN!

If you are going to exchange links... Make it count!

When you are looking to exchange links with someone, there are several important items to look for.

Ensure the site you are exchanging links with has a reciprocal link directory/pages located ON their domain.

Third party link exchange services are NOT recommended. These webmasters pay to use the service, when they decide they no longer want to pay for the service, your exchange is no longer valid. Don't waste your time.

Ensure your link partner clearly shows their directory from their main page with either of these link texts

-Links
-Link Exchange
-Link Exchange Partners
-Link Partners
-Link to Us
-Add your Link
-Resources
-Other Sites

Ensure their link exchange software is Search Engine Friendly.

You can validate outgoing links as a spider sees it by using a Search Engine Simulator. Looking into it you'll be amazed at how many scripts available do not provide you with proper back link credit.

Ensure they have a functioning online registration form for you to fill in for exchange requests.

I have experienced quite a lot of request for exchanges with websites who asked me to email them the location of my link, only to see that the email bounced back to me 2 seconds later. Again, time is money, use your time wisely.

Keep within your Niche Market. Keywords that you would use to promote your site is a good indicator of similar sites you should exchange links with.

Manually exchanging links will take some time, but if done right, these exchanges will count.