Web Directories
High quality web directories are hard to come by these days. Currently there are 7 web large directories: The Open Directory Project, LookSmart-Zeal, GoGuides, BlueFind, WoW, JoeAnt and Yahoo. Along with the 7 major directories and there are many smaller directories; some of which are devoted to certain subjects, such as Great Nexus's Webmaster Directory. Directories are important as sources of traffic and as providers of inbound links to your website. Inbound links are extrememly important if you're doing any SEO or web marketing of any kind.
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The ODP
LookSmart-Zeal
Yahoo
Bluefind
GoGuides
JoeAnt
WoW Directory
The Open Directory Project, aka The ODP or DMOZ, is an open source project to build a comprehensive directory. Anyone is allowed to download and use the directory through RDF dumps that DMOZ puts out every now and then. The ODP relies on volunteers to add and manage parts of the directory. You are can add your website to the queue, without becoming a member; a DMOZ editor must review submissions in the queue before it gets included into their directory.Go to the DMOZ
LookSmart is a publicly traded company under the symbols LOOK. A couple years ago LookSmart bought Zeal, a volunteer powered web directory similar to the ODP. Zeal handles all of the non-profit/information sites while LookSmart handles commercial sites. Non-commercial and information sites can be included in the LookSmart-Zeal directory for free. Commercial sites have to pay $29 to set up each listing and $0.15 per click. If your website is non-commercial; you must register and pass the member quiz, before you can submit your site. A Zealot or LookSmart Editor will review site profiles before they get added to the directory. A Zealot is an volunteer editor from Zeal.
Go to Zeal. Go to LookSmart
Yahoo is one of the oldest web directories still around. There is a free submission option and a paid submission option which costs $299. Hardly anyone gets in through the free submission, anymore. Recently the Yahoo Web Directory results were removed from their search engine results. Go to Yahoo.
Bluefind is a pretty new directory, which is professionaly edited by workers in Bluefind's office in Seattle. Currently the only option to submit is by paying a one time fee of $40, alternatively you can pay extra for a Sponsor listing. Most of the pages in Bluefind have rather high PRs so it can be worth it to pay for a listing. Go to Bluefind.
GoGuides
GoGuides is very similar to The ODP. It was created by editors from the former Go.com Directory which no longer exists. The main difference is that GoGuides have quality ratings to measure their editing ability. GoGuides is a relatively new directory. Go to Go Guides
JoeAnt, like GoGuides, was created by former Go.com editors. Only the top editors are able to add sites to their directory. Lower level editors can only submit sites. Go to JoeAnt.
WoW Directory
WoW directory features a free, express ($10) and sponsor listing ($20). WoW's major unique feature is it's focus on regional catagories.Go to WoW
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