What Are Directories?
Search directories offer a way of collecting and categorizing links to other web sites. They are not
search engines, and behave nothing like search engines. For example, where a search engine col-
lects entries using a search crawler or a robot, search directories are populated by people. You or
someone else enters your web site into a directory. And in some cases, once you’ve entered it, the
entry is reviewed by a real person before the site is included in directory listings.The way that your site is added to a search directory is not the only difference between search engines
and search directories. Several additional differences are illustrated in Table 14-1.Categorization is also likely to be more accurate with a monitored directory, because someone actu-
ally checks the site to ensure proper listing. There can be fees associated with monitored directories.The most closely monitored directories are edited ones. These have a very strict structure, and to
get your web site included in the listings, you must accurately provide all requested information.
Additionally, edited directories reserve the right to edit or change your entry in any manner that
they believe is more suitable to the directory with which you’re registering. The fees associated
with these types of directories can be very steep, because a person or group of people must always
be monitoring the directory.TABLE 14-1Directory vs. Search Engine Comparison
Feature Directories Search EnginesEntries are collected using Manually. Usually individuals or Search engine crawlers, spiders, and
what method? groups of individuals add the web robots collect entries, and people
sites that are included in directories never review those indexes until a
site is returned in search results.
How are web sites Whole web sites are categorized Each page in a web site is categorized
categorized? as single entities. according to the keywords included
on that page.
How are results sorted? By categories and subcategories. By keywords and in some cases,
web-site popularity.
Are there inclusion limits? In some cases, yes. Some No. Web sites can be included in as
directories allow sites to be many keyword categories as the sites
entered into only one or two are optimized for.
search categories.
One differentiator? Directories are browsable by subject Search engines search the full text of a
or categories and subcategories. web page, making the results much
more comprehensive.212
Part III Optimizing Search Strategies
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