SEO: Search Engine Optimization Bible

In addition to these requirements, most directories have a long list of criteria that are reviewed before

a site is actually added to the directory. That’s why it can sometimes take weeks or months for your

site to be listed. Depending on the volume of submissions to the directory, it can be a slow process for

editors to review each web site.

When you’re ready to submit your web site to a directory, take the time to read completely the direc-

tions provided by the directory. If you don’t follow these directions closely, it’s far more likely that

your site will be rejected from the listings. One other submission guideline to remember is to submit

only your site’s main page. Because directories include sites that have been reviewed, they usually list

the whole site as a single entity, rather than listing each page separately, as search engines do.

One of the most well-known directories on the Internet is the Open Directory Project (ODP)that’s

managed by dmoz.org. This general directory is edited by a team of volunteers, and it’s represen-

tative of the various types of directories that are available for you to list your site with. So although

there might be some slight differences, the directions for listing your site with ODP are very similar

to those you would find when listing with other directories.

To list your web site in the ODP directory, take these steps:

1. Open the Open Directory Project web site (http://www.dmoz.org).


2. Navigate to the category and subcategory where it would be appropriate for your site to
   appear. Then in the top-right corner of the page click Suggest URL.


3. You are taken to the submission site. Remember to read all the instructions carefully and
   fill in the submission form completely.


4. When you’re finished filling out the form, click the Submit button. You’re taken to a
   Thank-You page, and your submission process is complete.


5. Now you just have to wait for the editorial committee to complete its review. When the
   review is complete, you should receive notification of whether or not the site has been
   accepted and listed.

It seems like a simple enough process to suggest your site for inclusion in a directory, and for the

most part it is. What’s difficult is adding your site to all the directories that are appropriate for it.

This can be time-consuming, so plan to spend consistent time at it each day until you’ve submitted

to all of the sites you’ve selected.

Once the submission process is finished, that time can be used to ensure that your sites are updated

to reflect any changes you’ve made. Changes for which you may want to send an update to a direc-

tory include:

 Changes to the site’s URL

 Correction of grammatical or spelling errors in the title or description of your site

 Changes to the title or description of your site if the scope of the site changes

 Suggestions for a new category if the scope of your site changes

214

Part III Optimizing Search Strategies

75002c14.qxd:Layout 1 11/7/07 9:53 AM Page 214