Free Marketing - Directories

Completely Free Marketing Tactics that Really Work... As Long as YOU Work, They'll Work!

What Makes a Good Free Marketing Tactic?

How Does Free Marketing Differ from Paid?

Elements of Successful Marketing Materials

The Stuff that DOESN'T Work

The Essential Assessment

The Pros and Cons of Do it Yourself Marketing

Good Tactics

Article Marketing
Directory Listings
Signature Lines
Event Participation
Link Trades
Ad Swaps
Bartering
Cross Promotion
Cooperation
Search Engine Listing
SEO
Viral Marketing
Opt-In Lists
Link Optimization
Print Downloads
Forum Participation
Blog Participation
Networking
Target Your Customer
Niching Your Business
Press Releases
Guest Appearances
Leveraging
Volunteering

Downloads

Directory Listings

Do not confuse Directory Listings with Free Classified listings... They are NOT the same thing!

Directories are listings of websites which have been screened by a real person before the listing goes live.

Very often, directories are topical - classed as Niche Directories, a wide variety of web directories are confined to listing sites within a narrow topic range. They may be broad based - such as a Culinary Directory that lists everything having to do with cooking and food, to a specific niche topic such as Culinary Equipment, or a specific Ethnic Cooking only.

Other directories are general directories, which are categorized. Efficiency of categories varies widely, and it can be difficult to find an appropriate category for some listings.

There are two basic categories of directories as far as marketing value goes:

1. Static Link directories. These directories give you a static link in your listing, and this will usually give you Search Engine Pagerank benefits. A static link means a plain HTML hyperlink that does not change. Some directories that use static links will use a "no follow" tag, which cancels out pagerank benefits. In a few cases, they will use both a dynamic link and a static link - the dynamic link in the title of the listing, and a static link below it. This counts as a static link, because the search engines DO see the static link.

2. Dynamic Link directories. These directories produce a redirected link. This type of link is used frequently to track clicks on the links, but the end result for you is that they ONLY benefit you from those clicks. They have no search engine pagerank benefits. This is not a reason NOT to list with them, but it does mean they will have lower value.

Normally when you list a site with a directory, you will have to either use a form to select the category and enter the information, or, with many "human reviewed" directories, you have to go in and search out the category you want, then use a link on that page to submit your site. This means that submitting to some directories can be time consuming.

Finding directories also takes some time. The cool thing is though, once you find a directory in the niche you are looking for, it is usually very quick to find others. Many times, the directories will have listings within their pages that point you to other directories.

Some directories will require a reciprocal link. Now, be careful with this one! If you trade links with them, then you'll get a little lower pagerank benefit from the site. That is ok when the site has a very high pagerank and you can still benefit from it. But if the directory gives you a dynamic link that does not help your pagerank, and they want you to put a static backlink on your site for them (their software may not detect any other kind as being valid), then you may end up on the losing end of the trade, unless your link on their site brings significant traffic.

Before you trade links with anyone, check their pagerank - it need not be high! You just need to make sure they have not been banned. If they have been banned, do NOT place a link to them on your site! More on this in the Link Exchange section.

Many times, you will submit a site, and you'll not know when it will be approved or denied. If it is denied, you may not be notified. So you very often have to just submit, move on, and hope. You'll not have the time to check back on them all!

Directory links can be time consuming to get, and over time, many other websites will pick up your link anyway. But if you are struggling to get exposure on a tight budget, then directory links can be an important part of getting good quality links.

Some free directories that we use:

Start a Real Business. Complete instructional kit, sales aids, website, and personal assistance. Read a full independent review here.

Firelight Web Studio - Websites that benefit YOUR business.
Bad Marketing Ideas - The bad marketing ideas, and what to do instead.
Skinny Shoestring - Shoestring Startup Info and Resources.
LDS Home Business - LDS Business Resources
Good Marketing Ideas - All the stuff that works.
Bad Website Ideas - Errors that interfere with function.
This Site 4 Sale - Complete websites for sale.
Home Business for Parents - How business and family compliment one another.
Fabulous Frugal Websites - Get a great website at an affordable price.
Simple Effective SEO - Just the basic, good stuff.
Best Business Freebies - Just the really good stuff.
Not Quite a Scam - It might be legal, but it isn't honest.
Better Instant Website - A quick site that is NOT a replicated site.
Frumpy Haus Frau - A different business blog.
Online Computer Instruction - Lessons in Plain English!
Western Hills Institute - MicroBusiness Service Provider Training.
MicroBusiness MarketPlace - Find or promote a MicroBusiness.
Total Integrity Business Group - A gathering of ethical businesses.

Disclaimer: We provide this site for informational purposes only, we are not legal or financial professionals. We make no guarantees of success of any kind. Success is dependent upon factors which we have no control over, including individual effort and undertstanding, national and local occurences, and other elements which cannot be predicted. Use this site at your own risk!

Updated August 20, 2007