Web Design and SEO Blog

SEO Tip: Creating Quality Links

Google considers the number of links to your website as well as the quality of the links as part of the ranking process.

Having a link to your website placed on a page with hundreds of other links to unrelated websites is unlikely to help your search engine rankings. However, having a link to your website in an appropriate category of a well-respected human edited web content directory can help your rankings with search engines. Likewise, having your website publicized in a reputable business directory, along with a valid local phone number and address, can also benefit your search engine rankings.

What are the Differences between a Web Content Directory and a Business Directory?

A web content directory is concerned with the content of a website and the value of the content to visitors. The directory entry might contain a brief description of the business but focuses mainly on describing what visitors to the website can expect to find. For example, an entry for a dog sitting service might be: "Private dog sitting service. Includes prices list, testimonials, and contact information."

An online business directory is concerned with the products and services offered by the business, as well as contact information such as phone number, address, and website. An example for a dog sitting service listing might be: "Private dog sitting service offering day time, weekend, and holiday visits to your home."

Quality Web Content Directories to Consider

There are many, hundreds actually, of web content directories available but most won't help with search engine rankings. Well established, human edited directories that only allow quality websites to be listed will help the most with rankings.

Directories to consider include:

• DMOZ - Also known as ODP, or the Open Directory Project. This is the largest human edited directory on the web. Submission to this directory is free but a listing is not guaranteed. It can takes weeks, months or years, if ever, for a listing to appear. This is due to the large number of submissions and the need for each submission to be reviewed by a volunteer editor.
• JoeAnt - This is a small but well regarded human edited directory. JoeAnt offers two forms of submissions: Paid, which includes a guaranteed review within 5 business days and Free, which requires that you volunteer as an editor.

Quality Business Directories to Consider

• MerchantCircle - A combination of social networking features with business listings that makes up the largest online network of local business owners.
• SuperPages - Free business listing including website, phone number, address, map, and social media bookmarking.
• Google Places - Free business listing including website, phone number, address, map, products/services listing, and reviews. For local businesses with local addresses (not internet only). Ownership of the business must be verified.
• Yahoo! Local - Free business listing including website, phone number, address, map, products/services listing, and reviews. For local businesses with local addresses (not internet only). Website must usually contain a local physical address (not PO Box) and phone number on the home page.
• Bing Business Portal - Free business listing including website, phone number, address, map, products/services listing, and reviews. For local businesses with local addresses (not internet only). Ownership of the business must be verified.

In upcoming blog posts I'll include tips on getting your website submission accepted at individual web content directories as well as tips on optimizing your business listings in online business directories.

James
Spidle Webs Web Design - Website design, development, search engine optimization and pay-per-click campaigns.