Directory Submission

After I wrote the previous page, I realized there were more tips I could give on directory submission that would make the task easier.

I will say, that if I had a choice between paying for a directory submission to a specific paid directory, and paying to have a site submission to many directories, I would choose directory submission to many. This is a very time consuming process if you do it all yourself, but more about that later.

If you are going to do the directory submission tasks yourself, then do the best job possible, and streamline it as much as you can. I recommend you use a spreadsheet to keep track of which ones you have submitted to and the dates. After you submit to a couple hundred, it can get a little confusing. You can get a spreadsheet for free online, if you don't have excel on your computer.

The next tool that can be a real help for directory submission, and many other tasks is note tab light. I use this every day and for many different things. It is also free, and I'll explain it's use in a minute. But first let's look at anchor text and it's importance in directory submissions.

Anchor text and directory submissions

Anchor text should contain your keywords. An example of anchor text is the blue links above. Now, in this case, they are of no particular value to me because they are free and therefore pay no commission. Often anchor text is used to bring attention to affiliate links.

In the case of directory submissions, you want to bring attention to the keywords for your website. If your website was about fly fishing and fly fishing gear, you would want to bring attention to those terms. But, when you are using directories to bring one way links to your site, you need to mix it up a bit. One time is might read something like 'Wyoming fly fishing' the next time maybe 'fly fishing tips'. Reword your keyword anchor text in many different combinations when submitting to directories.

The reason for this, is that if links came to you as a natural course because someone thought you just had a useful or interesting website, the anchor text would read according to whatever they chose as anchor text and would be random or 'natural'. And this is the effect you want. You want it to appear that the links came as a natural course of events.

Streamline your directory submission process

Here's where note tab light comes in. You will find that different directories have varied guidelines and limitations on the number of character in your title, and more often for the description. So, like the boy scouts be prepared. Note tab light will give you a character count. Go to tools and there is a drop down.

Write your description. Check for the character count. Now copy that description to notepad along with an appropriate title containing your anchor text, and a note about the character count. Go back to note tab and create another description, check the character count and copy to notepad along with a new title. Repeat until you have several descriptions and different titles with your anchor text. Save this file so you don't lose it, and start submitting to directories. You can copy and paste depending on the directory character limitations and keep the submissions mixed up with different anchor text. This will save a load of time.

You will find that this is a tedious job and time consuming. If you can squeeze a few dollars out of your budget you can pay to have this done for you, and for a reasonable price. I think you'll agree once you have spent some time on directories.

I have used this service myself with good success. Create an email box on your hosting service for submission confirmations. The service will provide a speadsheet where you fill in several variations of anchor text and descriptions and other necessary information related to directory submission  and they will submit to 400 directories for you and provide screenshots when they are done.

Another directory submission service I used more recently with the same success will submit to whatever number of directories you designate for pennies each. If you only want 100 then that is what you choose. If you use either of these, set up a mailbox on your server just for this alone. That way you can monitor the results. Not all directories will require confirmation of submission, but some will, so scan through them. Not all directories even email you, but enough will that you can tell the service has done their job and made your's easier.

On the submission to directories page you will find a link at the bottom of the page to a large list of directories you can submit to.

Profitable Home Based Internet businesses | Submission To Directories

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