Directory Models

You will encounter three directory models:

• Free Inclusion- Here you submit your site and it is added to the directory, either automatically or manually.
• Paid Inclusion-Here you need to pay and then submit your site and it is added to the directory, either automatically or manually. Some directories (Yahoo in particular) don’t guarantee inclusion even though you have paid. Therefore always check the terms and conditions.
• Reciprocal Links- These directories will let you have a free listing but you must also link back to them.

Local Directories

I believe that these will eventually replace the local yellow pages that have ruled the telephone world over the last 20 years or so. There will however be many more directories , some will be stand alone and others will provided as part of local Portal sites.

These directories will become very important for local businesses as more and more people use the Internet for locating local businesses and services.

Niche Directories

These don’t exist in the offline world (at least not for the general public). They are organised around a theme (e.g. Golfing) rather than a place. They are particularly important for websites/businesses that have a wide geographical appeal but focus on an identifiable market niche.

Finding Directories

You can find directories by searching at Google/Yahoo but the search query tends to be a little on the complex side. Here is a search query for UK/Shropshire directories and the results.

+”shropshire” +”uk” +directory +search +(submit OR sponsor OR categories OR “add a site” OR “add URL” OR listing)