What Are Search Directories?
Search directories offer a way of collecting and categorizing links to other web sites. They are not search engines and behave nothing like search engines. For example, where a search engine col- lects entries using a search crawler or a robot, search directories are populated by people. You or someone else enters your web site into a directory. And in some cases, once you’ve entered it, the entry is reviewed by a real person before the site is included in directory listings.
The way that your site is added to a search directory is not the only difference between search engines and search directories. Several additional differences are illustrated in Table 14-1.
Categorization is also likely to be more accurate with a monitored directory, because someone actu- ally checks the site to ensure proper listing. There can be fees associated with monitored directories.
The most closely monitored directories are edited ones. These have a very strict structure, and to get your web site included in the listings, you must accurately provide all requested information. Additionally, edited directories reserve the right to edit or change your entry in any manner that they believe is more suitable to the directory with which you’re registering. The fees associated with these types of directories can be very steep, because a person or group of people must always be monitoring the directory.
There is also a fourth kind of directory: a hybrid directory. A hybrid directory is actually a combination of a directory and a search engine. Yahoo! and AOL both operate hybrid directories.
The more directories your site is listed in, the better you’ll perform in search results. Most search engines crawl directories, and some even use directory listings to supplement their search results. Just be aware that directories can be outdated, so make time to check your directory listing to ensure it stays fresh. If you notice that the directory doesn’t seem to be updated regularly, you may want to remove your listing, because being included on the directory could reflect poorly on your site.
