Web Directory

A web directory or link directory is a directory on the World Wide Web. It specializes in linking to other web sites and categorizing those links.
A web directory is not a search engine and does not display lists of web pages based on keywords; instead, it lists web sites by category and subcategory. Most web directory entries are also not found by web crawlers but by humans. The categorization is usually based on the whole web site rather than one page or a set of keywords, and sites are often limited to inclusion in only a few categories. Web directories often allow site owners to submit their site for inclusion, and have editors review submissions for fitness.

Most of the directories are general in scope and list websites across a wide range of categories, regions and languages. But some niche directories focus on restricted regions, single languages, or specialist sectors. One type of niche directory with a large number of sites in existence is the shopping directory. Shopping directories specialize in the listing of retail e-commerce sites.

Directories have various features in listing, often depend upon the price paid for inclusion:

·         Free submission – there is no charge for the review and listing of the site

·         Reciprocal link – a link back to the directory must be added somewhere on the submitted site in order to get listed in the directory

·         No Reciprocal link — a web directory where you will submit your links for free and no need to add link back to your website.

·         Paid submission – a one-time or recurring fee is charged for reviewing/listing the submitted link

·         No follow – there is a rel="nofollow" attribute associated with the link, meaning search engines will give no weight to the link.

·         Featured listing – the link is given a premium position in a category (or multiple categories) or other sections of the directory, such as the homepage. Sometimes called sponsored listing.

·         Bid for position – where sites are ordered based on bids

·         Affiliate links – where the directory earns commission for referred customers from the listed websites