Search directory

Search directory

A web site search directory indexes a web site based on an independent description of a site. While directories perform many of the same functions of a web page search engine, their indexing format is different. The main difference is that directories do not spider your site to gather information about it. Instead they rely on a few text entries, typically a site title, domain name, and description, to determine which keywords describe your site. Additionally, directories have hierarchical categories in which contain the description of your site along with others like yours. For example, a dry cleaning site may be listed under "business > retail > dry cleaning". Thus, users can find your listings by clicking through categories or using a search. Directories typically don't generate much traffic for a website. Even a major directory listing from Yahoo or Open Directory may only generate 5 visitors a week. However, they play an important role in organic search engine optimization enhancing a website's link popularity.

Directory Classes

Directories are generally divided into three classes: Major, 2nd Tier and 3rd Tier. The class that a directory belongs to is determined by the level of visitors a directories receives and the link popularity/page rank of the directory.

Directory Targets

Directories can be categorized by the types of sites they include in their index. The two types of directory targets are:
  • General Directories
  • Specialized Directories

Examples

Further Reading

Related Posts

Drupal Commerce - How to set up Search API to search SKUs with and without dashes

Kristin Brinner
Read more

Here's Why You Shouldn't Care About Any Search Engine but Google

Chris Sloan
Read more

Using Search Engine Optimization to Market Your Website

Tom McCracken
Read more

Content Marketing for Search Engine Rankings

Felipa Villegas
Read more

Search Rankings and What That Means for Marketers

Felipa Villegas
Read more

Web Words Explained: Search Engine Optimization

Tabatha Patterson
Read more