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Home » Site Promotion Articles » How To Use Web Directories To Boost Traffic To Your Site

How to Use Web Directories to Boost Traffic to Your Site

You just got your website online. Everything is setup and you're ready to go. Excitement is high and the time has come to open your virtual doors to the millions and millions of Internet users around the globe. You put out the cyber welcome mat and declare your site ready for action. But, instead of sitting and watching the users trample over one another to get to your site, you see little to no traffic.

Don't worry! This is something every webmaster goes through and is to be expected. (Well, webmasters in the late 90's expected to launch their site and be millionaires the next morning, but times have changed since those wonderful days!)

But there are some quick and easy things you can do to begin building your 'link network,' which will ultimately help drive traffic to your site. Since the Internet's conception, the notion has been that sites link to one another, while web surfers click from place to place. Thus, the challenge begins: Get your site linked to as many others as possible.

You can start contacting other websites offering to trade links (but be prepared to invest a lot of time); you can buy links (but be prepared to fork out some cash); you can join link-trading programs (but be prepared to get a lot of irrelevant sites linking to you); or you can start submitting your website to web directories.

What Is A Web Directory?

A web directory is a compilation of sites organized by category or topic. Most web directories have multiple levels of categories, progressing from general to highly specific. In addition, a web directory editor will likely have to approve your site, lending it at a certain degree of credibility. Being listed in a directory ensures that if a web surfer finds their way into a specific category, they don't just see your competitors, they see you! And, if they can see your link, they can click it, producing traffic to your site.

A Web Directory Listing Helps with SEO

If you have a website, you undoubtedly know the importance of ranking well in Google and other major search engines. These search engines count links from other sites as votes for your site, which helps determine your ranking, or position in the search results. There are a lot of other parts of the algorithm and this brief explanation doesn't do it justice. However, it serves the point that links improve your ranking, and that's something every website owner needs to know.

A link in a directory that is spidered by Google (and a lot are) will count as a vote for your site. This improves your ranking, and yet again helps drive traffic to your site. It's important to note that not all directories help with SEO. Sometimes, a web directory will link to your site through a special URL that is often a programming CGI script. If the URL is not a direct link to your site, then the search engines don't count it as a vote. Therefore, it's best to pick directories that offer a direct one-way link to your site. (This way, you get more bang for your buck: traffic from the directory and improved search engine ranking.)

Relevancy Matters

If you trade links with random sites, then you are theoretically building your 'link network,' but you are sacrificing the quality of that network. Web searchers who are looking for information on a particular topic often use resources that link to a variety of sites related to what they seek. This makes web directories the perfect destination.

Since directories are categorized by topics, a person can arrive in the directory and have one-click access to a variety of resources. You definitely want to be one of those resources! Plus, when the other search engines pick up your link, it will count for more since it is surrounded by relevant content, which is most likely filled with your important keywords.

As you build your link network, you'll continue to see increased traffic. And if you use web directories as your vehicle, you are essentially paving more paths to your site. Several good submissions in popular directories will help get you rolling. The best part is that many directories are free, so this jump start won't even hurt your bottom line.

Good luck and happy submitting!

And here is another random article you might be interested in...

In Control - Inside Tips on Interview Success

No, you can't control how the interview will be conducted, nor can you control the outcome. But you can influence it greatly by the way you present your personality and your skills.

Part of acing an interview, is preparation. Do your homework on the company you're applying to. Read their stock performance if they're listed. Surf for their web site, and be sure to read the About Us page as well as any news or press releases. Check out any trade-related publications, or annual reports. Being able to comment knowledgeably on subjects the recruiter may bring up, is a plus on your side.

Dress to impress, but not to blind them with your fashion statement. If you have submitted an application in person, and have some idea of what the company staff wears, then pick a middle of the road outfit between any extremes you may have noted. Understated is always better.

Before you leave home, make sure you have copies of your resume, letters of reference, and work samples if applicable. Taking more than you anticipate needing, provides a cushion against surprises, and shows that you know how to prepare for the unexpected.

Make sure you're out the door with time to spare for traffic problems or unforeseen delays. Time is money to a company, and punctuality can be the key that opens their door to you. Show that you appreciate the opportunity of applying for the position by arriving a few minutes early, and thanking the interviewer, when you are admitted to their office.

Never hog the interview by jumping on a topic and running away with it. Answer questions succinctly and truthfully. Be prepared to answer in the most positive way, questions that touch on negative areas of your resume, such as a gap in employment, or lack of experience in a particular area.

Always finish your interview with an upbeat attitude. As the recruiter prepares to wind up your session, this is an opportunity to mention your USP (unique selling position), that skill or experience that some background work has told you they value, or may need in the position that is open. For example, you might be asked if you have any questions, and can then respond "No, thank you. I think the two years spent in managing human resources with Company X has allowed me to understand the needs of ________(the interviewer's business) better."

Then thank your interviewer, and ask what the next step in their selection process, is. A courtesy note by email or surface post, thanking them for the opportunity of interviewing for the position can also be a plus, indicating attention to the courtesies of doing business.

Copyright 2005 The Perfect Interview