Free Directory Listings

Updated: April 22, 2008

The following is a list of free directories where you can list your website.  All these directories are free (some require that you link back to them or a partner site).  Some of these directories have paid submission options.

I have submitted (or attempted) to each directory and will update this page as information and experience is gathered.  Since I link back to all directories (for review purposes). I will note my experience on not linking back to "Link Required" = "Optional" directories based on client site submission results, when available.

This page is a continual work in progress, listings are entered as I review the directories and are not in any particular ranking order. Notes and credits are at the bottom of the page.

I posted a short article at my blog on Free Directory Listings 101, a "How To" guide with tips to get your free directory listing accepted on the first try. Also, check out my new "Free Directory Listings Quick Start Guide" to get up and running quickly.

Update: 04/15/06: Check out my directory interview on eMarketing Talk Show! Good stuff there.

Key to listings:

Link Required:  Is a reciprocal or partner link required?
Static Link:  Is the link static (passes PageRank™) or redirected (type of redirect)? §
PR™: What is the PageRank™ of the directory's home page? Green background denotes a PR1 or better on interior pages two levels down (note: some sites do not show interior PR on the Google Toolbar, but they do an various PR Tools).
Register:  Are you required to register or submit an email address?
Time Frame:  Actual time for a verified submission or site stated time frame, if this site is not listed yet.
DL: Does the directory allow submission of interior pages (Deep Linking)?
IBL Shown: Does search engines show back links from this directory (see notes below).

More Free Directory Listings - Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, Duds, Duds-2

All Free Things - A searchable directory of free stuff and free resources including games, screensavers, MP3's, clipart, webmaster tools, and more.  That is their suggested link text and description.  This directory requires that you provide something free on your website.  They also have a reciprocal link category, where you can exchange links. They accepted my resource section (interior directory).  There is not any time frame stated for review, but they contact you by email when accepted. My site was accepted in 1 day with a reciprocal link.

Update:  I submitted a client's site that did not offer anything free in the reciprocal link category with a link back and was accepted the same day.

Update 2: 07/16/05: Info.vilesilencer reports that this directory is now only free to non-commercial sites.  I can not find this mentioned on the site and just submitted a client's commercial site to see what happens.

Update 3: 08/07/05:  I submitted a commercial site that offers free blog space on 07/12/05 without a link back and it was listed 25 days later.

Update 4: 04/22/08: This site is still free, but a reciprocal link is required.  Page rank ( - ) from 5 to 4.

Geeks On Steroids.com - offers a nice directory with an optional Spanish language version.  They claim a 24 hour review time frame.  I submitted this site on 03/28/05.

Update: PageRank™ reduced from 5 to 4 on 07/14/05

Update2: 10/22/05: The directory is down, the real directory contents are showing.

Update 3: 10/29/05: Apparently they moved their directory without redirecting the old link to the new (http://uk.geeksonsteroids.com/). Therefore their PR is now 0 (and they still haven't listed me!!)

Update 4: 12/03/05: * This directory uses a JavaScript redirect to link to interior category pages and therefore does not pass PageRank and link popularity. I just caught this (sorry for missing it) when reviewing interior PR and so I moved it to Duds.

Update 5: 02/18/06: ( + ) Sometime recently, this directory has been moved back to the original location (http://www.geeksonsteroids.com/directory/), so they have their own PageRank of 4 back. They have also removed the JavaScript redirects from their category links. I will review this site again shortly to see if it can be moved back to the regular Free Directory Listings.

Update 6: 05/14/06: Since this site has removed the JavaScript redirects and now has internal PR, I'm moving it back to the regular listings.

Update 7: 04/22/08: I have been checking this site for several months and there is nothing on it and there is no page rank.  So, am moving it to Duds.

IllumiRate.com - a human edited directory with strict submission guidelines.  They suggest becoming an editor to submit multiple sites. Editors may review other sites.  Their site states a 1 - 6 month submission review time frame.  This site was finally accepted after about 15 months. They don't notify you of acceptance (I noticed an admin visitor in my referrer logs).

Update 1: 07/14/05: PageRank™ reduced from 6 to 5

Update 2: 04/22/08: Page rank ( - ) from 5 to 4.  Submitted a site in November 2007, still not listed 4/22/08.

InfoListings Directory - your free information website listing index.  That is their site description.  A general directory with several submission options.  The submission time frame varies dependent on the option selected.  * Free (non link back): 3-6 months; Linkback (requires a link to them): 1-2 months; Quick Review: 24-48 hours for $9.95 (does not guarantee inclusion); and Guaranteed Inclusion: 24 hours inclusion for $19.95.  I chose the Linkback option and submitted this site on 04/03/05 and will advise on progress. 

Update: (05/??/05 - 10/22/05) This free directory's search function often returns a 404 error page so you have to wade through the directory structure to see if your site has been listed.

Update 2: 08/28/05:  info.vilesilencer's list states that this directory no longer accepts submissions.  I will attempt to verify this and advise.

Update 3: 09/21/05: I received an email today saying, "The directory is now under new management and is fully operational again and still retains its high status. You can get included today with our guaranteed submission".  I also wrote back and told them about their 404 error search problem and they promptly replied that they would correct that. Let's see if they list me now ;-).

Update 4: 10/22/05: They fixed their search function, but still haven't listed me ;-(.

Update 5: 12/03/05: info.vilesilencer's SEO Friendly list now lists this directory again, but they still haven't listed me.

Update 6: 04/22/08: I have submitted this site again. Page rank ( - ) from 6 to 5

Iozoo Web Directory - is general format site. They do not list a submission time frame, but will email you once your link is added.  * My site was listed in 2 days. I submitted a client's site without a link back and it was listed in 1 day.

Update 1: 08/14/05: Iozoo appears to have changed their focus.  They are now listing countries in Europe as their categories.  * My listing and my client's is not longer there via the home page (note: I was originally listed in two days, but I'm changing the time frame to unknown since I don't have any current experience). I found my listing page indexed, but not linked to from the home page.

Update 2: 04/22/08: Still appears to be European countries only.  Page rank still 6.

Consultant Directory - A niche directory for consultants, they state their focus as "Consultant Directory was created to provide a place for those that offer Design consulting services, expert Design advice, and professional Design services to be listed for free in a resource directory." Their submission success page states this time frame "The url (http://webseodesign.com) has been submitted successfully. The entry will be reviewed someday...  If you want to be notified, please send us an email and we will advise you of you listing status once it has been reviewed.

I emailed them requesting notification and promptly received an email with my acceptance.  * Since I had some good communication with this directory's owner, webmaster to webmaster, I believe this helped speed up my inclusion time frame.  I asked the site owner what was his usual time frame and he wrote back and stated that it varies depending on submission volume.  Here is what he had to say, "All submissions are considered. If the instructions are followed and the site is about consulting services, there should be no problem. Please wait at least 30 days before contacting me".

Update: 07/14/05: PageRank™ increased from 4 to 5

Update2:  Info.vilesilencer's list has dropped this directory because it is no longer accepting submissions.  I have emailed Chris, the owner, for clarification and will advise (07/24/05).

Update3: 07/24/05: Chris informs me he is still accepting non-spam submissions.  He did have to stop accepting for a short while until he could wade through all the spammy submissions, but he is currently accepting submissions.

Update4: 04/22/08: Page rank ( - ) 5 to 3.  I submitted a site and it was listed in 5 minutes.

Find Hound Directory - a general directory with 2 paid express submission options (Express: $15 and Sponsored Listing: $30) in addition to their free option.  To use the free option, just ignore the two radio buttons for the paid options and submit (they don't show how to submit for free). Their site states "The entry will be reviewed shortly".

Update: PageRank™ reduced from 5 to 4 on 07/14/05

Update 2: 08/21/05: I submitted a client's site and was listed in 7 days

Update 3: 10/22/05: ( + ) Home page PageRank increased from 4 to 5.

Update 4: 04/22/08: No page rank.  I submitted a site on 11/17/07, but it is still not listed on 4/22/08.

More Free Directory Listings - Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, Duds, Duds-2

Credits:  There are numerous "Directories of Directories" on the internet, but most are not very useful.  I would like to thank the two that I have found invaluable in compiling my list of reviews.

http://info.vilesilencer.com/ - An excellent compilation of SEO Friendly Free Directory Listings.  Thanks Dan!

http://www.seocompany.ca/directory/free-web-directories.html - another good resource that provides some additional information, such as the link popularity, page saturation and IP address sharing.  Thanks Bob!

Notes:

G, Y!, M - (IBL Shown) Denotes search engine shows directory as a back link to either this or a client's site. G = Google, Y! = Yahoo!, and M = MSN. Note: Yahoo! is known to show the largest sample of back links, Google only shows a very small sample and MSN shows something in between.  The fact the an IBL (inbound back link) is not shown in Google or MSN is not very significant.

§ - There is some debate on whether a 302 scripted redirect passes PageRank™, but due to possible problems the directories that use 302 redirects have been moved to "Duds".

۩ - These directories share the same Class C IP address (/24) block as other directories
 (# denotes directories that share same IP address - example = ۩2)

* - See information within the description/review for further details

Directory home page Toolbar PageRank™ updated as of 09/28/06. (Note: There are a small percentage of datacenters that are showing the PageRank from the 07/13/06 export, so I am using the "majority view." I was waiting to see if the datacenters would all align, so I am actually making this update on 11/19/06, but dating the PR to 09/28/06.)

Effective 10/20/05, I am adding a + or - to the PR value and the update note so it's easier to see which direction the directories PageRank is moving. If there is not a + or -, there isn't any change from the previous PR export.

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