Free Directory Listings

- Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, Duds, Duds-2

Updated: April 30, 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	Static Link	PR™	Register	Time Frame	DL	IBL Shown
Yes	Yes	5	No	3 weeks		G, Y!,M

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

Bulletize is a brand new blog directory. Their interior pages have PR, so get in fast while it's still easy to get accepted. They notify you of your acceptance.

I submitted my blog and was accepted in 10 minutes. The owner told me that 24 hours is currently the max review time frame and that reciprocal links are optional.

Update: 02/18/06: ( + ) Their PageRank has increased from 4 to 5.

Update 2: 04/30/08: ( - ) Their PageRank has decreased from 5 to 4.

Update 3: 05/07/08: Page redirecting to http://www.romow.com/suspended.page/

Link Required	Static Link	PR™	Register	Time Frame	DL	IBL Shown
Optional	Yes		Yes	10 Minutes	Y	M

RealState 4 Real Estate - is a niche directory for real estate sites. They offer regular listings and give a featured listing for a reciprocal link. They say they contact you when your listing is approved. There is not a time frame stated on their site.

Since this is a niche directory, I submitted a client's real estate site for testing (without a link back).

Update: 02/18/06: ( + ) Their PageRank has increased from 0 to 5.

Update 2: 04/30/08: ( - ) Their PageRank has decreased from 5 to 3.

Link Required	Static Link	PR™	Register	Time Frame	DL	IBL Shown
Optional	Yes	3	Yes	8 Hours	?	Y!

- Add Your Site Free directory is a human edited general directory with a somewhat confined category structure. It was a bit difficult finding a category that met my usual criteria. They do not state a review time frame on their site, but they do confirm your submittal and say they will review your submission "soon". Also, they do notify you upon acceptance.

They have decent PageRank on their higher level interior pages. They also have a detailed listing page (see update below for more details) where people can review and rate your site (please rate my site while you're there). * I did see a few deep links, so I assume they will accept relevant submissions to interior pages.

They do have a Premium Service Listing. For a one time fee of $9, you get the first place in your category, a listing on their partner's page and a featured position on their home page (I assume that rotates since their is only one listing shown).

I submitted my main site (I couldn't find a decent category to submit an interior page) and was accepted in 1 hour. After being accepted, I upgraded my listing to the Premium Service and was upgraded in 4 hours.

Update: 12/06/05: I was just advised of an enhancement to their Premium Service Listing. You can now add 4 additional text links (deep links) to your detailed page. Since the detailed page is linked to via a static link, in theory, this page should pass PageRank. This gives you a total of 5 text links for a $9 one time/lifetime fee. I just added mine and approved in about 30 minutes.

Update 2: 02/18/06: ( + ) This directory's PageRank has increased from 4 to 5.

Update 3: 04/30/08: Site not working, will check later.

Update 4: 05/07/08: Page back up with ( - ) PageRank down from 5 to 0.

Link Required	Static Link	PR™	Register	Time Frame	DL	IBL Shown
Optional	Yes	0	Yes	1 Hour	*	Y!

gDotz - is a human edited general directory. They offer a paid option "Featured Link" for $15 per six months. They also have a regular free option and a reciprocal free option (I am not sure what extra benefit you get from linking back - I will try to find out). After submitting, the site states that they will review your link within 24 hours.

I submitted my resources directory and was accepted, therefore, they accept some interior pages.

Update: 04/30/08: Site not working, will check later.

Update 2: 05/07/08: Page Rank ( - ) from 4 to 2.

Link Required	Static Link	PR™	Register	Time Frame	DL	IBL Shown
Optional	Yes	2	Yes	3 Days	Y	M

SgtSearch.com - is a human edited general directory with some PageRank on interior pages. They state on the site that review can take up to 14 days, but in the confirmation email they send it says 24 hours (we'll see which is accurate). They say they email you when you are accepted.

I submitted my resource section on 11/27/05 and will advise on progress.

Update: 04/30/08: ( - ) Page Rank decreased from 4 to 3. I looked in each category and there are no listings!

Link Required	Static Link	PR™	Register	Time Frame	DL	IBL Shown
No	Yes	3	Yes	24 Hours - 14 Days	?

Level10s Internet Sites - Level10s is a human edited website directory of qualified sites. < that is their required link text for a free listing. This is a high PageRank directory that offers free listings in return for a link back and a 5 day express review for $29. Their free listings require 4 - 8 weeks for review.

They will accept sub domains and interior pages if they "represent a significant body of work on a subject different from the main domain". I submitted my free directory listings section and they didn't list it.

Update: 01/20/06: They advised me that I was accepted and would be listed in their next directory update. I show up from a directory search, but not in the category yet.

Update 2: 01/31/06: When I checked today, I was in the directory

Update 3: 07/13/06: ( - ) PageRank decreased from 7 to 0. They still have thousands of pages indexed, but do not show any back links in Google (Yahoo! shows thousands).

Update 4: 09/28/06: ( + ) The PageRank and back links have returned. PR increased from 0 to 7

Update 5: 04/30/08: ( - ) PageRank decreased from 7 to 5.

Link Required	Static Link	PR™	Register	Time Frame	DL	IBL Shown
Yes	Yes	5	Yes	47 - 58 Days	Y	G

Search Sight - is a human edited directory with a somewhat limited subset of categories. It has decent PageRank on interior pages. They get your title and description from your site/page's title and meta description tags. After you are accepted, you can edit your listing. There isn't any timeframe listed on their site and they accept deep listings. They email you once your site has be evaluated. They also rank your listing based on their "Q" value (0 -10 scale, I got a 5). This appears to boost your listing. Your listing is found under multiple directory paths (click on info button next to listing for details)

I submitted my Free Directory Listings section and was listed in about 15 minutes. They then present you with various Premium Listing options ranging from $9.95 for 1,000 page views to $499.95 for 100,000 page views on their home page. Also, Premier Listing for $29.95 for 6 months.

Update: 04/30/08: Page Rank still 5. I have submitted a site to see how it goes. Update: Site was accepted in 1 hour, notified by email.

Link Required	Static Link	PR™	Register	Time Frame	DL	IBL Shown
No	Yes	5	Yes	15 minutes	Y

Sootle Web Directory - Free categorized and human-edited link directory. Add your international website today. < That is their requested reciprocal link text. This is a general directory with decent interior page PageRank. Their free listing requires a reciprocal link. They also have a "Premium Submission" option for $19.99 one-time fee for 24 - 48 hour review (refundable if not accepted). They will notify you upon review and there is not any time frame stated on the site.

They appear to accept deep links, so I submitted my Free Directory Listings section on 12/11/05 and will advise on progress.

Update: 05/07/08: PageRank ( - ) from 6 to 3. WebSeoDesign not listed that I could find. Appears to be a paid listing only now. Moving to paid.

Link Required	Static Link	PR™	Register	Time Frame	DL	IBL Shown
Yes	Yes	3	Yes	Unknown	Y?

Klik Klik - is a human reviewed directory based with the starting of some interior PageRank. They do not state a review time frame on their site (other that "soon" on the successful submission page).

I submitted my blog and was accepted in 4 hours.

Update: 04/30/08: Page won't load. Moving to Duds.

Link Required	Static Link	PR™	Register	Time Frame	DL	IBL Shown
No	Yes	4	No	4 Hours	Y	Y!

BYS.NET-Internet Directory - is a general directory with listings also available in Spanish. They offer 3 submission plans, Free, Reciprocal and Paid ($10 one time fee). Their stated review time frame is 2 business days for Paid and Reciprocal; and 1 - 2 weeks for Free. You can only use your official site title + a "brief keyphrase" (sic) with the Free submission option.

* They state (on the Free submission guidelines only) that you can only deep link with the Paid option. It doesn't say that anywhere else, so I submitted an interior page with the Reciprocal option and was accepted in 12 hours. They notify you via email of your acceptance. Reciprocal links receive prominent placement at the top of your category.

Update: 02/18/06: ( - ) This site's PageRank was decreased from 4 to 3.

Update 2: 05/21/06: Dan (SEO Friendly List) has this site tagged as switching to paid, but I still see their free options. I will try to find out and advise.

Update: 04/30/08: 0 Page Rank. I submitted a site twice and it is not listed. Also, WebSEODesign is no longer listed.

Link Required	Static Link	PR™	Register	Time Frame	DL	IBL Shown
Optional	Yes	0	Yes	12 Hours	Y*	M

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

Credits

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.