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).
DirectoryRecreation.com - The online recreation directory - a niche directory for recreation related sites. The site has good interior PageRank and offers three submission options:
Listing in this directory also gets you listed in: Shopping5.com (PR2), LookDirectory.com (PR4), FunRecreation.com (PR3), and DirectoryB2B.com (PR5). For the free listing, they state you must link back to them from your home page. I feel this is an unreasonable request and will contact them to see if that is a mandatory requirement.
Since I am not a recreation related site, I submitted 2 client sites for testing and they were listed in 6 days. I also confirmed that you do get a listing in the directories in the paragraph above, but they don't appear to be of any benefit. The databases appear to be the same. I added a rating at DirectoryRecreation and it appeared at the other sites.
Update: 4/30/2008: Page Rank ( - ) from 5 to 2.
| Link Required | Static Link | PR™ | Register | Time Frame | DL | IBL Shown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes * | Yes | 2 | Yes | 6 Days | N |
BusinessSeek.biz Business Directory - is a human edited business directory that has good interior PageRank and three submission options:
They have fairly strict submission guidelines and only allow you to submit your domain (no deep linking). They notify you of a successful submission and of your approval by email.
Update: 05/02/08: PageRank ( - ) from 6 to 2, no interior page ranking. I submitted a site 9/27/07 but have not been listed yet. The directions say to only submit once in 12 months for free submissions.
| Link Required | Static Link | PR™ | Register | Time Frame | DL | IBL Shown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optional | Yes | 2 | Yes | 5.3 Months | N |
Directory On, the Free Web Directory - is a human edited general directory that appears to be under new management. They state:
"DirectoryOn.info is under new management and in the next six months we will be removing lower quality and spammy entries from the directory. We are also applying tougher requirements to new submissions. If you do not write an accurate description and title for your submission, it will not be accepted."
Their sub-category offerings are a bit sparse, so you don't have as many choices to find a favorable one. They state that they will notify you of acceptance by email and that if you haven't heard from them after a month, your submission was denied. You must use your official site title and they will decline to list you if you use a short (? how big is short ?) description.
I submitted my site on 02/26/06 and will advise on progress.
Update: 05/14/06: I noticed some traffic from this directory in the last few days, so I checked to confirm my listing. I am in their database (from search), but not in my category yet. I will update the time frame once I get into my category.
Update 2: 06/04/06: I am still in their directory database, but not listed in my category
Update: 05/02/08: This site no longer loads. Will check again later.
| Link Required | Static Link | PR™ | Register | Time Frame | DL | IBL Shown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | Yes | 4 | Yes | Less than 1 month? | N |
Business Web Directory .biz - Business Directory - is a general directory that requires registration and email confirmation before submitting. They also send you a submission confirmation. They also offer 2 paid sponsorship options: 12 months for $20 and 6 months for $12.
* They only allow deep links for paid sponsorship submissions. This directory gives you your main listing, plus an extended long description with two addition links, plus a visitor ranking feature and visitor reviews.
Update: 05/02/08: Page Rank ( - ) from 3 to 0. I submitted a site on 1-22-08 but it is not listed yet.
| Link Required | Static Link | PR™ | Register | Time Frame | DL | IBL Shown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optional | Yes | 3 | Yes | 1 Day | N * |
Site Pro News Webmaster Resource Sites - is a strong specialty resource directory for webmaster related sites. They only accept submissions by emailing webmaster@sitepronews.com. They appear to be pretty selective on what sites they list. They do not notify you of inclusion. I just happened to notice some traffic from their directory.
Update: 05/02/08: WebSEODesign is listed. Page Rank steady at 6.
| Link Required | Static Link | PR™ | Register | Time Frame | DL | IBL Shown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | Yes | 6 | No | 4 Months | N |
buzznick Web Directory - is a general directory with free listings, plus 2 paid options. They offer a "Featured Listing" for $9.95 and 6 month site wide footer links for $29.95. They are relatively new and don't show any interior PageRank yet. This directory appears to accept deep links.
I submitted my resource directory and it was accepted. They do not send any email notifications.
Update: 11/19/06: They are showing interior PR, but only one level deep, so far.
Update 2: 05/07/08: No page rank ( - ) from 5 to 0 and no indexed pages.
| Link Required | Static Link | PR™ | Register | Time Frame | DL | IBL Shown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optional | Yes | none | Yes | 3 Days | Y |
Global Weblinks Directory - is a human edited, general directory that offers a free option, plus a "TopLink" placement for $20 (1 year) or a reciprocal link from your home page (PR2 or greater), or a SiteWide Link program for $20 per month (or a site wide link exchange). TopLink placement gets you a listing on a special page (PR4), a bolded listing at the top of your category, and premium placement on various pages.
They are a relative new directory and do not show any interior PR at this time, but with the strength of their home page, they should at the next PR export. They say their review time is 1 - 72 hours and they don't notify of submission status via email. They don't allow deep links (except as a TopLink or SiteWide).
Update: 07/13/06: ( - ) PageRank reduced from 5 to 4 and they still do not have any interior PR. This may because they are using sub-domains for their categories now. They used to be directories.
Update 2: 11/19/06: They are still not showing any interior PR
Update 3: 05/07/08: Page Rank steady at 4. No interior page rank. Free linking has closed until July 2008 due to backlog.
| Link Required | Static Link | PR™ | Register | Time Frame | DL | IBL Shown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optional | Yes | 4 | Yes | 5 Hours | N | Y! |
Seekmojo - is a new general directory that offers three submission options: Lifetime Free, Free with reciprocal link and Lifetime Featured ($9.95). Reciprocal link submissions are processed before regular free listings, but do not receive any other special treatment. They don't have any interior PageRank yet and do not state an inclusion timeframe, but I was listed in 3 days. They do confirm your submission via email and notify you of your acceptance status.
* I asked about their deep link policy and they replied: "We are critical of any deep linking submissions and accept them only if the page is relevant to the category and is more useful to the end user than the main root page". I submitted my resource directory and was accepted.
Update: 05/07/08: Page Rank ( - ) from 4
to 3. Regular link is 5.95 with reciprocal link. Moving to paid
directories.
| Link Required | Static Link | PR™ | Register | Time Frame | DL | IBL Shown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optional | Yes | 3 | Yes | 3 Days | * | Y! |
Gamsis Human Edited Web Directory - is a new general directory that does not have any interior PageRank yet. They offer 3 submission options: Free, Free with Reciprocal and Featured ($4.99). I will try to see what advantage the Free with Reciprocal option gives you. They don't list a review time frame on their site and so far, I haven't received any comfirmation email.
I tried to submit as a Free with Reciprocal, but their form wouldn't validate my link back, so I submitted as Free. They appear to accept deep links, so I submitted my Free Directory Listings page on 05/27/06 (see update below).
Update: 09/17/06: I'm not sure when I was accepted, but an IBL showed up with this back link check, so I showing my listing as being accepted about 1 month ago (estimated)
Update: 05/07/08: Page Rank ( - ) from 4 to 1. Free link requires reciprocal link.
| Link Required | Static Link | PR™ | Register | Time Frame | DL | IBL Shown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | Yes | 1 | Yes | 10 weeks | Y | Y! |
Add Your URL Directory -
is a new general directory with some, but not all, interior categories showing
PageRank (only 1 level deep). They do not state their submission options, but
appear to have free and free with reciprocal. I will try to clarify this. They
do not state their submission time frame and haven't sent a confirmation email
yet.
They appear to accept some deep links, so I submitted my Free Directory Listings page on 05/27/06 and will advise on progress.
Update: 09/28/06: They are now showing interior PR
Update: 05/07/08: Page Rank ( - ) from 4 to 3. Regular link is $10. Regular link with reciprocal is free. My Free Directory Listings is not listed.
| Link Required | Static Link | PR™ | Register | Time Frame | DL | IBL Shown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optional | Yes | 3 | Yes | Unknown | ? |
Lonely Way Directory - is a general directory with a somewhat unusual category structure. Their category structure is only one level deep and they have fairly general categories. They do not have a submission time frame stated on their site, but they do contact you via email to advise you of your acceptance.
They do not appear to accept deep links, so I submitted my base domain.
Update: 07/13/06: ( - ) PageRank decreased from 5 to 3 and their interior pages aren't showing any PR
Update: 09/28/06: ( - ) Their PageRank decreased from 3 to 0 and they aren't showing any back links in Google, but they are still in the index.
Update: 05/07/08: Page Rank still 0.
| Link Required | Static Link | PR™ | Register | Time Frame | DL | IBL Shown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optional | Yes | 0 - | Yes | 1 Day | N |
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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