Submitting to major search engines is not enough. To really get your website off the ground, you need to submit your site to web directories such a Yahoo and Dmoz, as well. Submitting your site to web directories can actually get a good Google PR page linking to your site, and also let you tap millions of web directory users that make up your potential market.

Why you should submit to web directories

If you do it right, submitting your URL to an effective web directory may be the best thing you do for your website. Web directories can get you very strong one-way links that enable search engines to spider your site faster and more accurately.

Choosing the right web directory

The most popular web directory these days is Dmoz.org – and it’s not surprising why. Dmoz has built the reputation of making noteworthy bearing on the Google rankings of the websites submitted to its directory. Google is using Dmoz data, which explains this significant effect. Some experts argue that Dmoz may not last a very long time, though, because it is run by volunteers and because its data is open to exploitation. Still, this web directory is worth mentioning, and definitely worth submitting your sites to.

You should also link up to web directories that cater to your site’s specific category. It might be a good idea to submit your URL to sites such as Business.com, for example, in order to network with other business sites and possibly even gain new clients. The MSN small business directory is also a good place to start – it is cheaper to submit to this web directory than to any other web directory, and it definitely has a powerful platform. The MSN web directory also provides members with a personal page where you can endorse your business.

The cost of submitting to web directories

Be prepared to spend anywhere from about $10 to as high as $300, depending on what web directory you decide to submit your site to. Opinions on how much a webmaster should spend on web directory submission vary. Web directory experts say that you should think twice about forking over $200 on submitting to web directories because their impact on your search engine rankings is not worth the money. Still, some entrepreneurs have managed to quickly get back their investments in web directory submission, and some find more expensive price tags (such as $300 for the Yahoo directory) reasonable.

The choice is entirely up to you. Have realistic expectations and weigh the costs against the benefits wisely. Remember that web directory submission is not the key to high search engine rankings – they certainly help, but are many other factors. If you simply want to build up decent web presence, though, then submission to web directories can surely contribute a lot.