Doing everything to get your website to the top of search engines can be quite a task. The list of duties to perform can include managing a variety of keywords, swapping links with other webmasters, and having links appear in blog posts and social networking sites, and other tasks that may need doing. Having your site listed on several web directories is another task you should perform.

Getting listed on these directories involves more than getting your website to appear on Google (anywhere except the first page, anyway). Directories are human edited, so you have to submit your site for review. Directories will not accept every submission, meaning that your site has a chance of being rejected. There are ways to decrease your chances of rejection, however, and a few of those are explained below.

The first thing you should do is learn what makes each directory you want to submit to different. Differences between directories can include how they categorize pages and their maximum length for site descriptions. Main categories are generally the same in all directories with few exceptions, but subcategories can vary widely from directory to directory, which means you should take your time when deciding exactly where you want your site listed. Choosing an accurate subcategory will increase the likelihood of your site being accepted, as well as the chances of someone browsing through the directory to click on the link for your website. There are a few directories on the web that focus exclusively on a single subject (like Health), and having your site listed on such relevant directories can be well worth your time.

Different directories also have different policies regarding how long your site’s description can be. Some only allow a small, 40 or so word description while others are fine with you having a 200 or more word description with which to describe your site and convince people to click. Preparing descriptions of varying length in advance can save you time later when you are submitting your site to several directories at a time.

Your site’s content must be good, and preferably as unique as possible. If your site contains information already available on dozens of other sites that are already listed in that directory, the editor reviewing your site may decline your request.

Getting listed on a few of the larger, more popular directories will cause your site to appear on smaller directories as well. This is because larger directories, like the Open Directory Project, has parts of its directory replicated and copied for use by these smaller directories to fill up their categories, meaning that one submission on the ODP can be copied over a hundred times over the course of three or four months

Finally, you should be aware that several directories out charge for their listings. This can be done through annual fees, pay-per-click pricing, or some other model. A lot of them are free, but not all.

Make use of link directories in your website marketing. Submit your site now to Best Web Directory and Top Link Directory web guides. It is free to submit.