There are several things to take into consideration when submitting to Free Directory Listings. All listings are "not equal" in quality or service. If a directory listing provides good service, is easy to navigate and has a solid history, the word will get around. There are more and more websites providing evaluation of these listings. I would therefore recommend a Google name search for the listing on the internet to see what comes up. The Free Directory listing should come up in several of the lists of SEO friendly free directories like http://info.vilesilencer.com and http://www.onewaytextlink.com. Take a basic tour of the website, what does it look like? How are the directories laid out? What does it say about the time it takes to include your website into it's listings. Some sites will tell you it takes 2-4 weeks to be included via the free listings and that you should consider using their paid service to speed up the process. Beware of these fly by night listings. These sites sometimes guide you in the direction that is most beneficial to them. There is nothing wrong with paid listings, but here we are focusing on Free Directory listings.

There are several other things to take into consideration when determining a quality Directory listing:

• 1. The Google PR number - What is the page rank number? Is it 3 or above. Although this cannot be used as a sole measure, it should play a role for sites in existence over 6 months. This of course cannot be used for newer sites that have come into existence less than 3 months.


• 2. Alex number: - What is the Alexa value? Is the number 100,000 or less. This is cut of value that Alexa uses for web traffic.


• 3. How easy is the Directory Listing to Navigate? Can you go directly to your category of listing with minimal effort?


• 4. Do you have to sign up to be able to submit "Freely"? This is of course is an added hassle, which usually benefits only the website. In my opinion, free should mean free.

The first sign that you are dealing with a sub par directory listing, besides low numbers for the above areas is service. Did the Directory listing email you after your submission, informing you how long you could expect before being included (if accepted). Was the information clear and concise? Did it offer you "other" deals? not related to it's directory listing service

You must remember also that selecting a quality Directory Listing requires that your website be completed (not in construction), clean and in some cases meeting a specific standard. I know that my listing was rejected by one of the directory listings because it was new and did not have a Page Ranking yet. Was this fair? Maybe, maybe not, but the standards of a website must be met before you can be included. In another site I visited, a requirement was, your website had to be Canadian to be included. More and More of these specialize or "specific area" websites are springing up.