Tips to make a Web Directory more Search Engine friendly and as a complete online resource

SEO or Search Engine Optimization (or sometimes Search Engine Optimizer) is a must today in order to gain back links when your site is placed in a directory or link list. A SEO firm can help you perform many important tasks like writing copy, maintaining site architecture and helping to find relevant directories to which a site can be submitted. The directories play an important role in indexing and searching websites that have been categorized for easier retrieval. So what exactly does a directory owner have to consider indexing high quality links and standing out from other directories? These are some things that could help to make your directory more search engine friendly:

Having text links that have keywords that are search engine based

Text links are easily indexed by web crawlers. Using text links with keywords or words that are generally used by search engines to index your site is what could bring a focus to our site.

Having Clean URLs or Search Engine Friendly URLs

A clean URL is a URL that is simple and a search engine spider can easily crawl through it. For example, http://www.abcdomain.com/abcproducts.php&63s=prod90293&subproduct, this kind of a link is highly unreasonable for a spider to crawl through as they are dynamic but also for a human to read. These kinds of links should be filtered out by human-edition in directories to avoid affiliate products and other undesirable content. Thankfully “human-readable Clean URLs” is usually a feature of most directory scripts but it is not always enabled by default. To help in maximizing the search engine friendliness of your web directory, enable URL rewriting by altering the .htaccess file which is contained in the documents of the root directory and has the ability to rewrite URLs.

Choose an interesting topic for a niche directory

Seriously, how many general web directories keep cropping up every single day that don’t even see the light of day and get lost in the internet’s wide world? So instead of making a compilation of just “your favorite links” choose a topic that interests you, that you have excellent command over and that’s not run of the mill. Find interesting links; scour the web and other directories for links you like and start building your directory. Niche web directories are also indexed by bigger directories to cater to specialized target traffic.

A single image is worth a thousand words

Make your presentation interesting by having a layout or theme that corresponds with the topic if you have a niche directory. Having a good layout and a logo is the key to professional presentation and gives a good brand image to your directory. There are lots of free tools out there that can help you create stunning graphics, logos and also provide you with scripts for some really good effects. You can create custom themes using CSS if you are good at programming in HTML but there are many help sites out there that can help you get started with writing your own codes or even forums for webmasters that have people who volunteer their skills. Don’t have a lot of graphics on your site that will impede the progress of loading.

Coding your directory

Sites that have a lengthy code take time to load, make sure your code is as optimized as possible. Avoid using Flash and JavaScript based menus and effects that will slow down the loading of your site and drive away visitors. If you want to use special effects consider using a DHTML menu that contains text links and is also search engine friendly.

In the spotlight

Have a list of the latest links, top links or even have a site in the spotlight similar to a banner rotation. This will increase your directory’s activity and if you are aiming for a premium web directory you will see it’s an effective marketing strategy.

Lastly market your directory, have it listed with other major directories or directory of directories and keep updating it regularly. Try to build a solid brand image of your directory and soon you’ll see the results.