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Why your web site might not get listed in
Internet directories such as Yahoo, part 1 of 2
It can be very expensive if you pay a non-refundable fee
to the directory only to get rejected. There can be a variety
of reasons why Internet directories won't accept your listing.
The most important ones are:
1. You didn't submit to the right category.
Directories are very choosy. Make sure you completely follow
each directory's guidelines, for example on Yahoo, if you
have a UK-based site, make sure you submit to the appropriate
regional category of the directory.
2. Your web site has no real content.
Do not submit your web site to directories unless it has
substantial content on a particular subject. This means
that you should not submit special keyword-stuffed pages
you have created for the search engines, or web pages that
contain only affiliate links.
Ask yourself honestly if the web page you want to submit
will actually hold a visitor's attention for at least 2
minutes.
3. Your web site doesn't have a professional look.
Directories are looking for professional designed sites
as every site in the directory reflects the quality of the
whole directory. Sites that have "blinking text"
and clip art images scream "amateur design", especially
on a site's home page. Many directory editors won't navigate
a site further than the home page when they see any indication
of a poorly designed site.
Test your web site with other web browser applications
than Microsoft's Internet Explorer. At least, use one of
the Mozilla/Firebird/Netscape browsers to see how they render
your web site. Don't assume editors use Windows computers
and the latest versions of the browsers.
Keep the loading time of your home page to the minimum.
Almost all editors of popular directors have a backlog of
sites to look at. Your site has only a few seconds until
most editors decide whether to take a deeper look at your
web site or to move on.
In addition, your site should be easy navigable. Directory
editors don't have time to find out how your site works.
Use a spell checker to find spelling mistakes or have a
professional proof-reading service check your web site.
Web sites are often rejected because they contain broken
links or a broken graphic link. Any broken link is reason
enough for a site to be rejected because it shows that the
web site is not managed in a professional way.
Next week, we'll give you further reasons why your web site
might not get listed in Internet directories such as Yahoo.
We recommend using IBP 3 to submit
your web site to search engines, directories and even special
interest sites.
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