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How to get your web site description accepted
by directories
A listing in Internet directories is important for your web
site. It brings traffic to your web site and it increases
the link popularity of your site so that it gets higher search
engine rankings.
If someone searches on a search engine site, then the search
query must match the words on your web page. If someone searches
on a directory site, however, the query must match words or
phrases in the directory's description of your web site. That's
why the description is the most important factor when submitting
your web site to Internet directories.
Give your description a lot of thought and be very precise
in your wording, otherwise editors will re-word it to their
liking. You run the risk of losing your important keywords
and phrases in the description. Keep your tone down. Your
first goal is to get listed and show-up on a search for your
main keyword or phrase. Let your web site do the selling.
- Your site description does not have to be identical to
your META Description tag. You're free to enter any description
you want as long as it follows the directory's submission
guidelines.
- Don't just submit a list of keywords but 2-3 sentences
that convey what your site is about.
- If the directory demands both a title and a description,
then don't repeat the title in your description. You will
just be wasting copy, because it will get edited out.
- Look around in the category you want your web site to
be listed in and try to mimic the general wording. Many
directory editors have a certain style that they like to
see.
- Speak of yourself in the third person. Don't use the "we"
terminology, for example don't say "we offer kitchen
furniture" but say "offers kitchen furniture".
The directory sites cannot use the "we" word because
it would imply that they are the ones offering kitchen furniture
instead of your company.
- Avoid superlatives, exaggeration, hype and marketing speech
as much as you can when filling out the submission form.
For instance, do not submit titles such as "The best
company for kitchen furniture" or "#1 radio manufacturer
world wide" (even if it's true). Describe your site
in functional terms, not the usual promotional copy used
for your visitors.
- On a related note, don't use all capital letters and exclamation
marks. NOT even once! :-)
- Include only your most important keywords or key phrases
in the description. Don't use all the keywords you can imagine.
- Keep your description short. Editors always edit for brevity,
clarity and accuracy. The longer the description, the more
likely the editor will have to edit it. If you describe
your web site as "Provides a directory of the best
affiliate programs on the market where you learn how to
build a new income stream", the editor might reword
it as "Provides associate program information".
- Don't use expressions that have no real value and that
don't describe the purpose of your site, for example "Welcome
to the kitchen furniture site" or "Try our products".
Directory editors always delete such phrases.
- Don't add pricing information in your description. On
the one hand, it doesn't describe the purpose of your site
and on the other hand, it's often difficult to get your
description changed once you've been accepted in the directory.
- Always spell-check your description. This means that you
shouldn't start crafting your description in the submission
form on the directory web page but in your word processor
application. If you can, let someone else proof-read your
description.
If you follow these tips, you can be reasonably sure that
your description won't be edited and that it will contain
your most important keywords.
We recommend using IBP
3 to submit your web site to search engines, directories
and even industry-specific sites.
Next week, we'll tell you why your web site might not get
listed in Internet directories such as Yahoo.
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