Hi all,
I'm going to do this
abridged version a little different to the last few. I'm going to use this one in particular as a directory clinic to educate people as to how a real directory list operates.
For this month we start with the original list of
303 directories announced in March on Digital point and
compiled by Subi
I wanted to do this, just once, to show people that it takes a lot more time, effort and skill as a directory list compiler to actually review directories, than it does to just simply build a list of 300+ directories. Just about every directory list on the web, simply adds directories without a review. You have to be supremely careful or an expert in the directory industry to navigate through those other directory lists.
The 2 exceptions are
Info Vilesilencer, and
WebDirectories.WS. The differences between these two is that Info Vilesilencer does all the review and removal of bad directories behind the scenes, leaving those sites off the list so you just get the good directories. WDWS does the review of the directories on site, and leaves them there for you to take care of at your own discretion.
So IVS list is very small and focused, and WDWS is very large (20,000+) but the vast majority of directories listed also have an editors note as to why they aren't recommended (IP-associations, whether a directory is including or not, and other personal recommendations - amongst other things).
Neither approach is better than the other, they are simply different approaches to the same outcome. i.e. identifying the good directories from the massive numbers of bad directories listed on the web.
I do not know any other directory lists that do this, and certainly not for the full decade that both of these have operated (WDWS as BWD for quite some time though WDWS to me is the far better resource going forward).
What I've done here. Takes time. Granted it's a fairly simple task for someone that's been doing it for literally 10 years, but I think most people would be overwhelmed, out of their depth, and would basically give up after 5 minutes. Indeed it's what makes directory submission so daunting for most people in that they simply cannot decide what constitutes a worthwhile directory.
I've basically taken 300 directories and removed 90% of them, for obvious reasons. The remaining 10%, or 30-odd, that are left, give you the end-user a much easier task to evaluate those directories on other principles, such as content depth, categorisation and quality (which could be any number of factors).
This month I've
targeted the
vanilla default templates that come with a directory script. Anything with a "my directory" or "the directory" or "phpld directory" vanilla template that has no design. These directories aren't cared about or they would have a unique design. It's easy for them to be discarded by their owners.
I've also targeted "like",
duplicate or "clone" directories. They all look the same, and are either owned by the same person, on the same IP address or simply lack the love required for a unique design.
There was a lot more of these multiple owned directories on the list however many of them were offline, which is to be expected, so I just removed them since their owners do not care about them and never know when they are offline. Also, when the owners realise they are worthless they will discard them all.
Before compiling the list below I've done the following:
- Deleted all the .info URLs from the list. Those are junk.
- Deleted any URLs that appeared offline.
Normally I would have also removed the templated directories, and the clone/duplicate directories but I've kept them in for this month as an educational process.
What is left now is just
27 unique directories from that original
303. A further 5 I have kept in the list, as the parents of all the duplicate directories that will follow. So we have a list of
32 directories all up. Which is around 10% of the original 303.
32 General Directories
http://www.1570thezone.com (has duplicate directories associated with it -
beware)
http://www.4moms4me.com (has a duplicate directory associated with it)
http://www.a1freedirectory.org (has at least 50 duplicate directories associated with it -
B E W A R E !)
http://www.abclinks.org (has duplicate directories associated with it -
beware)
http://www.addbestlinks.com (has dupicate directories associated with it -
beware)
http://www.adspurt.com
http://www.bizbizdirectory.com
http://www.capitalownership.org
http://www.directorycanadian.com
http://www.directoryhigh.com
http://www.dreamydirectory.com
http://www.directoryplace.org
http://www.ewebgazette.com
http://www.exolart.com
http://www.featuredwebdirectory.com
http://www.googlelife.me
http://www.googoldir.com
http://www.growingdirectory.com
http://www.latestwebdirectory.com
http://www.linktodirectory.co.uk
http://www.lydir.com
http://www.mddir.com
http://www.nempha.org
http://www.orboros.com
http://www.premierwebdirectory.com
http://www.regularlisting.com
http://www.swoopdirectory.com
http://www.theoldsugarmill.com
http://www.ukseolink.com
http://www.urdirectory.com
http://www.websitelinkdirectory.net
http://www.aliwab.com/ (paid)
Below are all the directories that it is
not recommended you spend a single second submitting to. I've included them below
for educational purposes ONLY and to show what it really takes to review, collate and compile a list of directories. This is how much junk a real directory list owner is forced to wade through in order to find anything worth while. There are two main types of obvious removals below. Namely
DUPLICATE DIRECTORIES and
DEFAULT TEMPLATE DIRECTORIES.
1. DUPLICATE DIRECTORIES
These are directories who have multiple similar directories that are either owned by the same owner, designed the same, share the same databases, share the same IP. etc.
DUPLICATES OF A1FREE:
This is the perfect example of a mega link farm. Scores of directories on the same default theme, with the same default categorisation, by the same owner. It takes loads of time and effort to build quality into a single directory resource. Skilled directory owners might be able to handle 2 or even 3, but 50? Cue moron, and exit these directories stage left. A listing in these is worth nothing, and is actually a complete waste of your time. Avoid at all costs.
http://www.a1onlinedir.org (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.abchometuition.com (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.addaurl.co.in (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.addaurl.org (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.addmylink.org (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.addmywebsites.com (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.addmywebsites.net (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.addmywebsites.org (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.addweb.co.in (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.aogd2011.com (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.aogin2011.in (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.bestdirectory.co.in (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.directory.acrepairsservices.com (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.directory.fastsmsservice.com (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.directory.goatourspackages.com (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.directory.indian-tours.in (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.directory.keralatourspackages.co.in (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.directory.nainitaltourpackages.com (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.directory.ootytourpackages.com (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.directory.shimlatourspackages.com (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.directory.studentprojectonline.com (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.directory.tvrepairsservices.com (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.directory.way2webhost.com (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.directory.way2webworld.com (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.directoryworld.org (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.fastlisting.net (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.fastlisting.org (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.free-listing.org (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.freeonlinedir.org (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.freesubmission.co.in (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.freedirectorysubmission.in (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.growingdir.org (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.hellodirectory.org (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.icfmt.org (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.indiangiftbazar.com (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.indiangiftsbazar.com (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.linkshub.org (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.listofdirectory.org (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.listurl.co.in (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.liveprojecttraining.org (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.megalinkfarm.org (duplicate of a1free) ---
this name is hilarious because it describes exactly what all these "directories" are. One MEGA link farm!
http://www.mithilasansar.com (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.promogiftsindia.com (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.topdirectory.co.in (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.toplinkfarm.org (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.trauma2011.in (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.urlworld.org (duplicate of a1free)
http://www.visiontechnolozy.org (duplicate of a1free)
DUPICATE OF ABCLINKS:
Another collection of duplicated directories. If you submit to the associated one above, then avoid all the associated ones below.
http://www.absdirectory.com (duplicate of abclinks)
http://www.25directory.com (duplicate of abclinks)
http://www.basiclinks.org (duplicate of abclinks)
http://www.seoadirectory.com (duplicate of abclinks)
http://www.sprlinks.com (duplicate of abclinks)
http://www.theukwebdirectory.com (duplicate of abclinks)
DUPLICATE OF ACIT SERVICES:
This is another duplicate directory capitalising on PR. Whilst it may be useful to submit based on that PR today, in future when the PR disappears the directory is for all intents and purposes worthless.
http://www.acit-services.net (duplicate of 4moms4me)
DUPLICATE OF ADD BEST LINKS:
Another collection of duplicated directories. If you submit to the associated one above, then avoid all the associated ones below.
http://www.addlinksfast.com (duplicate of add best links)
http://www.freedirectoryone.com (duplicate of add best links)
http://www.internetdirectorylisting.com (duplicate of add best links)
http://www.kystas.net (duplicate of add best links)
http://www.linkstodirectory.com (duplicate of add best links)
http://www.premiuminternetdirectory.com (duplicate of add best links)
http://www.topinternetdirectory.com (duplicate of add best links)
http://www.yourtopdirectory.com (duplicate of add best links)
DUPLICATE OF 1570:
Another collection of duplicated directories. If you submit to the associated one above, then avoid all the associated ones below.
http://www.einfodir.com (duplicate of 1570)
http://www.webkno.com (duplicate of 1570)
The 24x7 SHOES CLONE
This is a special case of duplication, because it is more glaringly obvious than most and even more stupid. I have no idea why the owner thinks it is a good idea to associate a collection of directories with a spammy shoe sale site. There was a directory called 24x7shoes.com which was a PR5 at one point in time (having been purchased as a dropped domain, it being one of those nike shoe spammer sites). Why the owner would want to associate the other directories they own with it, makes no sense to me. They should want to differentiate NOT associate. These are not recommended.
http://www.byware.com (duplicate of 24x7 shoes)
http://www.bubblesvi.net (duplicate of 24x7 shoes)
http://www.kneemd.com (duplicate of 24x7 shoes)
http://www.parisdj.com (duplicate of 24x7 shoes)
http://www.vfrbo.net (duplicate of 24x7 shoes)
2. DEFAULT TEMPLATE DIRECTORIES
These are directories whose owners care so little about them that they continue to use the default them that came with the directory script, rather than brand and skin the directories to a unique design. Whilst they all have different owners (a good thing) they all look exactly the same, have exactly the same categorisation, and have exactly the same weak editing policies (generally because owners will own more than one). There
may be some gems in here with good content, but there is simply no point in trying to find the needle in the haystack. If the owner cared about their directory they would differentiate themselves and make themselves very easy to find.
PHPLD DEFAULT TEMPLATE
This seems to be the most prominent of all the default templates, with the tagline
all the links you can get and the mismatched red and blue colours it stands out like a sore thumb. For starters no one seems to brand it at all (simply adding the name would make it clear that it's slightly cared about). Anyone using this template past the initial few weeks of owning the directory, in my opinion, doesn't care enough about their directory to make a serious go of it. Some of these might change in time, but I wouldn't bet a lot of money on it. For now, I wouldn't recommend submitting to any of these.
http://www.advertisingwebdirectory.com (phpld default template)
http://www.affiliatewebdirectory.com (phpld default template)
http://www.alwaysdirectory.com (phpld default template)
http://www.blackhatdirectory.com (phpld default template)
http://www.blueprintsdirectory.com (phpld default template)
http://www.businessweblisting.com (phpld default template)
http://www.canadianlinkdirectory.com (phpld default template)
http://www.chinalinkdirectory.com (phpld default template)
http://www.decentwebdirectory.com (phpld default template)
http://www.developerswebdirectory.com (phpld default template)
http://www.digitalwebdirectory.com (phpld default template)
http://www.directoryamericans.com (phpld default template)
http://www.directoryaustralian.com (phpld default template)
http://www.directorybahrain.com (phpld default template)
http://www.directorybirmingham.com (phpld default template)
http://www.directorybritish.com (phpld default template)
http://www.directorydelicious.com(phpld default template)
http://www.directoryenglish.com (phpld default template)
http://www.directoryeuropean.com (phpld default template)
http://www.directorygerman.com (phpld default template)
http://www.directoryglasgow.com (phpld default template)
http://www.directoryindustry.com (phpld default template)
http://www.directoryitalian.com (phpld default template)
http://www.directorykorean.com (phpld default template)
http://www.directorymanchester.com (phpld default template)
http://www.directoryold.com (phpld default template)
http://www.directoryrss.com (phpld default template)
http://www.directorysouth.com (phpld default template)
http://www.directoryspanish.com (phpld default template)
http://www.directoryswiss.com (phpld default template)
http://www.directorysydney.com (phpld default template)
http://www.directoryunited.com (phpld default template)
http://www.directoryunitedstates.com (phpld default template)
http://www.dofollowsocialbookmarking.com (phpld default template)
http://www.economicsdirectory.com (phpld default template)
http://www.europelinkdirectory.com (phpld default template)
http://www.familywebdirectory.com (phpld default template)
http://www.forumcomputer.com (phpld default template)
http://www.goldenwebdirectory.com (phpld default template)
http://www.goldwebdirectory.com (phpld default template)
http://www.hostinglinkdirectory.com (phpld default template)
http://www.internationalbusinesslisting.com (phpld default template)
http://www.olderdirectory.com (phpld default template)
http://www.phonewebdirectory.com (phpld default template)
http://www.polandwebdirectory.com (phpld default template)
http://www.regulararticle.com (phpld default template)
http://www.regularwebdirectory.com (phpld default template)
http://www.rsswebdirectory.com (phpld default template)
http://www.searchengineslink.com (phpld default template)
http://www.secondwebdirectory.com (phpld default template)
http://www.seochatdirectory.com (phpld default template)
http://www.seoweblisting.com (phpld default template)
http://www.specialwebdirectory.com (phpld default template)
http://www.standardlisting.com (phpld default template)
http://www.tokyolinkdirectory.com (phpld default template)
http://www.uklinkdirectory.com (phpld default template)
http://www.unitedarabdirectory.com (phpld default template)
http://www.unitedkingdomsubmit.com (phpld default template)
http://www.unitedstateswebdirectory.com (phpld default template)
http://www.viewsdirectory.com (phpld default template)
http://www.warriorwebdirectory.com (phpld default template)
http://www.whitewebdirectory.com (phpld default template)
http://www.wickeddirectory.com (phpld default template)
http://www.wickedfiredirectory.com (phpld default template)
FREE DIRECTORY TEMPLATE
Another generic phpld default template. For now, I wouldn't recommend submitting to any of these.
http://www.alinkdirectory.co.uk (free directory default template)
MY DIRECTORY TEMPLATE
Another generic phpld default template. For now, I wouldn't recommend submitting to any of these.
http://www.al-zad.com (mydirectory default template)
http://www.esvillamil.com (mydirectory default template)
http://www.gomessagecenter.com (mydirectory default template)
http://www.horrorcon.com (mydirectory default template)
http://www.josephlapan.com (mydirectory default template)
http://www.maxineandmartigellens.com (mydirectory default template)
http://www.rpmpower.com (mydirectory default template)
http://www.site-mentor.com (my directory default template)
http://www.tablaji.com (my directory default template)
http://www.theffort.com (mydirectory default template) --- more like "no effort"
http://www.v-io.com (mydirectory default template)
WEB DIRECTORY
Another generic phpld default template. For now, I wouldn't recommend submitting to any of these.
http://www.abodirectory.com (web directory default template)
http://www.aukwebdirectory.com (web directory default template)
http://www.sprdirectory.com (web directory default template)
http://www.seo-linkdir.com (web directory default template)
http://www.suggestwebsite.com (web directory default template)
THE DIRECTORY TEMPLATE
Another generic phpld default template. Probably the best looking of all the defaults, and it also comes in a range of colours to help with differentiation. However, it is so over-used that despite it looking like the directory has been skinned, it hasn't and it's lazy. For now, I wouldn't recommend submitting to any of these.
http://www.blogvisiting.com (the directory default template)
http://www.europewebdirectory.com (the directory default template)
http://www.featuredbacklink.com (the directory default template)
http://www.fooddrinkwebdirectory.com (the directory default template)
http://www.forumswebdirectory.com (the directory default template)
http://www.freelancewebdirectory.com (the directory default template)
http://www.furniturewebdirectory.com (the directory default template)
http://www.giftswebdirectory.com (the directory default template)
http://www.graphicwebdirectory.com (the directory default template)
http://www.hnyngs.com (the directory default template)
http://www.hollandbusinessdirectory.com (the directory default template)
http://www.japanlinkdirectory.com (the directory default template)
http://www.loanswebdirectory.com (the directory default template)
http://www.movieswebdirectory.com (the directory default template)
http://www.peoplewebdirectory.com (the directory default template)
http://www.personalwebdirectory.com (the directory default template)
http://www.petswebdirectory.com (the directory default template)
http://www.poetrywebdirectory.com (the directory default template)
http://www.projectwebdirectory.com (the directory default template)
http://www.psychologywebdirectory.com (the directory default template)
http://www.rankingwebdirectory.com (the directory default template)
http://www.regularlistings.com (the directory default template)
http://www.societywebdirectory.com (the directory default template)
http://www.softwarewebdirectory.com (the directory default template)
http://escuelagerentes.com/ (the directory default template)
OTHER NOTABLES...
http://www.combux.com (not free - annoying popup ads before submit)
http://www.advertisewebdirectory.com (article directory)
http://www.azarticledirectory.com (article directory)
http://www.ablsearch.com/directory/ (I left this one in as an example of how neglected many directories are. Look at the
regulations and conditions of submission)
Directories Announced in March (Abridged Version)
Linear Mode
