Because of its importance as another incoming link, and for potential visitor traffic referrals, you may want to consider submitting your blog to the Yahoo! Directory. While the directory may not be suitable for all websites, blog owners may find a real benefit to being included in its categorized listings.
Why directory inclusion is important
Each of the major directories provide additional traffic to you your blog. They also provide valuable incoming links, that enhance your rankings on the search engine results pages (SERPs) as well. Note that the Yahoo! Directory is not the same thing as the Yahoo! search engine. While the much better known and used search engine doesn't require submission, the Yahoo! Directory requires hand submission for inclusion. Automated submissions are not accepted.
If your site isn’t listed in the various search engines, becoming listed in directories is a great way to get your website crawled by the Google spider. Other search engine spiders, including Yahoo! and MSN Search, crawl the major directories, on a regular basis too.
Like other directories, the Yahoo! Directory is crawled on a regular basis by the search engine spiders, including the Google spider. The directory may offer a quick entry into the Google listings for many blogs.
How to get your blog into the Yahoo! Directory
Here are some basic hints to help your blog to qualify for the Yahoo! Directory. As with all directory submissions, you must follow their submission guidelines very carefully. They are not merely a suggestion. They are the rules for entry. If you want directory inclusion, follow them exactly.
Find the correct category for your blog submission. The Yahoo! Directory is organized by subject matter. When you have found, what you think is the suitable category for your website submission, click on the Suggest A Site button. You will be taken to an online form for completion.
Yahoo will require your website name, its URL, and a brief objective description. It is best to write the site description from an impartial third party approach. Your description should simply tell what the site is about in an objective factual manner. It’s no time for flowery sales language. Yahoo reserves the right to change your choice of description.
It’s far better to write your own blog description than to rely on the Yahoo staff person’s wording. Take your time. It’s easier to provide a good honest description than to get one changed. Changing your listing or your description requires another submission and another potentially very long wait as well.
Make sure your blog works properly
Make certain that your blog will load properly in a variety of browsers. Test your blog by trying it out in more than one browser. A site, written entirely in java or Flash, is unlikely to be accepted either.
Your website must provide its content in English. If the language of your blog is something other than English, you are strongly advised to have a translator available. While the translation service might not be enough to ensure inclusion, it certainly would help your cause.
Because your blog might be examined by Yahoo staff members very quickly, it is advisable to check all of your site’s links. Make certain they are all working properly.
Yahoo may decide not to include your blog, in the directory, if it’s packed full of dead links. Yahoo also expects your blog to be up and running around the clock, so make certain your site is using a reliable server. Most of the major blog hosting present no problems for Yahoo! Directory inclusion.
Be sure to have no pages “under construction”. The Yahoo! Directory doesn’t include sites that are still in the construction mode. If your site is still in the building process, it might be advisable to delay your application, until such time as your site is ready.
Another option for partially completed blogs, if speed of entry is important, is to remove all unfinished pages. They can always be added at a later date. That way, when the Yahoo staff drops by for a visit, no incomplete pages will greet their arrival. In other words, don't have "Under Construction" signs and logos on any of your pages. Fortunately for bloggers, this is not a problem.
Free submission to the Yahoo! Directory
Free inclusion is similar in many ways to the Express (paid) entry to the Yahoo! Directory. It is much slower, however. Yahoo doesn’t guarantee a review of all free submission sites either. In fact, Yahoo may never get around to evaluating your non-commercial site for inclusion in the directory. Despite the possibility of rejection, it is still very much worth your effort to submit your non- business site to the Yahoo! Directory, through the free submission process. It’s just that there are absolutely no assurances of success.
To begin your free submission, be sure to check if your website is already listed or not. Often, you will find your site is already included within the directory, by entering your URL or website title into the search box. If your site is already there, you can sit back and relax. You are already included.
Should your blog not be part of the directory, you will have to submit it by hand. Search through the available categories, digging deeper into the subcategories, for the right match for your website. Eventually, you will find the right spot for your website to be located.
The basic information page for free site submissions can be found here:
Suggest A Site
Be sure to write down the name of the category you have chosen, and the date of your submission. That information may be required later, should there be a problem with your inclusion.
As with all directory submissions, it is a good practice to maintain good records of when and where your site has been submitted. Yahoo is no exception. When the appropriate category has been found, it’s time to submit your website. Click on the Suggest a Site button, located at the top right hand corner of the page.
You will be asked to provide the website title, its complete URL, as well as a brief description. As with any directory submission, your description should be as honest and objective as possible. Blatantly keyword loaded descriptions are likely to be changed, or your blog rejected entirely. A reasonable and objective site description will almost certainly be approved.
Inclusion in the Yahoo! Directory is great for additional visitor traffic, and for your search engine results.
Your blog should be included in its listings.
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