Web Directory

Simply stated, a web directory is a collection of links of web sites under various categories. Unlike a search engine, a web directory classifies websites under different subjects and sub categories. The basis of classification is not keywords, but the entire content of the website spanning all its pages. Website owners are encouraged to submit their website for inclusion under one or maximum two categories.Web directories have editors who review the content of these websites and categorize them under different heads.Some specialize on a particular region or one language while others may include websites related to a single subject like education or health.Yahoo directory and Open Directory Project are two useful general directories referenced by scores of users. A web directory offers different types of listings for different prices. Free listing implies the website review and listing and review by the web directory is free.Under a reciprocal linking arrangement the website must link to the directory to qualify for a listing. Sometimes websites have to pay for getting a review from the web directory. Web directories can give a top position to a website in a specific category under a featured link. Sometimes under the featured homepage link facility, the website link can get a listing on the directory homepage .In case the directory attaches a no follow tag to the website link, then search engines will not pick up that link. Here are examples of a few web directories. The World Wide Web Virtual Library is the oldest web directory, while the Open Directory Project or Dmoz is the largest . Dmoz is free and has a mirror at Google. Human edited directoriies that categorize on the basis of certain policies include web directories like Starting Point Directory and Dmoz.However critics feel that the categorization is slow and arbitrary.