Now, consider how these same smart search engine robots think when they stumble across a Link Directory where all links are related to one central theme. The links listed in these directories are websites that match each other in themes without threads of cancerous growth of link disorder infringing into it. The difference is like night and day, organization over disarray. Hundreds or thousands of links, all nicely organized on hundreds of keyword-tuned pages. Resonant Keyword patterns throughout each page, using embedded keywords you selected as your themes. These are used in meta tags, titles, text, and most importantly, page's URL address. Add to each page hundreds of listings which include those same keywords again and again in each theme site's URL address, title, description and comment and perhaps banner image URL address. These are very good pages to find for a search engine robot. Order against chaos.

The Altavista search engine on its Link Popularity page, http://doc.altavista.com/adv_search/ast_haw_popularity.html,says in part:

It values: "Pages that serve as good hubs, with lots of links to pages that that have related content (topic similarity, rather than random meaningless links such as those generated by link exchange programs intended to generate a false impression of "popularity")."

The problem, as I see it, is that uninformed webmasters may start shying away from links of any kind. Can you imagine Internet without links? All because of misinformation. It would be end of Internet as we know it today. If we don't inform public on how to properly obtain and use Reciprocal Links and dangers of using these Links-for-All pages, every webmaster on net will pay for it.

One great free program to create theme based link pages is Zeus. Read about it at http://www.cyber-robotics.com.

Eliminate "We" terminology. Example, instead of "We offer widgets", say "Offering widgets" or "Offers widgets". The idea here is that "We" implies that Open Directory offers product or service, instead of company represented.  

Some editors will let this one pass.

Don't try to work in all of your keywords. It usually comes out sounding like promotional copy.

Use your page's most powerful keywords or phrase, but keep it toned down. Your first goal is to get listed and show-up on a search for your main keyword or phrase.

Let your site do selling. Keep in mind that...

Although keywords are important for search engines that use Open Directory Project listings in their search results, keywords are not as important at Open Directory Project. A good description of what content of your site represents is most important here.

Don't try to get too cute!

If an editor see something like, "Providing a home based business opportunity where you learn how to sell online and make money on net from selling on web."

The editor might simply reword your copy to read, "Provides income earning potential." So give your site description plenty of thought.

Links:

Generally, links are a good thing. They show that your site can relate to rest of cyberland. However, they must work! Broken links may cause you not to get listed in directory.

Special Note:

Most editors will not list a site if it only has affiliate type click-throughs. If all or most of your links are paid click-throughs, your site will probably not get listed. What they look for primarily is affiliate's ID number in link.

This is a dead give-away that link is a paid click-through. A good way to get around this problem could be to submit a high content second-generation gateway page as your index.

How to Submit:

Do a search in Open Directory Project for your best keywords or phrases.

Verify that returns are suitable for your site's placement. - Experiment with your search terms! Sometimes best fit is a secondary search term that will get you listed higher on a search. In other words, checkout competition for your placement. It will pay you great dividends.

Find highest level category that's suitable for your listing.

Then go for it!

You will notice that most of higher level categories don't have sites listed. - Drill down, if necessary to find right one. Click on "add URL" link at top of page in category where you want to be listed.

Be sure to have a pre-written "URL", "Title" and "Description" ready. - This is too important to wing-it! Use "notepad" or a "text editor" and be sure to spell-check!

More and more, search engines like Netscape, Lycos, HotBot, AOL and others are using Open Directory or some variation of it to add to their search results. The exposure received, by getting listed in Open Directory Project, makes it well worth your time and effort to prepare your entry properly.

Follow-Up:

Once you have submitted your site, as mentioned earlier, it can take a few weeks to get listed. Remember to write down and keep date submitted and category submitted to in a safe place for easy reference.

If after about 4 weeks your site has not been listed, send a cordial note via email to category's editor, inquiring about status of your listing. You will find Category Editor's name(s) at bottom of page of your selected category. Click on one of names listed to discover their email address. In your note, ask them whether or not there is a problem you need to correct. You will probably not get a direct response back. However, you would at least have gotten editor's attention and maybe this will expedite getting listed.

In your note to editor, be sure to include your site's URL, date submitted and category to which you submitted.

If there is no editor assigned to your selected category, then send inquiry to first available editor in closest, higher category that does have an editor assigned.

Wait one or two more weeks, and if you still are not listed, re-submit.

Getting listed in Open Directory is very important and do-able!

Just follow guidelines and you'll be fine. 

Best regards,

Skip Akers