Getting listed in web directories is one of the most effective endeavors website owners pursue as they aim to market their website. Web directories give listed websites the advantage of increased visibility on the internet. They help website owners direct the inflow of potential customers. For websites that aim to sell products and services, being listed in directories increases the number of site visitors and therefore increases the likelihood of selling. For non-retailing websites, the upsurge of traffic brought about by web directory listings also increases search engine rankings pages and websites’ income generated by attracting advertisers. The value of web directories cannot be denied as website owners can benefit from them in more than one effective way. If you are a website owner who is looking into getting listed, it is important for you to be familiar with the types of directories and listings available. Getting yourself listed involves either time or money. Sometimes it involves both. Therefore, it is important for you to know exactly what your website needs in order to minimize opportunity costs.

There are two types of web directories. These include the general and the human edited directories. General directories often make use of broad categories and are generally restricted to them. Human edited directories, on the other hand utilize more specific categories that link to sub-category after sub-category until one is taken to the most specific point. As its name implies, human edited directories have indices built by professional staff and are therefore more trustworthy in terms of information. This, however, also means that being listed by them will cost more than general directories. Internet users prefer human edited directories because they are more often easier to use and are very efficient in terms of directing them to the right information. However, this does not mean to say that general directories are ineffective tools for internet marketing. General directories still serve their purpose of increasing page rankings as they are often used as references by search engines.

Apart from the two types of directories, one must also be familiar with the types of listings available. There are generally six types but some other types have also emerged. The six general types include the following:

1. Free Submission – one must simply fill up a form and prove that the website exists
2. Reciprocal Link – the website to be listed must include a link to the directory
3. Paid Submissions – webmasters must pay and submit necessary documents to be listed in more specific and organized classifications
4. No Follow – listings designed such a way that the entries cannot be tracked by search engines
5. Featured Link – an entry will remain as one of the top results under the category in which it is listed
6. Featured Homepage Link – the website will be given a position in the web directory home page

Nowadays there are Bid for Position listings wherein websites are listed according to the amount they offer the web directories to be listed.