Web crawler

A web crawler is a computer program that browses the World Wide Web in a methodical, automated manner or in an orderly fashion. Other terms for Web crawlers are ants, automatic indexers, bots, Web spiders, Web robots, or—especially in the FOAF community—Web scutters.

This process is called Web crawling or spidering. Many sites, in particular search engines, use spidering as a means of providing up-to-date data. Web crawlers are mainly used to create a copy of all the visited pages for later processing by a search engine that will index the downloaded pages to provide fast searches. Crawlers can also be used for automating maintenance tasks on a Web site, such as checking links or validating HTML code. Also, crawlers can be used to gather specific types of information from Web pages, such as harvesting e-mail addresses (usually for sending spam).

A Web crawler is one type of bot, or software agent. In general, it starts with a list of URLs to visit, called the seeds. As the crawler visits these URLs, it identifies all the hyperlinks in the page and adds them to the list of URLs to visit, called the crawl frontier. URLs from the frontier are recursively visited according to a set of policies.

The large volume implies that the crawler can only download a fraction of the Web pages within a given time, so it needs to prioritize its downloads. The high rate of change implies that the pages might have already been updated or even deleted.

The number of possible crawlable URLs being generated by server-side software has also made it difficult for web crawlers to avoid retrieving duplicate content. Endless combinations of HTTP GET (URL-based) parameters exist, of which only a small selection will actually return unique content. For example, a simple online photo gallery may offer three options to users, as specified through HTTP GET parameters in the URL. If there exist four ways to sort images, three choices of thumbnail size, two file formats, and an option to disable user-provided content, then the same set of content can be accessed with 48 different URLs, all of which may be linked on the site. This mathematical combination creates a problem for crawlers, as they must sort through endless combinations of relatively minor scripted changes in order to retrieve unique content.

As Edwards et al. noted, "Given that the bandwidth for conducting crawls is neither infinite nor free, it is becoming essential to crawl the Web in not only a scalable, but efficient way, if some reasonable measure of quality or freshness is to be maintained." A crawler must carefully choose at each step which pages to visit next.

The behavior of a Web crawler is the outcome of a combination of policies:

• a selection policy that states which pages to download,
• a re-visit policy that states when to check for changes to the pages,
• a politeness policy that states how to avoid overloading Web sites, and
• a parallelization policy that states how to coordinate distributed Web crawlers.

Search engine indexing

Search engine indexing collects, parses, and stores data to facilitate fast and accurate information retrieval. Index design incorporates interdisciplinary concepts from linguistics, cognitive psychology, mathematics, informatics, physics, and computer science. An alternate name for the process in the context of search engines designed to find web pages on the Internet is Web indexing.

Popular engines focus on the full-text indexing of online, natural language documents. Media types such as video and audio and graphics are also searchable.

Meta search engines reuse the indices of other services and do not store a local index, whereas cache-based search engines permanently store the index along with the corpus. Unlike full-text indices, partial-text services restrict the depth indexed to reduce index size. Larger services typically perform indexing at a predetermined time interval due to the required time and processing costs, while agent-based search engines index in real time.

Web search query

A web search query is a query that a user enters into web search engine to satisfy his or her information needs. Web search queries are distinctive in that they are unstructured and often ambiguous; they vary greatly from standard query languages which are governed by strict syntax rules.

Types

There are four broad categories that cover most web search queries:

Informational queries – Queries that cover a broad topic (e.g., colorado or trucks) for which there may be thousands of relevant results.

Navigational queries – Queries that seek a single website or web page of a single entity (e.g., youtube or delta air lines).

Transactional queries – Queries that reflect the intent of the user to perform a particular action, like purchasing a car or downloading a screen saver.

Search engines often support a fourth type of query that is used far less frequently:

Connectivity queries – Queries that report on the connectivity of the indexed web graph (e.g., Which links point to this URL?, and How many pages are indexed from this domain name?).

Characteristics

• The average length of a search query was 2.4 terms.
• About half of the users entered a single query while a little less than a third of users entered three or more unique queries.
• Close to half of the users examined only the first one or two pages of results (10 results per page).
• Less than 5% of users used advanced search features (e.g., Boolean operators like AND, OR, and NOT).
• The top four most frequently used terms were , (empty search), and, of.

Web search engine

A web search engine is designed to search for information on the World Wide Web and FTP servers. The search results are generally presented in a list of results often referred to as SERPS, or "search engine results pages". The information may consist of web pages, images, information and other types of files. Some search engines also mine data available in databases or open directories. Unlike web directories, which are maintained only by human editors, search engines also maintain real-time information by running an algorithm on a web crawler.

How web search engines work

A search engine operates in the following order:

1. Web crawling
2. Indexing
3. Searching

Web search engines work by storing information about many web pages, which they retrieve from the html itself. These pages are retrieved by a Web crawler (sometimes also known as a spider) — an automated Web browser which follows every link on the site. Exclusions can be made by the use of robots.txt. The contents of each page are then analyzed to determine how it should be indexed (for example, words are extracted from the titles, headings, or special fields called meta tags). Data about web pages are stored in an index database for use in later queries. A query can be a single word. The purpose of an index is to allow information to be found as quickly as possible. Some search engines, such as Google, store all or part of the source page (referred to as a cache) as well as information about the web pages, whereas others, such as AltaVista, store every word of every page they find. This cached page always holds the actual search text since it is the one that was actually indexed, so it can be very useful when the content of the current page has been updated and the search terms are no longer in it. This problem might be considered to be a mild form of linkrot, and Google's handling of it increases usability by satisfying user expectations that the search terms will be on the returned webpage. This satisfies the principle of least astonishment since the user normally expects the search terms to be on the returned pages. Increased search relevance makes these cached pages very useful, even beyond the fact that they may contain data that may no longer be available elsewhere.
When a user enters a query into a search engine (typically by using key words), the engine examines its index and provides a listing of best-matching web pages according to its criteria, usually with a short summary containing the document's title and sometimes parts of the text. The index is built from the information stored with the data and the method by which the information is indexed. Unfortunately, there are currently no known public search engines that allow documents to be searched by date. Most search engines support the use of the boolean operators AND, OR and NOT to further specify the search query. Boolean operators are for literal searches that allow the user to refine and extend the terms of the search. The engine looks for the words or phrases exactly as entered. Some search engines provide an advanced feature called proximity search which allows users to define the distance between keywords. There is also concept-based searching where the research involves using statistical analysis on pages containing the words or phrases you search for. As well, natural language queries allow the user to type a question in the same form one would ask it to a human. A site like this would be ask.com.
The usefulness of a search engine depends on the relevance of the result set it gives back. While there may be millions of web pages that include a particular word or phrase, some pages may be more relevant, popular, or authoritative than others. Most search engines employ methods to rank the results to provide the "best" results first. How a search engine decides which pages are the best matches, and what order the results should be shown in, varies widely from one engine to another. The methods also change over time as Internet usage changes and new techniques evolve. There are two main types of search engine that have evolved: one is a system of predefined and hierarchically ordered keywords that humans have programmed extensively. The other is a system that generates an "inverted index" by analyzing texts it locates. This second form relies much more heavily on the computer itself to do the bulk of the work.
Most Web search engines are commercial ventures supported by advertising revenue and, as a result, some employ the practice of allowing advertisers to pay money to have their listings ranked higher in search results. Those search engines which do not accept money for their search engine results make money by running search related ads alongside the regular search engine results. The search engines make money every time someone clicks on one of these ads.

Search engine optimization (SEO)

Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the visibility of a website or a web page in search engines via the "natural" or un-paid ("organic" or "algorithmic") search results. In general, the earlier (or higher ranked on the search results page), and more frequently a site appears in the search results list, the more visitors it will receive from the search engine's users. SEO may target different kinds of search, including image search, local search, video search, academic search, news search and industry-specific vertical search engines.

As an Internet marketing strategy, SEO considers how search engines work, what people search for, the actual search terms typed into search engines and which search engines are preferred by their targeted audience. Optimizing a website may involve editing its content and HTML and associated coding to both increase its relevance to specific keywords and to remove barriers to the indexing activities of search engines. Promoting a site to increase the number of backlinks, or inbound links, is another SEO tactic.

The acronym "SEOs" can refer to "search engine optimizers," a term adopted by an industry of consultants who carry out optimization projects on behalf of clients, and by employees who perform SEO services in-house. Search engine optimizers may offer SEO as a stand-alone service or as a part of a broader marketing campaign. Because effective SEO may require changes to the HTML source code of a site and site content, SEO tactics may be incorporated into website development and design. The term "search engine friendly" may be used to describe website designs, menus, content management systems, images, videos, shopping carts, and other elements that have been optimized for the purpose of search engine exposure.

Methods

Getting indexed, Preventing crawling, Increasing prominence

Image search optimization

Image search optimization is the process of organizing the content of a webpage to increase relevance to a specific keyword on image search engines. Like search engine optimization, the aim is to achieve a higher organic search listing and thus increasing the volume of traffic from search engines.
Image search optimization techniques can be viewed as a subset of search engine optimization techniques that focuses on gaining high ranks on image search engine results.
Unlike normal SEO process, there isn't much to do for ISO. Making high quality images accessible to search engines and providing some description about images is almost all that can be done for ISO. 

As a marketing strategy

SEO is not an appropriate strategy for every website, and other Internet marketing strategies can be more effective, depending on the site operator's goals. A successful Internet marketing campaign may also depend upon building high quality web pages to engage and persuade, setting up analytics programs to enable site owners to measure results, and improving a site's conversion rate.

SEO may generate an adequate return on investment. However, search engines are not paid for organic search traffic, their algorithms change, and there are no guarantees of continued referrals. Due to this lack of guarantees and certainty, a business that relies heavily on search engine traffic can suffer major losses if the search engines stop sending visitors. It is considered wise business practice for website operators to liberate themselves from dependence on search engine traffic. Seomoz.org has suggested that "search marketers, in a twist of irony, receive a very small share of their traffic from search engines." Instead, their main sources of traffic are links from other websites.

International markets

Optimization techniques are highly tuned to the dominant search engines in the target market. The search engines' market shares vary from market to market, as does competition. In 2003, Danny Sullivan stated that Google represented about 75% of all searches.[49] In markets outside the United States, Google's share is often larger, and Google remains the dominant search engine worldwide as of 2007. As of 2006, Google had an 85-90% market share in Germany. While there were hundreds of SEO firms in the US at that time, there were only about five in Germany. As of June 2008, the marketshare of Google in the UK was close to 90% according to Hitwise. That market share is achieved in a number of countries.

As of 2009, there are only a few large markets where Google is not the leading search engine. In most cases, when Google is not leading in a given market, it is lagging behind a local player. The most notable markets where this is the case are China, Japan, South Korea, Russia and the Czech Republic where respectively Baidu, Yahoo! Japan, Naver, Yandex and Seznam are market leaders.
Successful search optimization for international markets may require professional translation of web pages, registration of a domain name with a top level domain in the target market, and web hosting that provides a local IP address. Otherwise, the fundamental elements of search optimization are essentially the same, regardless of language.

nofollow

nofollow is a value that can be assigned to the rel attribute of an HTML a element to instruct some search engines that a hyperlink should not influence the link target's ranking in the search engine's index. It is intended to reduce the effectiveness of certain types of search engine spam, thereby improving the quality of search engine results and preventing spamdexing from occurring.

Example:
<a href="http://www.example.com/" rel="nofollow">Link text</a>

Control internal PageRank flow

Search engine optimization professionals started using the nofollow attribute to control the flow of PageRank within a website, but Google since corrected this error, and any link with a nofollow attribute decreases the PageRank that the page can pass on. This practice is known as "PageRank sculpting". This is an entirely different use than originally intended. nofollow was designed to control the flow of PageRank from one website to another. However, some SEOs have suggested that a nofollow used for an internal link should work just like nofollow used for external links.

Several SEOs have suggested that pages such as "About Us", "Terms of Service", "Contact Us", and "Privacy Policy" pages are not important enough to earn PageRank, and so should have nofollow on internal links pointing to them. Google employee Matt Cutts has provided indirect responses on the subject, but has never publicly endorsed this point of view.

The practice is controversial and has been challenged by some SEO professionals, including Shari Thurow and Adam Audette. Site search proponents have pointed out that visitors do search for these types of pages, so using nofollow on internal links pointing to them may make it difficult or impossible for visitors to find these pages in site searches powered by major search engines.
Although proponents of use of nofollow on internal links have cited an inappropriate attribution to Matt Cutts as support for using the technique, Cutts himself never actually endorsed the idea. Several Google employees (including Matt Cutts) have urged Webmasters not to focus on manipulating internal PageRank. Google employee Adam Lasnik has advised webmasters that there are better ways (e.g. click hierarchy) than nofollow to "sculpt a bit of PageRank", but that it is available and "we're not going to frown upon it".
No reliable data has been published on the effectiveness or potential harm that use of nofollow on internal links may provide. Unsubstantiated claims have been challenged throughout the debate and some early proponents of the idea have subsequently cautioned people not to view the use of nofollow on internal links as a silver bullet or quick-success solution.
More general consensus seems to favor the use of nofollow on internal links pointing to user-controlled pages which may be subjected to spam link practices, including user profile pages, user comments, forum signatures and posts, calendar entries, etc.
YouTube, a Google company, uses nofollow on a number of internal 'help' and 'share' links

Affiliate marketing

Where the directory earns commission for referred customers from the listed websites

Affiliate marketing is a marketing practice in which a business rewards one or more affiliates for each visitor or customer brought about by the affiliate's own marketing efforts. Examples include rewards sites, where users are rewarded with cash or gifts, for the completion of an offer, and the referral of others to the site. The industry has four core players: the merchant (also known as 'retailer' or 'brand'), the network (that contains offers for the affiliate to choose from and also takes care of the payments), the publisher (also known as 'the affiliate'), and the customer. The market has grown in complexity to warrant a secondary tier of players, including affiliate management agencies, super-affiliates and specialized third party vendors.
Affiliate marketing overlaps with other Internet marketing methods to some degree, because affiliates often use regular advertising methods. Those methods include organic search engine optimization (SEO), paid search engine marketing (PPC - Pay Per Click), e-mail marketing, and in some sense display advertising. On the other hand, affiliates sometimes use less orthodox techniques, such as publishing reviews of products or services offered by a partner.
Affiliate marketing—using one website to drive traffic to another—is a form of online marketing, which is frequently overlooked by advertisers. While search engines, e-mail, and website syndication capture much of the attention of online retailers, affiliate marketing carries a much lower profile. Still, affiliates continue to play a significant role in e-retailers' marketing strategies

Folder (computing)

Historically, and even on some modern embedded devices, the file systems either have no support for folders at all or only have a flat directory structure, meaning subfolders are not allowed; there is only a group of top-level folders each containing files. The first popular fully general hierarchical file system was that of Multics. This type of file system was an early research interest of Dennis Ritchie.
Most modern Unix-like systems, especially Linux, have a standard folder structure defined by the Filesystem Hierarchy Standard.
In many operating systems, programs have an associated working directory in which they execute. Typically file names accessed by the program are assumed to reside within this folder if the file names are not specified with an explicit folder name.

Some operating systems restrict a user's access to only their home directory or project folder, thus isolating their activities from all other users.
Unix systems treat folders as a type of file.

Sample folder icon (KDE) The name folder, presenting an analogy to the file folder used in offices, and used originally by Apple Lisa, is used in almost all modern operating systems' desktop environments. Folders are often depicted with icons which visually resemble physical file folders.
Strictly speaking, there is a difference between a directory which is a file system concept, and the graphical user interface metaphor that is used to represent it (a folder). For example, Microsoft Windows uses the concept of special folders to help present the contents of the computer to the user in a fairly consistent way that frees the user from having to deal with absolute directory paths, which can vary between versions of Windows, and between individual installations.
If one is referring to a container of documents, the term folder is more appropriate. The term directory refers to the way a structured list of document files and folders is stored on the computer. It is comparable to a telephone directory that contains lists of names, numbers and addresses and does not contain the actual documents themselves.

Directory (databases)

Generally, a directory, as used in computing and telephony, refers to a repository or database of information which is heavily optimized for reading, under the assumption that data updates are very rare compared to data reads. Commonly, a directory supports search and browsing in addition to simple lookups.
A website which offer access to a categorized listing of other websites optimized for lookup, search, or browsing is a directory, a web directory. The Open Directory Project is an example of a web directory.
Directory technology is often used in white page applications and network information services.
WHOIS is a prominent example of directory service providing white pages.

The Domain Name System (DNS) is a prominent example of directory service providing a network information service. DNS is also an example of a distributed hierarchical directory service that only has simple lookup capabilities.

The X.500 and LDAP directory services are examples of general-purpose distributed hierarchical object-oriented directory technologies. Both offer complex searching and browsing capabilities and are used for white pages, network information services, public key infrastructure, and a wide range of other applications.

Directory service

A directory service is the software system that stores, organizes and provides access to information in a directory. In software engineering, a directory is a map between names and values. It allows the lookup of values given a name, similar to a dictionary. As a word in a dictionary may have multiple definitions, in a directory, a name may be associated with multiple, different pieces of information. Likewise, as a word may have different parts of speech and different definitions, a name in a directory may have many different types of data.

Directories may be very narrow in scope, supporting only a small set of node types and data types, or they may be very broad, supporting an arbitrary or extensible set of types. In a telephone directory, the nodes are names and the data items are telephone numbers. In the DNS the nodes are domain names and the data items are IP addresses (and alias, mail server names, etc.). In a directory used by a network operating system, the nodes represent resources that are managed by the OS, including users, computers, printers and other shared resources. Many different directory services have been used since the advent of the Internet but this article focuses mainly on those that have descended from the X.500 directory service.


Comparison with relational databases

There are a number of things that distinguish a traditional directory service from a typical relational database. Of course there are exceptions, but in general:

• directory information is read more often than it is written; this makes features related to transactions and rollback less important.
• data can be redundant if it helps performance.

Directory schemas are defined as object classes, attributes, name bindings and knowledge (namespaces), where an object class has:

• Must - attributes that each of its instances must have
• May - attributes that can be defined for an instance, but can be omitted with the absence treated somewhat like NULL in a relational database
• Attributes are sometimes multi-valued allowing multiple naming attributes at one level such as machine type and serial number concatenated or multiple phone numbers for "work phone".
• Attributes and object classes are standardized throughout the industry and formally registered with the IANA for their object ID. Therefore directory applications seek to reuse much of the standard classes and attributes to maximize the benefit of existing directory server software.
• Object instances are slotted into namespaces. That is, each object class inherits from its parent object class (and ultimately from the root of the hierarchy) adding attributes to the must/may list.
• Directory services are often a central component in the security design of an IT system and have a correspondingly fine granularity regarding access control: who may operate in which manner on what information

Political Directory

A Directorial Republic is a country ruled by a College of several people which jointly exercise the powers of Head of State. This system of government is in contrast both with presidential republics and parliamentary republics. In political history, the term Directory, in French Directoire, applies to high collegial institutions of state composed of members styled director. The most important of these by far was the Directory of 1795–1799 in France. This form of government was also established in the European regions conquered by France during the French Revolutionary Wars.

In modern times, the sole country using this form of government is Switzerland, where directories rule all levels of administration, federal, cantonal and municipal. The Swiss Federal Council is elected by the Parliament for four years (members can't be dismissed); direct popular elections are used at local level. In past, Uruguay, Yugoslavia (after Tito's death), Ukraine, and other countries were ruled by directories. The government of the Soviet Union could in some ways be characterized as a directory, but developed in a much different pattern discussed in the article on Communist states.

French Directory

The Directory (French: Directoire exécutif) was a body of five Directors that held executive power in France following the Convention and preceding the Consulate. The period of this regime (2 November 1795 until 10 November 1799), commonly known as the Directory (or Directoire) era, constitutes the second to last stage of the French Revolution.
The Directory era itself is further split into two eras, the First Directory and the Second Directory, divided by the Coup of 18 Fructidor.
The directory system of government was also used in several French client republics and modern Switzerland.

Telephone directory

A telephone directory (also called a telephone book, phone book and white/yellow pages) is a listing of telephone subscribers in a geographical area or subscribers to services provided by the organization that publishes the directory. Its purpose is to allow the telephone number of a subscriber identified by name and address to be found.

Publication

Telephone directories can be published in hard copy or in electronic form. In the latter case, the directory can be provided as an online service through proprietary terminals or over the Internet, or on physical media such as CD-ROM. In many countries directories are both published in book for and also available over the Internet. Printed directories were usually supplied free of charge before online access was available; more recently there is often a charge,[citation needed] although subscribers are not obliged to buy a printed directory.
In France, the Minitel videotex system originated as an attempt by France Télécom to rid itself of its paper publishing costs by renting a Minitel terminal to all telephone users. However, France Télécom continues to give hard copies to its subscribers.
In Switzerland, most pay phones are now accompanied with electronic telephone directory terminals instead of paper directories,[citation needed] and phone users are charged for each search.

Should You List Your Business in a Business Directory?

Why You Need to List Your Company with a Business Directory


Remember the days when you looked in the yellow pages for businesses or services you needed? For many people, those days are still here. Advertising your company in the yellow pages or in other local business directories is good for business. However, there has been a shift taking place in recent years to business directories that are based online. If your company is not listed on one or more of these business directories, you could be losing valuable customers and dooming your business to obscurity.

Listing your business with a business directory is easy and convenient. (You can find a list of possible directories and places to start following the article.) You simply select one or more business directories and sign up to advertise with them. The site will direct you as to the appropriate steps you need to take, and in exchange, you get a listing that allows your business to receive visibility. You can even customize and personalize your ad space with graphics and added features. In order for business directory listings to be visible - which translates into more customers - it has to stand out. Online business directories can help you do this.

It is easy and convenient. Why else should you consider listing your company in a business directory? Take a look at the benefits for your business:


    * It provides exposure. This means more customers. People will not buy your products or use your services if they don't know who you are. It's that simple. Your business directory listing will contain important business information that customers are interested in.



    * There is intense competition for most goods and services, and making a profit can be challenging. Being listed in a business directory is a good way to get your name out there. People overwhelmingly use search engines and business directories for help in selecting products. Yours needs to be listed in order for you to have a chance for success.



    * The cost of running a business is high; advertising costs are high. Listing with an online business directory is a good, inexpensive way to gain exposure for your company. Often the cost is less than that of advertising in the traditional paper yellow pages.



    * With traditional paper business directories, once they are printed, corrections, changes, and additions cannot be made until the new edition is released. With online business directories, you can make these important changes any time you need to.



    * You can list your business in industry-specific business directories. For example, if you run a financial consulting business, you can list in directories designed for financial businesses. This allows customers to further narrow down their searches and allows your company to have more prominent placing.


There are also benefits to listing your company in a business directory that have to do with the medium itself, the internet. These are benefits that no paper business directory, no matter how effective or used, can offer.


    * First, more than seventy percent of Americans use the internet to conduct searches for businesses. The Yellow Pages.com network alone handles about 100 million business-related searches per month. The internet is ubiquitous - people can access it at home, at school, wirelessly, and on their phones. The chances of having internet access when you need to look up business listings are greater than having a phone book around; this is why internet business directories can be so effective.



    * People use the internet for local searches in increasing numbers. More than 640 local searches are done on the internet each second, making local business directories a great place to advertise your company.



    * Depending on the business directory or directories you subscribe to, you may be able to get optimization services. This means that your listing will be enhanced to contain specific keywords that draw better search engine rankings.



    * Better search rankings draw more customers to your site. This also benefits your company by generating ad revenue for you.



    * Good search engine rankings ensure your company will have increased visibility and traffic. Rank is determined by the number of inbound links to a site. An online business directory lets business owners get these links. The more business directories your business is submitted to, the more inbound links it has. This increases page rankings.



    * If you list on a business directory, your site will get picked up by search engines more often.


All of these factors draw visitors to your sites. Visitors often turn into paying customers. According to YellowPages.com, fifty-five percent of YellowPage.com users purchase from merchants they find there.

Is a paper business directory, such as the traditional Yellow Pages, good enough for your business? Here are some reasons why they may not be:


    * Traditional business directories have pages and pages of ads (especially for topics like restaurants and attorneys). People get tired of flipping through endless pages looking for something to stand out. Internet business directories allow users to access the information they need more quickly.



    * Traditional business directories also have to charge for printing and distribution costs. This is unnecessary online, meaning less cost to you. Online directories are also more flexible.



    * People can now search local online business directories, so your business will be noticed, even if it is regional and small.


Listing your company's goods or services on an online business directory is a sound move. It provides numerous benefits for a reasonable cost. Once you've made the decision to join one or more business directories, there are a few things you should do to make sure it is working for you.


    * Take between 20 - 50% of your paper business directory budget and apply it to online advertising. The use of internet searches is only going to rise, while the paper business directories will continue to decline.



    * For some business directories, your business doesn't need its own website. You can use the directory listing as a site. This, however, won't generate the most traffic for you. Make sure you have a good website for customers to visit. Offer information about your business and your products or services.



    * Keep track of your visits with an online tracking site (such as sitemeter.com). This way you can determine where best to put your business's advertising money and if the business directories are effective.

The business world is fiercely competitive. Don't let the company you've worked so hard to build be left behind. Business directories benefit small, local companies as well as large, international companies. The important thing is that you get your name out there so customers know they can turn to your business. Online business directories are an inexpensive, effective way to maintain your business's standing.

Business directory

A Business directory is a website or print media listing of information which lists all businesses within some category. Businesses can be categorized by business, location, activity, or size. Business may be compiled either manually or through an automated online search software.

The details provided in a business directory will vary. They may include the business name, addresses, telephone numbers, location, type of service or products the business provides, number of employees, the service region and any professional associations. Some directories include a section for user reviews, comments, and feedback. Business directories in the past would take a printed format but have recently been upgraded to websites due to the advent of the internet.

Many business directories offer complimentary listings in addition to the premium options. There are many business directories and some of these have moved over to the internet and away from printed format. Whilst not being search engines, business directories often have a search facility.

Online Business Directories can receive bad press, and they vary in quality and content. There is a balance between professional advertising, value for money and quality of service. Business owners are looking for ROI, web traffic, exposure for their business, plus SEO benefits of backlinks.

Trade directory

A trade directory is a collection of suppliers and manufacturers. This directory includes the businesses name, address, phone number(s) and contact name(s) of key people within the organization. Trade directories can come in a variety of formats and can be focused on a particular industry, geographical region or a specific product.

Purpose

The advantage of using a trade directory is that a purchaser can review hundreds or thousands of suppliers efficiently and in a timely manner. This is especially beneficial in commodity based industries where companies are competing on the basis of cost.
However, trade directories are not necessarily up-to-date, and may omit businesses or other information.

Web directory

A web directory or link directory is a directory on the World Wide Web. It specializes in linking to other web sites and categorizing those links.
A web directory is not a search engine and does not display lists of web pages based on keywords; instead, it lists web sites by category and subcategory. Most web directory entries are also not found by web crawlers but by humans. The categorization is usually based on the whole web site rather than one page or a set of keywords, and sites are often limited to inclusion in only a few categories. Web directories often allow site owners to submit their site for inclusion, and have editors review submissions for fitness.
RSS directories are similar to web directories, but contain collections of RSS feeds, instead of links to web sites.

Directories have various features in listing, often depend upon the price paid for inclusion:

• Free submission – there is no charge for the review and listing of the site
• Reciprocal link – a link back to the directory must be added somewhere on the submitted site in order to get listed in the directory
• No Reciprocal link — a web directory where you will submit your links for free and no need to add link back to your website.
• Paid submission – a one-time or recurring fee is charged for reviewing/listing the submitted link
• No follow – there is a rel="nofollow" attribute associated with the link, meaning search engines will give no weight to the link.
• Featured listing – the link is given a premium position in a category (or multiple categories) or other sections of the directory, such as the homepage. Sometimes called sponsored listing.
• Bid for position – where sites are ordered based on bids
• Affiliate links – where the directory earns commission for referred customers from the listed websites

You should know about DIRECTORIES

1. Not all directories are created equal.
2. A link to your Web site in a reputable directory can have a positive effect on ranking in search engines.
3. One good directory to be in is Best of the Web.

The best way to naturally build links is with quality, relevant content. But how do we get the initial visibility for our quality content?
Listing in a high quality directory is a good place to start. Directory listings may not offer much traffic these days, but they can help get your site indexed by search engines and build some trust.
It's important to remember that not all directories are equal. Some are great, some are are junk, and some are in between. Google is known to trust some directories more than others. Usually the ones with human editors, that charge a fee and don't accept just any submission.

Are these directory links worth it?

Trust is a big factor with Google and other search engines these days. Directories that impose strict editorial control and don't accept just anyone boost the trust factor in Google's eyes. It makes that directory and the link to your site, a trusted link ... this is a big deal.
If you're a spammer, you're unlikely to spend hundreds of dollars to try to list your site in quality directories, only to be rejected. Therefore, if you are considered to be a serious, quality Webmaster, and able to get listings in quality directories, Google recognizes that.

Directory refer

Directory may refer to:

• Directory (file systems), or folder, a file system structure in which to store computer files
• Directory (databases), stored information about a database
• Directory service, a software application for organizing information about a computer network's users and resources
• Directory (political), a small group of influential states that is said to 'direct' the agenda
  
  * French Directory, the government in revolutionary France from 1795 to 1799
• Telephone directory, a book which allows telephone numbers to be found given the subscriber's name
• Trade directory, a listing of information about suppliers and manufacturers
• Web directory, an organized collection of links to websites

Business Directory Advertising

Advertising FAQ's: A Guide for Small Business
What truth-in-advertising rules apply to advertisers?

Under the Federal Trade Commission Act:

    * Advertising must be truthful and non-deceptive;
    * Advertisers must have evidence to back up their claims;
    * Advertisements cannot be unfair.

Additional laws apply to ads for specialized products like consumer leases, credit, 900 telephone numbers, and products sold through mail order or telephone sales. And every state has consumer protection laws that govern ads running in that state.
What makes an advertisement deceptive?

According to the FTC's Deception Policy Statement, an ad is deceptive if it contains a statement - or omits information - that:

    * Is likely to mislead consumers acting reasonably under the circumstances;
    * Is "material" - that is, important to a consumer's decision to buy or use the product.

What makes an advertisement unfair?

According to the Federal Trade Commission Act and the FTC's Unfairness Policy Statement, an ad or business practice is unfair if:

    * it causes or is likely to cause substantial consumer injury which a consumer could not reasonably avoid;
    * it is not outweighed by the benefit to consumers.

Categories of Business Directory

Accountants
Advertising
Air Conditioning
Amusements 
Animal Hospital 
Answering Services 
Antiques 
Apartments 
Appliances 
Associations 
Attorneys 
Automobile 
Awards
Awnings & Canopies
Balloons, Novelty & Toy 
Banks 
Banquet Facilities 
Barbers 
Beauty Products 
Beauty Salons 
Bed & Breakfast 
Bicycles 
Body Shops/Garages 
Books 
Bridal Shops 
Business Consultants 
Campgrounds 
Candy 
Candy Making Supplies 
Caterers 
Child Care 
Chiropractors 
Clubs 
Computers 
Contractors 
Credit Unions  Dance 
Day Care 
Decks/Roofs 
Dentists 
Disc Jockeys 
Entertainers
Entertainment / Media
Family Services
Farms
Fence Contractors 
Financial Services 
Florists 
Funeral Directors 
Furniture 
Fuel Savers 
Garages/Body Shops 
Gift Shops 
Golf Courses 
Graphic Designs 
Guide Service/Hunting 
Hardware 
Hotels & Motels 
Hunting/Guide Service 
Insurance
Investment Services 
Jewelers 
Landscaping 
Lawyers 
Lawyer Referral Service 
Lounges/Taverns 
Magicians 
Manufactured Homes 
Mini Barns 
Mobile Homes 
Motels & Hotels 
Musicans 
Non-Profit 
Office Supply 
Party Supplies 
Pet Grooming 
Pharmacy 
Photographers 
Physicians 
Pizza 
Plumbing & Heating 
Printers 
Real Estate / Realtors
Recreation 
Rental Services 
Restaurants 
Retail 
Signs 
Special Events 
Sporting Goods 
Sports 
Storage Units
Taverns/Lounges
Taxidermy 
Taxis 
Television 
Theatres 
Toys 
Travel 
Trucks 
Schools - Universities & Colleges - Academic 
Veterans Groups 
Video Productions 
Website Design/Hosting 
Wedding Supplies & Services

If your particular category is not listed, we will add it for you.

Benefits of Business Directory

Increased Publicity

Listing your business in a business directory results in a good amount of publicity. From people visiting the business directories from the directories themselves or via search engines. This is an excellent form of marketing and of spreading information about your business.

Gaining the Edge over Competition

So as to surpass your competitors, you can make use of business directories to increase exposure on your business and its products. As a result of this you can easily increase your profit.

Cost Effective

Listing on a business directory is very cost effective . It is free for many directories or carries a small fee in some directories. It is a very inexpensive form of marketing.

Easily Change Information

You can easily change information in a business directory to reflect changes in your business. New offices, new products or even introduce a new website. This is very profitable as opposed to for print business directories.

Search Engines

Placing your business in a business directory allows you to be easily found by search engines and by people searching for information online . Search engines are used by many people in looking for information online.

This placement is also very useful in that it results in more traffic to your site. Which results in more visitors being converted so that they can buy your product or make use of your service. Furthermore, it also increases your search engine rankings.

Online Business Directory

Remember the days when you looked in the yellow pages for businesses or services you needed? For many people, those days are still here. Advertising your company in the yellow pages or in other local business directories is good for business. However, there has been a shift taking place in recent years to business directories that are based online. If your company is not listed on one or more of these business directories, you could be losing valuable customers and dooming your business to obscurity.

Listing your business with a business directory is easy and convenient. You simply select one or more business directories and sign up to advertise with them. The site will direct you as to the appropriate steps you need to take, and in exchange, you get a listing that allows your business to receive visibility. You can even customize and personalize your ad space with graphics and added features. In order for business directory listings to be visible - which translates into more customers - it has to stand out. Online business directories can help you do this.

It is easy and convenient. Why else should you consider listing your company in a business directory? Take a look at the benefits for your business:

• It provides exposure. This means more customers. People will not buy your products or use your services if they don't know who you are. It's that simple. Your business directory listing will contain important business information that customers are interested in.

• There is intense competition for most goods and services, and making a profit can be challenging. Being listed in a business directory is a good way to get your name out there. People overwhelmingly use search engines and business directories for help in selecting products. Yours needs to be listed in order for you to have a chance for success.

• The cost of running a business is high; advertising costs are high. Listing with an online business directory is a good, inexpensive way to gain exposure for your company. Often the cost is less than that of advertising in the traditional paper yellow pages.

• With traditional paper business directories, once they are printed, corrections, changes, and additions cannot be made until the new edition is released. With online business directories, you can make these important changes any time you need to.

• You can list your business in industry-specific business directories. For example, if you run a financial consulting business, you can list in directories designed for financial businesses. This allows customers to further narrow down their searches and allows your company to have more prominent placing.

There are also benefits to listing your company in a business directory that have to do with the medium itself, the internet. These are benefits that no paper business directory, no matter how effective or used, can offer.

• First, more than seventy percent of Americans use the internet to conduct searches for businesses. The Yellow Pages.com network alone handles about 100 million business-related searches per month. The internet is ubiquitous - people can access it at home, at school, wirelessly, and on their phones. The chances of having internet access when you need to look up business listings are greater than having a phone book around; this is why internet business directories can be so effective.

• People use the internet for local searches in increasing numbers. More than 640 local searches are done on the internet each second, making local business directories a great place to advertise your company.

• Depending on the business directory or directories you subscribe to, you may be able to get optimization services. This means that your listing will be enhanced to contain specific keywords that draw better search engine rankings.

• Better search rankings draw more customers to your site. This also benefits your company by generating ad revenue for you.

• Good search engine rankings ensure your company will have increased visibility and traffic. Rank is determined by the number of inbound links to a site. An online business directory lets business owners get these links. The more business directories your business is submitted to, the more inbound links it has. This increases page rankings.

• If you list on a business directory, your site will get picked up by search engines more often.

All of these factors draw visitors to your sites. Visitors often turn into paying customers. According to YellowPages.com, fifty-five percent of YellowPage.com users purchase from merchants they find there.

Is a paper business directory, such as the traditional Yellow Pages, good enough for your business? Here are some reasons why they may not be:

• Traditional business directories have pages and pages of ads (especially for topics like restaurants and attorneys). People get tired of flipping through endless pages looking for something to stand out. Internet business directories allow users to access the information they need more quickly.

• Traditional business directories also have to charge for printing and distribution costs. This is unnecessary online, meaning less cost to you. Online directories are also more flexible.

• People can now search local online business directories, so your business will be noticed, even if it is regional and small.

Listing your company's goods or services on an online business directory is a sound move. It provides numerous benefits for a reasonable cost. Once you've made the decision to join one or more business directories, there are a few things you should do to make sure it is working for you.