1. Research each directory and categories that will fit your domain/sites. Another reason why manual directory submissions are far much better than automatic blasters or auto submissions is that you need to think through very carefully what categories fit your sites. Disregarding this important research about your site will not save you from millions of unrelated commercial messages (spam) done on your email.



Careful research of your site's category will prompt you to write a concise, accurate description that relates to the directory's description.

2. Determine the best description for your web site in each category. Since manual directory submission is one of the core promotions that you can do for your web site, it's better to hint the webmaster or owner of the directory that you mean serious business and that your keywords and descriptions are the fruits of your careful study of your web site.

If the directory doesn't have your desired specific category it's better to suggest it to the owner of the directory rather than be sorry.

3. Make sure your (USP) unique selling proposition is included in your site's description. Your description should be unique even though it resembles description style of other web sites in your targeted directory. So if you're company has specialties in 3 services, mention those 3 specific services in your description. If your site targets a specific audience, include that as well.

4. Write descriptions of varying lengths and keep it in a .txt file for cut-n-paste submissions. Directories are not similar in the number of characters it accepts so better be prepared submitting the ones they approve. Make sure there are no repeat keywords on the description and don't try to "stuff" it with too many unrelated keywords. Remember that your site is a work of "art" in the eyes of the "human" editors of these directories so appeal to them not to the software-backend of their directory.

5. Whenever budget allows, use the paid or premium listings of a directory. Most free listings are often listed very slow like in after 4 weeks and doesn't have any guarantees, remember since most of the search engines measure link popularity in the quickness your site appears in a given high - pr directory so better invest that kind of money long term on the directories rather than be sorry.

6. Verify your site manually by visiting the directory itself to see your listings. If your site is not yet listed in the given amount of time, it's healthy to resubmit it to the directory let's say an ample wait time of 4 weeks is acceptable and does not appear that you are actually "begging" the directory owner. Keep track of your dates of submissions, categories, descriptions, titles and so on. If your site is not yet listed after so much wait time on it, it's better to contact the directory owner to know and for you to act what stuff your site contains that prohibits them from listing it.

7. Always submit your domain name and not a page. This will limit the directory you can submit to, but it's better to have quality visitors rather than so many that will only consume your bandwidth.