If you are an internet business owner then you are already aware of the importance of SEO, or search engine optimization. SEO is comprised of many different tasks such as link building, article marketing, and keyword placement. But there's one other SEO tactic that you may not have thought of yet, and that's directory submission.

A directory is simply a listing of websites broken down by category and subcategory. If a user wants to learn more about a particular subject—let's use fly fishing as an example—he simply finds a directory and searches for the term “fly fishing.” He is immediately shown a listing of websites related to fly fishing, as well as other categories that he can search to narrow down his results. If you are a business owner, you simply submit your site to the directory and wait for it to be listed. Then the next person who searches for the term “fly fishing” will be directed to your site!

There are two great advantages to using directories. The first is that directory submissions help build your inbound links. Search engines value one-way links over reciprocal links, so directory submissions will increase your search engine ranking simply by providing you with one-way links. The second advantage is that you get targeted traffic to your site. If a person has found you in a directory, then you can be certain that he was searching for information related specifically to your product or service. Take advantage of directory listings by following these keys:

1. Free or paid directories? While you should definitely take advantage of free directories, you might find that some paid directories are good investments as well. Paid directories will get your site listed more quickly than free directories, and those listings will probably last longer on paid directories than on free directories. So choose some of each to maximize your potential.

2. Niche or general directories? Niche directories are those that are related specifically to your product or service. They guarantee targeted traffic and can help you build up great inbound links if other people find your information valuable. You can find directories related to your market niche with a simple internet search. General directories are also a good investment because many of them have typically been around longer than most niche directories. Search engines reward inbound links from older, more well-established websites, so be sure you submit your site to some general directories that have been around for awhile. Your best bet is to submit to both niche directories and general directories.

3. Take your time. Search engines reward natural link-building with higher search engine rankings, which means that it's imperative for you to take your time when submitting to directories. If you add your URL to a hundred directories in one day, search engines will penalize you for not building links naturally. However, if you submit to several directories two or three times per month, your link-building will appear natural and will be rewarded by search engines.

Directory submission is no doubt one of the best and simplest ways to increase your search engine rank and drive traffic to your site. The major drawback is that directory submission can be a tedious and time-consuming process. Each directory has its own guidelines for submission, as well as a human editor. If your submission does not follow the guidelines, your site will be rejected. If your disregard for the guidelines is egregious, you may never be able to list your site with that directory.

One option is to consult with an SEO expert or internet marketing agency. An internet marketing professional can not only help you decide which directories are most appropriate for your website and take care of your submissions on your behalf, but he can also help you determine how to integrate directory submissions into your overall marketing strategy.