How To Build Your Search Engine Ranking Using Website Directories

If your goal in building your online business is to generate lots of organic search engine traffic, then it goes without saying that getting your website to rank well in the search engines is crucial. In order to get your website to rank well -- whether it be an affiliate review style site, an information site, or simply a conventional blog -- you must create a strong network of authoritative backlinks which serve as the foundation of your website's credibility with the search engines. This is one of the key basics of offline search engine optimization (SEO).

A common question is whether or not it is necessary to submit your website to online directories to establish that foundation. The short answer is yes; particularly when you first launch your website or blog, submitting your website to online directories is an important and effective way to begin building backlinks. What follows is a brief overview of the process.

Directory submissions should be done methodically over a period of time -- this is generally more effective than a single mass submission because it is more natural, which matters in the eyes of the search engines. In addition, assuming you are not going to pay for your directory listing, it can often take 90 days or more before your back links begin to appear. So it is important to get started building your backlinks early and often.

With most directories, you will only be able to submit your home page and you can only submit your website once. Take the time to change up your keywords and title so that not all of your directory submissions are the same. Target 3 or 4 keyword phrases and use those in your website directory listing title (your website name), rotating the keyword phrases from directory to directory. When you do this, you enhance the likelihood of your site being categorized by the search engines for more than one keyword out of the gate.

The value of listing with a directory is twofold. Firstly you have more opportunity to get the search engines to notice you, especially when you have an authoritative link from a high page rank website. Secondly, it helps the search engines sort out what your website is about based on the category under which you are listed in the directory... which can matter if your website is new and doesn't yet have very many pages or content posts.

There are literally thousands of online directories, so it is important to realize that not all directories are created equal. A website's page rank is a reflection of its authoritativeness in the eyes of Google. A link back from a high page rank site, let's say a PR 6 as an example, carries much more weight in terms of the implied authority of your website than a back-link from a low page rank site.

Focus your attention over the first month or so on submitting to higher page rank directories -- page rank 4 and up. Ideally, you will submit to between 200 and 300 directories over your first month, so take the time to find those higher page rank directories and manually submit to them.

The idea of submitting to 200 or 300 directories over your first month may sound like a lot of work. In some ways it is, although it is more tedious than difficult. An hour a day, a couple of times a week will get you there.

Directory submissions are a key part of building your website relevance in the eyes of the search engines. To learn more about how to effectively use website directory submissions, or if you just don't want to do the work yourself and would rather outsource the process very inexpensively, click this link now: www.platinuminternettraining.com/website-directory-submissions-and-your-off-page-seo/

Article Source: http://www.marketingarticlelibrary.com

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