Lately I have been submitting websites to many free directories. Here are some things you may want to consider, regarding directories:

1. Finding the category: Most of the directories have main categories, and sub-categories. The best way is to have the most general categories as your main categories, and than the most used ones as sub-categories. Preferably sorted alphabetically, so you don’t have to search half an hour to find the best category for your website.

2. Design: A clear and nice design will always attract the users. Don’t fill it up with banners, ads and popups.

3. Submit button: Make it visible, and don’t hide it through ads (I’ve seen it on many directories). If you’re trying to fool the user, you will only loose a possible submitter. Also, when a user navigates to a category, and hits the submit button, it would be nice that when he inputs his data, the category to be already selected.

4. Make it simple: Don’t ask for a lot of unnecessary information, and don’t make the user read & agree many terms and conditions. It will piss the use off, and just search for another directory.

5. No registration: Many users don’t have time to register on all the directories, they just want to submit their website, and that’s it. No need to create an account just for that.

6. Free or paid: Specify very clearly from your first page if the user has to pay for the submission, or not. It happened to me to input all the data, and after that being redirected to a page where I had to pay. Since I was looking only for free submissions, I didn’t enjoy loosing my time for nothing.

7. Send the feedback: Always send the user a email, to let them know if their submission was approved, or not. If not, tell them the reason why it was not approved.

8. Don’t act greedy: If it's a free submission, don't tell the user it will have to wait 2 months until his submission will be approved. He will just think you’re only looking for paid listings, and you don’t care about free submissions.

9. Help the user: If you own multiple directories, or you have partnerships with other directories, you can send an email after a user submits his site to your directory, and suggest other directories too.

I think these are the main facts that make a directory good, and user-friendly.

Here is also a list with Top5 directories I found, that I recommend you:

Haabaa Website Directory – They offer both free & paid submissions. It is very easy to navigate and also has a step-by-step submission guide that helps new users

Wura UK web directory – Has a nice index, and friendly design

CANLink Directories – Good for Canadian and Worldwide Links. The submission process is very easy.

WoW Website Directory - World's Largest Website Directory – They offer paid submissions. It has a good PR, and looks very nice. So if you have an advertising budget, you might consider submitting your website to them.

Google Directory – It’s clean and simple, and is based on the dmoz open directory project

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Excellent tips and remarkable thoughts.

Great tips, but in the 21st century with all these spambots it's best to let users register though otherwise you'll see thousands of spam links being submitted by bots daily ;)

Greetz

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You can use manual approval for links, and use a smart filter that distinguishes spam links from normal links :)

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thank you . good tips. to be of help

I think these days niche directories become handier than ever for someone who wants to promote a business through an industry-related channel...