Directory Submissions – Two Important Lessons From The Coalface
At times it’s really interesting what you see when you provide services to help people promote their online presence… I’ve been doing it for years by allowing people to freely submit their business listings to my longstanding directory websites.
And I do it because these user submissions generate new content for me on a regular (daily) basis… which means Google visits often… and I end up with literally thousands of pages driving search engine traffic for all sorts of keywords.
But… the two main problems I have (apart from spammy and inappropriate “adult” listings) with these user submissions to my directories are:
Keeping It Too Simple Stupid
Sometimes people just do NOT use enough words to describe their business and “entice” viewers to click through to their website.
For example, a recent submission by a graphic design simply had “Website and Graphic Designs” as their site description.
Now while some might argue that this follows the K.I.S.S. rule… and could stand out because of it’s “simplicity”… I would have to say that it is lazy and shows no creativity on the part of the design firm to attract new business – and that’s perhaps something I personally do NOT want from a graphic designer 
Another “big name” Aussie mortgage company just listed their website, and just used the solitary word “Finance” in the listing description for their website. Now while they might be chasing some SEO benefit from that singular keyword… it does little to encourage the average person/consumer to do anything!
Your lesson here Grasshopper is…
Where you have the opportunity to “describe” your business in a directory listing, please do so!
Blowing Your Own Trumpet
But when you craft your descriptions, be very aware of the second major problem you can easily succumb to…
And that’s making “we” errors in your business description.
In other words, where the emphasis is all about YOU, and how good YOUR company is, and what YOU can do for people…
Instead of what you can do for ME to address MY problems! i.e.
“We develop quality, easy to navigate, visitor friendly websites at an extremely competitive price.”
could easily be re-written as
“Do you want a quality, easy to navigate, visitor friendly website for an extremely competitive price?”
Almost the same words, except the emphasis has shifted back to the reader.
Remember – the person reading your info wants to easily work out how it will benefit THEM… so make it easy for them to see that, or they will simply look at the next listing.
And finally… a “bonus” problem for you to avoid…
Please try to make sure you pick the most approriate category for your website when submitting them to directories.
If you pick an inappropriate category, then the chances are your listing will be deleted without any notification
Good luck with your directory submissions! They may be a pain to do, but are worthwhile in the long run!
Stephen Spry runs several well established directories for Australian websites, Small Business, Employment websites, and Latest Sites where you can submit your (site-appropriate) website listings for free. You can also easily EDIT your listings at any of these sites.
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