| Niche web directories are a great way for | | | | |
| small online business owners to list their | | | | Partners and Competitors |
| information in a place where others in the | | | | |
| industry and potential customers can easily | | | | Because niche web directories are based |
| find them. Directories group sites that are | | | | around themes or industries, the editors are |
| all related to one theme or subject. What | | | | usually experts in the chosen theme. This |
| niche web directories would best suit your | | | | helps them to choose neighbor listings that |
| business? | | | | are relevant and high quality, minimizing |
| | | | spam entries and putting you in good company. |
| Niche Web Directories Versus Search Engines | | | | Just as a customer may search these listings |
| | | | in hopes of finding everything he or she |
| Niche web directories are different from | | | | needs to, you, too, can search them to check |
| search engines in that they are highly | | | | out your competition. What else is out there? |
| specialized. Go to a craft directory, for | | | | Who is competing for your target audience? |
| example, and type in the words 'space travel' | | | | Perhaps you will see a niche within a niche |
| and you'll probably come up with craft | | | | that needs attention and fill it. |
| supplies to make planetary systems. Very | | | | |
| specific! You won't find NASA's website or | | | | Also, because links raise your page ranking |
| scientific analyzes of recent space shuttle | | | | with search engines, niche web directories |
| flights in an arts and crafts niche web | | | | are a great way to find companies who sell |
| directory. But go to space or science niche | | | | complimentary products and services with whom |
| web directory and you may find a link to the | | | | you can trade links. If you sell antique car |
| craft site that specializes in making model | | | | parts, you may want to have a link page that |
| space shuttles. | | | | includes links to antique car show sites or |
| | | | fan sites for antique cars. Building up your |
| Niche web directories do relate to search | | | | links to other relevant sites in your |
| engines in that search engines rank them | | | | industry will help increase your page ranking |
| highly. Due to the intensity of filtering | | | | in search engines and will increase your |
| that most directories apply to the sites that | | | | traffic as well. |
| they include, search engines highly respect | | | | |
| them. This level of respect is good for the | | | | Niche Web Directory Options |
| page rankings of all the sites listed in the | | | | |
| directories. Getting your site listed in | | | | Some niche web directories are so focused on |
| appropriate niche web directories provides | | | | attracting the most qualified sites that they |
| you with a one way link from a reputable, | | | | will pay to list if you apply and qualify. |
| highly ranked site and that's one of the most | | | | This is always a great sign of a specific, |
| important aspects of the page ranking formula | | | | reputable niche web directory. Some will also |
| for search engines. | | | | offer you highlighting options like placing |
| | | | your website listing in bold, brackets, or |
| Traffic | | | | highlighting it for optimum visibility. |
| | | | |
| When you get web traffic through listings on | | | | It's important that webmasters do not ignore |
| search engines, you may or may not be what | | | | the opportunities that niche web directories |
| the web surfer was looking for. Yes, there is | | | | provide. Exposure, especially in this form, |
| the chance that the person didn't know that | | | | can do nothing but boost your traffic, boost |
| you existed and, now that she does, will | | | | your sales, and boost your profits. |
| bookmark your site to return for purchases at | | | | |
| a later date. However, this is a big 'if.' | | | | Adrian Lawrence is the webmaster of Indexplex |
| Traffic that you receive as a result of niche | | | | a popular web directory site. Please feel |
| web directories will generally be more apt to | | | | free to republish this article providing this |
| buy because a higher percentage of them were | | | | resource box remains intact with a working |
| looking specifically for you and what you | | | | hyperlink to our site. |
| have to offer. | | | | |