What is the Yahoo! Directory?

The Yahoo! Directory, like other directories doesn’t use spiders or bots to index web pages. Instead it relies on website owners to submit their sites for indexing, which are then checked by “Yahoo Editors” who accept or deny them.

Commercial web sites must pay an annual fee of $299 (currently) to be listed in the Yahoo directory.

How Do I Submit My Website to Yahoo! Directory to Receive Maximum Benefits?

Fill out the forms on Yahoo exactly as requested.

Some sites don't get listed because the submitters don’t follow directions when filling out the forms. When Yahoo asks for a phone number, give only one phone number including the area code. When Yahoo asks for a 25-words-or-less description, don't use any word stacking or keyword tricks. Give a concise, accurate description of your site's content.

Although some fields in the form are optional, fill in as many as you can, especially the fields asking your company name, address, phone and fax #s. Yahoo wants to know you have a legitimate business that will be around for years to come.

Select the categories (only 3) that you want to be listed under very carefully.

To select your categories, type in your selected keywords in a Yahoo Directory search and study the results. Your site doesn’t belong where you think your target audience is searching.   It belongs in a category that accurately reflects your sites content. 

You’ll probably be listed under the same categories your competitors are listed under. Study your competitors' directory listing. See what their descriptions are, then modify your site's description to show the Yahoo surfer that you definitely belong in the categories you selected.

Category listings are also at the discretion of a Yahoo surfer. You need to spend time selecting your categories and studying your competitors so that you do not get listed under an undesirable category.

Have unique content and point this information out in your submission.

A website is of no value to the Yahoo directory if the site contains the same information as other sites in the same categories. To add value to your website, and to call attention to the purpose of your business, make sure you have unique content on your site.  This can take the form of articles, web forums, etc.

Be sure to point out any unique content to the Yahoo surfer via your 25-word description or the extra comments field in the submission form.

Get your own domain name.

Yahoo tends to recognize virtual domains (http://www.yourcompany.com) over others. Yahoo wants to have legitimate organizations and companies in their directory. They do not want a small start-up company that won't be around next year, thus resulting in a dead link to a URL in the directory. A virtual domain shows that you are serious about your business.

Try to get listed in one of Yahoo's regional directories first.

At the bottom of Yahoo's home page are some of Yahoo's regional directories. If you are in one of the regional areas, you can often get your web site listed much faster in the regional directory than in Yahoo's main directory.

Design for speed.

Yahoo is looking for sites that load up quickly, preferably in within 30 seconds on a dial-up modem. Of course, there are exceptions like if you’re an online video game company and use Shockwave on your site, making longer downloads acceptable.

Content is the key.

The bottom line is that if Yahoo editors don't feel your site looks like a legitimate business, they don't have to list your site. So make sure your website is easy to read, easy to navigate, easy to find (on search engines), shows consistency in design and layout, and is quick to download. Above all, have unique content to add value to the Yahoo directory.

Your Action

1.       Get a domain name for your website.

2.       If you don’t already have it, add some unique content to your site like articles.

3.       Research the categories under which you’d like your site to be listed.

4.       Write a 25-word description of your website that is similar to other websites in the category under which you’d like to be listed.

5.       Look over the Yahoo Directory site submission form. Fill it out and submit it exactly as instructed.

Resources

Yahoo Directory Submission Intro Page: https://ecom.yahoo.com/dir/submit/intro/