Web Directory vs Search Engine
While the two are accustomed to find content on the net, the principal difference is that links discovered via a search engine are gathered automatically while a web directory involves humans adding the links. The consequence of a web directory is definitely an easily digestible set of links organized within common categories. A directory makes it easy to find websites by subject, whereas a research engine is helpful for finding websites through keywords.
How a Web Directory Works
Most web directories list websites by subject, which explains why they're often called subject directories. An actual person (not a computer software program) identifies which websites must certanly be within the list on a per-site basis, and therefore the entire directory is chosen by hand. For content to be included with a web directory , the master has to manually include the web link, title, and some other information they need included in the listing. Depending on what the web directory works, the master might also let other website owners request that their site be added to the directory. Web directory submissions might be described as a free option or, with respect to the directory , something that needs payment. Once you come upon an internet site directory , there are usually two ways to locate content: browse and/or search. Categories in many cases are used to split up different sites and better organize the directory , but there's usually also a research engine built-in that lets you read through the complete website.
Should You Use a Web Directory?
You may wonder whether you should use a web directory or a popular search engine. After all, a research engine finds much more information just because a web directory is, by definition, limited in what it lists. The idea behind using a web directory is that you have trust in what the master is listing. For instance, maybe you'd prefer a hand-picked set of "The Best Online Games for Kids" rather than doing a wide search with a search engine, that could deliver irrelevant results or website pages with viruses, inappropriate games, etc. Ultimately, the choice is yours. If you want to choose yourself which websites you intend to visit, a search engine is more helpful. However, if you're not sure where to find the best cooking sites, or physics information, or news sites (or literally anything else), you might prefer a web directory. From a web site owner's perspective, a web directory may be helpful if you're targeting users in a certain geographical location. You can submit your website to a directory under a particular location so that after users browse for sites listed there, they'll find yours.
Examples of Web Directories
1.googleusercontent.com The World Wide Web Virtual Library
2. The World Wide Web Virtual Library: The granddaddy of them all, this web directory has been around since 1991, which makes it the oldest web directory online. It was created by the man who invented HTML and the net, Tim Berners-Lee. Volunteers are responsible for compiling pages in fields of their expertise, causing a directory that's widely regarded as among the best in quality available.
3.Alive Web Directory : 1000s of websites are listed here, and their strict editorial process ensures that you will discover only the greatest quality content in categories like kids and teen, news, regional, entertainment, business, arts, science, sports, shopping, society, internet, and others.
4.Martindale's The Reference Desk: This enormous assortment of reference resources covers from language, science, and geography to economics, agriculture, travel, and much more.
5.Hotfrog: This directory of websites lists millions of businesses in dozens of countries.
6.World Site Index: A research engine and web directory with a unique Latest Additions page. There's are strict submission rules and a lot of categories to pick from. You will find two tiers if you want to pay to submit your site.
7.Incrawler: This comprehensive web directory accepts paid listings, organizes websites in a large number of categories, and includes a research tool.
8.Family Friendly Sites: Active since 1996, this is a human-moderated directory that keeps the web rated "G."
9.Jayde: This web directory markets itself as a small business search engine, but you may also browse manually through the dozens of categories, including everything from government and industrial to energy, health, automotive, agriculture, retail, chemicals, telecommunications, and electronics.
10.Best of the Web: Established in 1994, the website bills itself while the "most trusted directory." Site owners must pay a listing fee to get an area here.
11.Jasmine Directory : The numerous subjects with this internet directory are ordered by region and topic. Visitors can submit URLs for a fee.
