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Have you ever wondered why it is important to submit your website information to directories? It's a valid question. After all, if a search engine will eventually crawl your website isn't it enough to simply make sure the site is infused with beneficial Search Engine Optimization (SEO) procedures while avoiding potentially time consuming directory submissions?

If you have used comprehensive optimization strategies, but have failed to submit to web directories I'd like the opportunity to make a case for directory submissions by viewing this process as valuable site promotion tool.

It is probable that you have the belief that the primary interest from site visitors will come as a result of a search engine query. Let me just say up front you are correct in looking at this as a key component to site promotion. Most of your visitors will come directly to your site based on a qualified keyword search.

At this point you may be thinking I am struggling with finding my original point, so I'll cut to the chase. Answer this question, 'Where do search engines go first to find new websites?'

The answer?

Web directories.

What you may have avoided as a somewhat ineffective site promotion tool may actually help you step to the front of the line in having your site crawled (or visited by spiderbots).

It may not be the most fun you've ever had to go through the process of filling out all the fields in a directory submission, but it really can help you.

It may also be tempting to simply fill things out as quickly as possible while doing your site rankings a disservice. What I mean by that is if you don't match your business with the right industry in a directory list your site may not be 'crawled' correctly because the search engine is dealing with faulty information, and you were the one that gave them the misleading data.

If you want search engines to notice you consider a trip to some of the best known web directories and spend some quality time making sure you complete the data to the best of your ability. The search engines want their searches to be successful, make sure you give them something to go on.

There are so many site promotion tools, but the success of a search engine 'crawl' may have more to do with the initially successful completion of directory submission data than your investment in SEO efforts.

Both are important, but make sure the proverbial cart (directory submissions) comes before the horse (SEO strategies).