Web Directory: A new approach to web
Personalization
Anjaly S Nair
Mary Cleoda, L
Abilash, S
[email protected]
II year MLIS, Department of Library & Information Science,
Bharathidasan University, Trichy - 24
ABSTRACT
In the past two decades, web usage has grown rapidly together with the explosive growth of the
Information, both in the research and commercial areas. In this work we present a Web directory
for Web personalization based on a novel pattern recognition strategy which analyzes and
classifies both static and dynamic Contents. This paper focus the concept of web directory,
features, manage and promote etc., and also sample of web directory how they have organized the
content in world wide web.
INTRODUCTION
It is well known that the World Wide Web may be considered as a huge and
global information center. A web site usually contains great amounts of information
distributed through hundreds of pages. Without proper guidance, a visitor often wanders
aimlessly without visiting important pages, loses interest and leaves the site sooner than
expected. This consideration is at the basis of the great interest about web directory both
in the academic and the industrial world. Web directories are a listing of websites which
are submitted by the webmasters.
Directory goes beyond the simple file manager
metaphor, and offers you a complete replacement for Windows Explorer and many other
utility programs for handling FTP, ZIP, viewing files and images, running slideshows and
more. It provides you with all this within a user-friendly and fully-configurable
environment within which you can access and manage your important information with a
minimum of effort. Harness the power of your computer like never before!
Concept of Web Directory
A web directory or link directory is a directory on the World Wide Web. It
specializes in linking to other web sites and categorizing those links. A web directory is
not a search engine, and does not display lists of web pages based on keywords, instead it
lists web sites by category and subcategory. The categorization is usually based on the
whole web site, rather than one page or a set of keywords, and sites are often limited to
inclusion in only few categories. Web directories often allow site owners to directly
submit their site for inclusion, and have editors review submissions for fitness. RSS
directories are similar to web directories, but contain collections of RSS feeds, instead of
links to web sites.
Directories: These are the selective Internet finding aids that are arranged by subject and
include only selected sites. Many portals and search engines have a directory component
or partner. Most directories have keyword searching, but entries are also listed under one
or more hierarchical subject terms or categories.
Examples: Yahoo!, LookSmart, and Snap are several examples of directories.
What is Web Directory?
What is a Web directory? Although the terms search engine and subject directory
are sometimes used interchangeably, they are not the same thing.
Definition of Web Directory
The terms "Web directory" and "search engine" are often used interchangeably.
Web directories are organized Web site listings put together by human reviewers,
whereas search engine listings are put together by automated systems and lack a
navigable structure. Much of the confusion stems from the various hybrid models that
have developed over time, as search engines have incorporated directory features to
assist with issues such as categorization and site quality.
There are advantages and drawbacks to using a Web directory as opposed to a
search engine. One vehicle may be better suited to certain types of searches than the
other. Directories place an emphasis on linking to site home pages and try to minimize
deep linking. This makes directories more useful for finding sites instead of individual
pages. Some directories attempt to solve this shortcoming by partnering with a search
engine for supplemental listings.
How A Web Directory Works
A Web directory organizes Web sites by subject, and is usually maintained by
humans instead of software. The searcher looks at sites organized in a series of categories
and menus. Web directories are usually much smaller than search engines' databases,
since the sites are looked at by human eyes instead of by spiders. There are two ways for
sites to be included in a Web directory's listings; either the site owner can submit the site
to the Web directory, or the directory's editor(s) will eventually come across that site.
How to Search a Web Directory
1. The searcher types a query into the Web directory, or searches the Web
directory's indexed categories.
2. The Web directory matches the searcher's query with relevant data from its
index.
Find a Web Directory
•
Yahoo: Yahoo has one of the best Web directories on the Web, along with its
own search engine listings and many other search services.
•
Look Smart is hard to classify as just a Web directory; especially with its
recent foray into vertical search channels.
•
The Open Directory has been around since 1999, and is a human-edited
directory. Also known as DMOZ (Directory Mozilla), the Open Directory
Project purports to be the “largest on the Web”, constructed and maintained
by a “vast, global community of volunteer editors.”
Features of Web Directories
Directories have various features in listing; often depend upon the price paid for
inclusion:
•
Free submission – there is no charge for the review and listing of the site
•
Reciprocal link – a link back to the directory must be added somewhere on the
submitted site in order to get listed in the directory
•
Paid submission – a one-time or recurring fee is charged for reviewing/listing the
submitted link
•
No follow – there is a rel="nofollow" attribute associated with the link, meaning
search engines will give no weight to the link.
•
Featured listing – the link is given a premium position in a category (or multiple
categories) or other sections of the directory, such as the homepage
•
Bid for position – where sites are ordered based on bids
•
Affiliate links – where the directory earns commission for referred customers
from the listed websites
Set up a Web Directory
To set up a directory we must choose the best directory software which suits our
need. The market leader in directory software is PHP Link Directory (phpld). The current
available version of phpld is 3.2 (paid version) the older version PHPLD2 is available for
free download. To install this software you need a php server with mysql for database.
Installing is straight forward. In the cpanel create a new user, new database and make the
user use the database. Upload all the files in the archive to the / (root) of the server if you
want to install it on the domain or you can install it under a folder like
www.something.com/directory/. Once uploaded point the browser to /install and the
installation will begin input the required details and your directory is up and running.
You can also choose a variety of themes to match your taste. You can find many phpLD
themes here. Once your directory is up and running you can add new categories and sub
categories from the administrator panel of the web directory. Now your directory is
ready. It is now time to promote your web directory.
Promoting a Web Directory
This part is the most essential part as it will determine the success or failure of your
directory.
o Announce the
directory in all major webmaster forums ( Digital Point,
Sitepoint,V7N , Directory Owners).
o Buy paid
o Buy ad
o Keep
o Do
links at other popular paid link directory.
links on other directories.
your directory links as your signature in forums.
link exchange with other web directories.
o Submit
your directory to other directories, directories of directories.
o Submit
your directory to DMOZ.org
o Enable SEO friendly urls
for your directory.
Managing a Web Directory
This is probably the most important thing to be considered, ” People buy link only
if it is worth “. It doesn’t matter if you have the best looking directory on the web. Over a
period of time you will find out that lots of useless, MFA (Made For Adsense), porn,
drugs, SPAM, illegal websites being submitted. Under no condition you must accept
them even if they are PAID. No webmaster wants to see there website listed next to an
illegal website.
Another important thing to notice is over a period of time your directory should
get stronger in terms of number of incoming links and quality of website indexed. This
will help you get higher search engine ranking and a good PR (Page Rank). Most of the
time it is on the basis of Page Rank a directory is compared. Higher PR directory get
more paid listings.
List of web directories
A web directory is a listing of websites organized in a hierarchy or interconnected list of
categories.
The following is a list of web directory services for which Wikipedia has articles.
Directories
General
•
Ansearch - Web search and Directories focusing on the US, UK, Australia and
New Zealand.
•
BUBL - A free database of non-commercial websites, organised using the Dewey
Decimal classification system.
•
Best of the Web Directory - Lists content rich, well designed websites
categorized both by topic and by region.
•
GoGuides - Searchable human edited web directory categorized by topic and
location. Includes an image search and updated news.
•
JoeAnt - A community of editors from the now-defunct Go.com volunteer edited
directory.
•
Open Directory Project (aka DMoz or ODP) - The largest directory of the web.
Its open content is mirrored at many sites, including the Google Directory.
•
Starting Point Directory - A human edited general directory organizing sites by
category.
•
World Wide Web Virtual Library (VLIB) - The oldest directory of the Web.
•
Yahoo! Directory - The first service Yahoo! offered.
Specialist
•
Business.com - Business directory which charges a fee for review and operates as
a Pay per click search engine.
•
VFunk - Online directory that specializes in listing and categorizing global dance
music & urban lifestyle listings.
Defunct directories
•
LookSmart - Operated several vertical directories from 1995 to 2006.
•
Lycos' TOP 5% - From 1995 until 2000 it aimed to list the web's top 5% of
websites.
•
Zeal - Volunteer-built web directory. It was introduced in 1999, acquired by
LookSmart in 2000, and shut down in 2006.
Sample of Web Directories
1. OPEN DIRECTORY PORTAL
The ODP Web Directory Program was designed to help you build traffic to your
web site. ODP unique tool set helps you obtain top search rankings, and also gain an
alternativetraffic source for attracting visitors to your web site. ODP will build your web
site's total internetexposure. The ODP Web Directory Program was designed to help you
build traffic to your web site.
http://www.odp.in/
2. Web-Directories.ws - A list of 11,000 Web Directories.
Web Directories, a site designed to help webmasters and site owners find relevant
directories. Unlike many other directory of directories, we are here to help the directory
submitters (rather than the directory sites). We try to give you information that is helpful
to your submission decision. Ultimately, you can use the information to make your own
choice. If you are planning to submit to a specific directory, especially a paid one, we
suggest you use our search facility above to do a domain search. We'll tell you about the
good, the bad and the ugly.
General
We have a vast collection of free and paid general directories. Our listings
comments provide you with relevant information to help you make your submission
choices. We work closely with our sister site Best Web Directories to identify the good
and bad directories. Free directories change to paid all the time (there are probably some
changing right now). We work hard at keeping the free list updated. If you see directories
listed in the free category that require a payment or reciprocal link please help us out by
letting us know.
Regional
For some sites, a regional listing can bring in traffic from their country or community.
We have sites from around the world. Categories of note include the UK, USA and
Canada.
Languages
We have accumulated some impressive lists of non-English language directories. Of note
is the German language list with its 200+ listings along with the French language list.
http://www.web-directories.ws/
3. Web Subject Directories
Subject directories include human-selected Internet resources and are arranged
and classified in hierarchical topics. Most search engines and portals have a subject
directory component or partner. Use these for with broad topics and to find a few good
sites on a particular topic.
SELECTION SIZE
Yahoo
Review
Open
User
BOOLEAN TRUNCATION FIELDS SORTING
Automatic,
t:title
Categories
Submitted,
except in
u:url
then Google
editors
phrase
None
Categories
75,000
3,000,000? +, -
4,830,000 and, or,
Yes, *
Directory
editors
andnot, +,
Review
then sites
-
Librarians' Public
10,000
Index (LII) Librarians
and, or,
Yes, *
Subject, Relevance
not, ( )
title,
"phrase"
author,
more
InfoMine
Academic 120,000
and, or,
Yes, *
Subject, Relevance,
Librarians
and not, (
title,
), near4
author,
title
more
Intute
Academic 30,000?
and, OR, No
selections
-
None
Relevance
There are many other specialized subject directories and many other general ones.
About.com is arranged like a subject directory and includes over 400 meta sites on many
topics. Others to consider include the World Wide Web Virtual Library, GoGuides, and
JoeAnt. Also consider using Wikipedia as a very selective directory. Find an article on
the topic and look for "List of [topic]" entry like "List of Web directories" or the
"External
http://www.searchengineshowdown.com/dir/
4. Google Directory
Google organizes the Directory into categories that are classifications of pages by
subjects. The Directory is similar to the table of contents in a book. Browsing a book’s
table of contents, which includes the titles of chapters and sections, allows a reader to
quickly find interesting sections of the book. Similarly, browsing a subject-oriented
directory, enables a user to quickly locate categories containing related documents.
However, there’s no assurance that what you’re seeking will be in the book or web page.
http://www.google.com/dirhp
CONCLUSION
Running a successful directory takes lots of commitment, time, dedication and
patience. If you planning to get rich over night running a directory then surely it is not for
you. Take your time, give directory its time. Brand the directory, make your directory
heard in webmaster forums (don’t over do it, else you get banned for spamming).
Reference
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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_directory
http://websearch.about.com/od/enginesanddirectories/a/subdirectory.htm
http://www.marketingterms.com/dictionary/web_directory/
http://www.odp.in/
http://www.web-directories.ws/
http://www.searchengineshowdown.com/dir/
http://www.google.com/dirhp
http://www.iw3c2.org/WWW2004/docs/2p288.pdf
http://www.gpsoft.com.au/intro.html