Web hosting directories

Web hosting directories can benefit two groups of people: consumers looking for web hosting services and web hosting providers looking for more exposure. Both groups of people can benefit from understanding how web hosting directories work.

Contents

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* 1 What consumers should know about web hosting directories

o 1.1 Characteristics of useful web hosting directories

o 1.2 Characteristics of less useful web hosting directories

o 1.3 Using web host directories to find a web host

* 2 What web hosts should know about web hosting directories

o 2.1 Types of directories

o 2.2 Directories, search engine optimization, and marketing

* 3 See also

What consumers should know about web hosting directories

Characteristics of useful web hosting directories

* They have up-to-date, accurate information.

* They allow users to search for data in various ways.

* They may include verified reviews.

* If some providers are featured, it's clear that they paid for their listings or ads to be prominent or that their being featured isn't because they're "the best."

* If a ranking system is used, providers cannot artificially improve their ranking by paying for a better position.

Characteristics of less useful web hosting directories

* The directory is poorly maintained. Information might not be current or well organized.

* Users can't search for specific features and find what they want.

* There is no protection against bias:

o If ratings or reviews are included, they are not verified. Positive ratings or reviews might be by company owners shilling their own services, and negative reviews might be by competitors.

o The site misleads visitors into thinking that some providers are better rated or otherwise better than others when the providers paid money to appear that way. When this is the case, the "top hosts" are often the top advertisers at the directory as well.

o The directory is owned by one of the web hosting providers listed as among the "top hosts."

Using web host directories to find a web host

Assess the quality of the web hosting directory. If it appears to be biased, it may still be useful to compare prices and features, but don't rely on the ratings and reviews. Search for web host reviews at other sites as well.

Consider looking in more than one directory if the first one appears to be biased. Look for directories that don't feature the same providers as "top hosts" to find more variety in listings.

What web hosts should know about web hosting directories

Types of directories

* Web hosting companies can be listed in directories that are specifically about web hosting as well as in larger directories that have a web hosting category.

* Some directories don't charge for listings, some charge a one-time fee, and some charge a recurring (monthly or annual) fee. Some web hosting directories charge a commission when providers gain clients via the directory.

* The quality of directories can vary tremendously, from the quality of content and organization to search engine optimization techniques used. Some directories aren't much better than link farms.

See also the above section "What consumers should know about web hosting directories."

Directories, search engine optimization, and marketing

* The value of directory links for SEO is a debated topic. Their value may go up and down with time, and it will be different with each search engine.

* Directory links have clear marketing value when they're in quality directories that consumers use to find services.

* The value of directory links depends on the quality of the websites linked to. Consumers may find what they want at a directory, but if the company website is under construction or poorly written or designed, those consumers may decide not to use the company's services after all.