This is a guide to niche directories, which are web directories that focus on a particular industry, topic, or region.
There are several possible advantages in having your site listed in a niche directory. Because a niche directory is relevant to the nature of your business or website topic, any visitors that you receive from the directory are likely to be highly targeted, as a niche directory relevant to your site is likely to be visited by people who are interested in what you have to offer.
When your site is listed in a directory specific to the topic of your site, search engine algorithms are more likely to deem your business to be relevant to your keywords, which will benefit you when it comes to search engine results, as well. Although search engine algorithms change frequently and are kept a secret from the public, it is generally accepted that relevant backlinks are more valuable than those that are not relevant.
While a link that is placed in a relevant subcategory of a general directory passes the same relevance test, your link is likely to be buried more deeply in the category structure of a general directory than in a niche directory.
For example, if I were promoting a site for a youth baseball league based in Minneapolis, I might submit that site to the Aviva Directory's Sports & Recreation: Ball Games: Baseball: Leagues category and that would be a good place for it. I might also submit it to the directory's Local & Global: North America: United States: States: Minnesota: Cities & Towns: Minneapolis: Things to Do & Places to Go category. That one is several levels deep in the category structure but someone interested in Minneapolis is more likely to be interested in a youth baseball league in that city. Both would be good neighborhoods for my site.
However, the Baseball Leagues directory at baseballleagues.org would be another excellent place to submit my site. The Baseball Leagues directory is a niche directory focused on baseball, so it can be assumed that everyone visiting that directory has an interest in baseball. Plus, it would be listed at States: Minnesota, placing it only one level down from the top level, which is good for search engine optimization. Its placement in a directory of baseball leagues also tells the search engines that my site is indeed about baseball.
Both the Aviva Directory and the Baseball Leagues directory would be good homes for my site but if for some reason, I had to pick just one, I might choose the niche directory.
Niche directories might focus on any of a number of topics, such as art, automotive, aviation, business (or even a specific type of business), education, environment, ethnicities, games, health or medicine, various issues, military issues, pets or animals, real estate, religion, shopping, travel, web design, webmaster tools, or any others. Such a directory might be more or less specific. A directory of Christian churches would be a niche directory, but so would a directory that covers a wide range of religions.
The focus of this category is on niche directories, and appropriate listings are those that relate to niche directories.
Recommended Resources
Although created with the enhancement of children’s education in mind, and its primary audience is that of students who are in need of starting points for a particular project, the directory is intended for people of all ages. Topics were chosen based on those that teachers often work with in the K-12 classroom, and then others are added to draw the interest of children and young adults. An overview of each topic is given, followed to links to related resources.
http://www.42explore.com/
Featuring a comprehensive directory of multimedia resources for digital media, graphics, music and audio, software, help topics and tutorials, news and media, online entertainment, podcasting, streaming media, and others. Listed sites are sorted according to into topical categories, and submissions require the one-time payment of a fee. The most recently accepted links and top links are highlighted on separate pages, and its submission policies are posted.
http://www.allmediadirectory.com/
Allen’s Guide to summer camps and travel programs offers information, contacts, and links to the websites of various kids and teen summer camps and travel programs. The guide does not manage or book any of the listed programs but leads its visitors to the operators’ websites. Other resources include informational articles on choosing a summer camp, preparing for a summer camp experience, and the different types of camps and programs that are available.
https://www.allensguide.com/
Aviva Directory: Quality Directories
Are you confused about which directories you should submit your site to? The Aviva Directory offers an objective measurement that can be used to determine the highest quality directories. Sorted according to the Domain Authority established by Moz, the URL for each of the directories on the list is given, along with the basic price for submission, as well as the price for a featured submission. Advertising opportunities along the margins of the page are also available.
http://www.avivadirectory.com/strongest-directories/
The business-to-business directory and marketplace for food and beverage importers and exporters includes a bidding option. The directory provides targeted trade leads for buyers and sellers, product catalogs, and a free business website. Appropriate topics for the directory includes food products and beverages for global food manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, exporters, importers, and beverage wholesalers, agents, buying offices, and trading companies.
http://www.foodstradeholding.com/
The directory of baseball and softball leagues and resources features an interactive map of the United States, through which visitors can navigate to the state and city they are looking for. Some of the more prominent cities are listed in the right margin, on both the main page and the state pages. Listed resources may include a map showing their location, contact information, and a link to the league website, when available. New listings may be submitted for consideration.
https://baseballleagues.org/
Business Seek Business Directory
The international business directory offers 48-hour express directory inclusion services, featured article submission, and extensive business information on all entries. Site listings may be submitted for review. New sponsors, top sites, new listings, and new articles are highlighted, and users may find listed content through its directory and article categories, through a keyword search of the directory, articles, or the Internet. Several submission and advertising options are available.
https://www.businessseek.biz/
Focusing on Christian churches, ministries, organizations and businesses, the directory categorizes its content into several subject areas, including apologetics, arts and crafts, Bible, books, business, news, churches, faith, forums, health, home, internet, ministries, music, shopping, teens, travel, and Zionism, Sites may be submitted for consideration, either through the payment of a processing fee or reciprocal link. Advertising opportunities are included.
http://www.christian-links-directory.com/
Intended for graphic artists and designers, craftspeople, and others with an interest in their work, the directory lists clipart graphics clubs, clipart resellers, clipart tutorials, graphics, and layouts for various purposes, country graphic artists and clubs, as well as artists working in animation, illustrations, and commercial artists, line art, and website designers, as well as craftspeople, craft shops, antique dealers, and several others. A discount is applied to members.
https://www.countrygraphics.org/
Driving Lesson: Driving Schools Directory
Online since 2006, the directory of driving schools in the United Kingdom lists UK driving instructors and schools, where students can learn to drive. Included are driving instructor products and services, a fleet and corporate driver training directory, and driving schools in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, as well as a list of school outside of the United Kingdom. Top driving schools and recently listed schools are featured, and a search function is included.
https://www.drivinglesson.biz/
With a focus on drones, the human-edited directory lists businesses, services, and sites for drone manufacturers, custom builders, stores, merchants, repair services, and clubs, as well as those relating to drone instruction and licensing, insurance, drone racing, and drone discussion forums. Listed sites may be found through its topical categories or by a keyword search. Recent and popular listings are highlighted, and new listings may be submitted for consideration.
http://dronedirectory.biz/
The searchable, categorized health directory features health, wellness, and fitness resources from around the web. Privately funded, the directory does not accept advertisements, nor does it endorse or recommend any commercial products or services, but has compiled a database of health information available for anyone to view. Listed resources are categorized into thirty-six topical categories. New additions to the directory are highlighted on a separate page.
http://www.ehealthsites.com/
eWebPages: United States Web Directory
Visitors to the US section of the directory may browse visitor and area guides, official sites, business listings, government services, health resources, arts and entertainment, historic sites, museums, zoos, parks, monuments, and sites with a regional focus on any of the states of the United States, as well as the District of Columbia. Recent additions are highlighted on a separate page, and new sites may be submitted to the directory for consideration of inclusion.
http://www.ewebpages.org/United-States/
Furniture and woodworking resources for consumers, hobbyists, enthusiasts, and professionals are listed in this directory. Included are such topics as antique hardware, tools, equipment, and shop supplies, woodworking schools and other instructional programs, furniture makers, repair and refinishing services, upholstering, cabinetry, carving, design, and woodturning. Others include tips, plans, and ideas, as well as forums for the online discussion of furniture care subjects.
http://www.furniturecaretips.com/directory/
Founded by Brian Wallace, who also founded NowSourcing, an infographic design agency, the unique web directory specializes in listing curated infographics from around the Internet. Using a blog format, listed infographics may be found through monthly archives dating back to 2010 or sorted into a variety of topical categories, with recent listings highlighted. A search function is also available, and interested people may subscribe to be notified of updates to the directory.
http://infographic-directory.com/
The Industrial Quick Search Manufacturer Directory includes listings of manufacturers and suppliers serving major segments of the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) industrial manufacturing marketplace. Listed sites may be found by site category or by industry, both listed alphabetically. The IQS Directory also offers web marketing services, such as search engine optimization, social media, or pay-per-click, as well as web design and development.
https://www.iqsdirectory.com/
Serving as an education, career, and employment hub for students, parents, job seekers, and travelers can obtain information about businesses serving the educational industries, and educational services, resources, and employment in the field, as well as schools for children and adults. Resources are listed according to the type of school, business, or service, or by worldwide location. Visa and travel information is also included, as well as language instruction and online learning.
https://www.learn4good.com/
Middle East Business Directory
Middle East & Gulf related business information portal and B2B Marketplace. Thousands of companies from UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait + related products and trade leads. Promote your products and services through Middle East Distributors and Wholesalers. Search among Gulf products and import directly from Middle East manufacturers and exporters. Free Business Website for members. Middle East B2B Marketplace is Part of TradeHolding.com B2B Network.
http://gulfbusiness.tradeholding.com/
The niche directory consists of a large collection of links to various free products and things, including samples, bags, magazines, gift certificates, coupons, jewelry, clothes, and electronics. Also included are sweepstakes, and online freebies, such as games, email services, antivirus programs, online translations, graphics, e-cards, music, and webmaster tools. In exchange for a link or button leading back to the site, others may submit freebies to be considered for inclusion.
https://www.ofree.net/
Using a system designed to provide easy navigation, viewers of the site can begin with the home page and click on the country, province, city, or another place of interest, then choose from links within that geographical designation. Pictures of Places is a world directory of geographical places and sights, a resource for travel and vacation planning, and for online sightseeing. Listed places must be appropriate for all ages and contain photos that are chiefly of places and sights.
http://www.picturesofplaces.com/
The online shopping directory offers categorized and searchable listings of online shopping sites, using a phpLD script. Stores may be located in various categories. The directory content is sorted in several product or service categories, and a description of each listed site is presented, along with a link to the web address. New and popular shops are highlighted in separate pages. Readers may locate sites by their category or through the site’s search features.
http://www.shoppingonlinedeals.org/
Specializing in topics related to computers and the Internet, the directory’s content is sorted into categories, which include artificial intelligence, CAD, computer science, data communication, desktop publishing, hacking, hardware, the Internet, Internet marketing, mobile computing, multimedia, networks, operating systems, programming, software, spam, technical support, viruses, and others. Additional sites may be added for consideration, and advertising opportunities are offered.
http://www.tekguide.net/
Specializing in businesses whose products or services related to trenchless technology, the niche directory includes sites representing contractors, manufacturers and suppliers, tools and equipment, drilling and boring equipment, pipe bursting equipment, pipe fusion equipment, pipeline cleaning devices, pipe rehabilitation systems, industry associations, and related services. Its submission fees, special offers, terms of use, and a blog are included.
https://trenchless.directory/
Offering resources for research and reflection, the directory is divided into award-winning websites and personal pages, and further separated into categories for research quality websites, a source analysis of the synoptic gospels, the world of Jesus, and a gateway to research of the Jesus Seminar, as well as papers presented by Smith, the collected poems of Smith, and a gallery of Kathy Luczay-Smith’s artwork, which are available on mugs, t-shirts, and other items.
http://virtualreligion.net/
WebRing was one of the largest and more successful of the web rings that were once popular, particular among non-commercial website owners, who would place a code on their site that would alternately display links to other sites within the same general topic area, with links to the previous and next site, the idea being that people could browse common topics within the web ring. It site acts as a membership directory, whose sites are placed in topical categories.
http://www.webring.com/
The travel guide and directory is separated into continent and country, then further categorized by topics, such as general information, maps, getting there and getting around, weather, accommodations, pictures and travelogues, and culture. New links may be submitted in return for the payment of a fee or a link exchange. Its submission guidelines are published to the site. Advertising opportunities may be available, along with deals, discount offers, and promo codes.
http://www.willgoto.com/
