With so much information available on the Internet, businesses are continually looking for the best ways to categorize the information and make it easier for web users to find the information they are seeking. Although many people turn to search engines to find information through keyword searchers, web directories are continually growing in popularity. These directories, which are typically reviewed by human editors, place web sites within certain categories. In that way, users can simply click on the category they ae interested in and will be directed to a listing of links that are relevant to that category.

There are growing numbers of web directories appearing on the Internet, though not all of them are of high quality. In fact, some web directories exist for the sole purpose of making money and, as such, the editors do not spend much time screening the links that are added to the directory listing. One web directory that has earned a great deal of respect for its quality links, however, is The Best of the Web directory.

The Best of the Web Directory, which is more simply known as BOTW, is a commercial web directory that includes only those sites that are rich in content and that are well-designed. The site also categorizes its content according to topic as well as according to region, which makes it even easier for users to find the type of information they are seeking.

BOTW was founded in 1994 by Brandon Plewe. At the time, Plewe was a student studying at the State University of New York in Buffalo. Plewe set out to create a platform that would allow the online community to nominate and then vote for what it believed to be the best websites within different categories. Over time, the site took on a life of its own and moved beyond just recognizing sits with Web Awards. In fact, it became a comprehensive directory that was well-respected for the quality of the sites listed.

Today, BOTW is headquartered in Uniondale, New York, though it also has offices in Boston, Massachusetts and in Orange, Texas. The site continues to operate in much the same manner as when Plewes first founded it, as users vote once per year on the sites considered to be the best. Although, the site did lay dormant for a few years, with the last awards being given in 1998 until it was purchased by its new owner. By 2002, however, the company was once again active.

In 2002, BOTW reinvented itself as a general web directory that was free of spam categories and that employed a team of paid editors. The job of these editors is to search through the Internet in order to find the sites that offer the most original content while still being user-friendly and living up to web standards. As such, the site actually offers commercial as well as non-commercial listings. Regardless of its commercial status, every site listed on BOTW must meet the editorial guidelines of the site while also providing relevant information.

Because BOTW has such exacting standards, being listed on the site is considered to be somewhat of an honor. In addition, since users are aware that the site screens its listings so carefully, many people choose to use the directory on a regular basis when searching for relevant information on the Internet. For business owners looking to achieve a higher ranking within search engines, being listed in a site such as BOTW is also important because the search engines view a listing in one of these sites as a good sign that the site is important and relevant to a certain topic.

The Internet is a continually evolving piece of technology containing billions of websites and WebPages. As such, sorting through all of the available pages would be an impossible task if there was not some method for putting order to what is available.

Among the first methods utilized to put order to the Internet has been the search engine. Search engines such as Yahoo! Make it possible for web surfers to input certain keywords in order to access web sites containing those words that may be relevant to the search.

In March of 1995, two Stanford University graduate students by the names of Jerry Yang and David Filo introduced the Yahoo! search engine to the world. Since then, numerous other search engines have been developed, but Yahoo! continues to be one of the top three most popular search engines available.

As is the case with all Internet companies, Yahoo! is continually looking for new ways to expand its services and to remain competitive. As a result, Yahoo! Directory was developed. Yahoo! Directory is a form of web directory that lists web sites according to categories. Unlike search engines, which are run entirely by software and complex algorithms, the directory is human created and is maintained by human editors. As a result, you can expect to find more relevant information when using the Yahoo! Directory.

According to Yahoo!, the directory was created as a means of helping people find information in a new and different way that may be more effective than using a search engine. For example, when looking up information on a topic that is difficult to describe or when researching a word or phrase that could have multiple meanings, using the directory helps to simplify the search process and make sure only relevant information is obtained.

Using the Yahoo! Directory also makes it possible to gain a much deeper understanding of a very specific topic. Looking up “bugs” with the search engine, for example, will bring up information about all kinds of different insects as well as sites containing information referring to different types of bugs, such as those used to “bug” a house for eavesdropping. When using the directory, on the other hand, you can access a category that addresses a specific type of bug and bring up sites that are relevant to the exact topic you are researching.

The editors of the Yahoo! Directory conduct their own Internet search in order to find relevant sites to be listed within its categories. At the same time, web owners are welcome to submit their sites for review in order to become listed within the directory. Web owners have two options for submitting, either the “Standard” method or the “Yahoo! Express” method. The standard method is free, though it may take quite a bit more time for the editors to review the site when compared to the Yahoo! Express method.

]]> http://blogs.iguides.org/reviews/enriching-resource-yahoo-directory.html/feed 0 http://blogs.iguides.org/reviews/dmozorg-the-cutting-edge.html http://blogs.iguides.org/reviews/dmozorg-the-cutting-edge.html#comments Thu, 30 Aug 2007 17:11:22 +0000 admin http://www.iguides.org/reviews/?p=3

Dmoz.Org

Are you or your friends looking for the most comprehensive and largest human-edited web directory? Dmoz.org is the place to go! It is an Open Directory Project which is designed and maintained by an immense, global community of editors who voluntarily rendered their time, talent, and skills to give excellent services to the growing number of net-citizens. OPD was initially founded in 1998 as “Gnuhoo” by Bob Truel and Rich Skrenta who were both working for Sun Microsystems as engineers. Chris Tollers who was the network security products marketing head, also signed on as Gnuhoo co-founder together with co-founders Jeremy Wenokur and Bryn Dole.

Unlike automated search engines which are pretty inefficient because of their inability to turn up helpful results to people’s search queries and incapability in having their diminutive paid editorial staffs keep up with increasing number of submissions, Dmoz.org grows continuously at a staggering rate. Their volunteer editors strive hard to keep their directories away from link rots so as to provide quality and comprehensiveness.
More… Being the most extensively distributed Web content data base classified by humans, the Open Directory commands the core directory services for the most popular search portals and engines on the Web such as Netscape Search, Google, AOL Search, HotBot, DirecttHit, Lycos, and many others. So, instead of combating the explosive Internet growth, the Open Directory provides ways for the Internet to have itself organized.

Amongst the wide-ranging categories you can easily find at Dmoz.org are Art, Kids and Teens, Games, Business, Health, News, Computers, Home, Recreation, Reference, Shopping, World, Regional, Society, Science, and World.

Everyone is given the opportunity to contribute at the Open Directory. So, if you wanted to express your ideas and thoughts, sign up and be heard!