”How can I get more hits?”, “I need leads!” These thoughts run
through web designers heads all the time. How can a web designer get
their services in front of people who are actually looking for web
design services? The answer is the web design directory.
What is a Web Design Directory?
These directories are specifically designed to bring together web
designers and showcase their work on one site. The people who visit
these sites are actively looking for web design services, thus they
are all potential clients. Some of the directories categorize sites
by either state, county and/or web specialization. This is a grand
advantage because it allows you to hit your target market more
efficiently than if you were to submit your site to just a general
business directory. What’s even better is that all of the sites I
have listed in this article are absolutely free to post your link.
Finding Web Design Directories
Well where the heck do I find these directories? Besides the ones I
have listed here your best route would be to log on to Google.com,
type in the key phrase “web design directory” and you’ll bring up a
ton of listings. Shift through them and decide which ones you feel
will help your web site get hits. And just as an aside even if the
site doesn’t get you hits it will help you with your search engine
ranking. So it’s a win win situation. Try several different search
engines with that same key phrase or any alternatives you can come
up with and submit to your heart’s desire.
What do I have to do to get listed?
Some directories will ask for a reciprocal link, which is not much
to ask given the amount of new traffic your site will draw in as a
result of being listed. I know as a designer you may fear that
adding someone’s banner, icon or slogan to your site will look tacky
or even make you seem like a novice. The majority will not ask you
for a banner, none of the sites listed here do, but if they do it’s
up to you as a designer to make that decision. This was a concern
for me at first but I figured out a way to get around this.
Most of the link confirmations are automated so no one will
physically look at your site, so adding just a text link will do the
trick. Once the link is confirmed it’s automatically approved and
listed on the site. This way they have their link and your have your
listing. Everyone is happy. I haven’t had any complaints yet so
reciprocal links can work for you as a designer. The only other
challenge is finding a tasteful way to present the links on your
site. The way I handle it is by creating an “affiliates” link on my
contact page this way it’s embedded in the site. The user has to go
to a separate page specifically set up just to display reciprocal
links. There’s no need to disrupt the aesthetic value of your site
by placing a link on your homepage.
Submission Must Do’s and Tips
Here are a few things you should prepare before you start submission
frenzy. You will want to have the site title, URL, description,
keywords and contact information ready in a word processing program
so all you have to do is cut and paste into the online form. It will
make the process a million times faster if you have the information
ready because while you’re submitting it will be requested time and
again. In addition to your regular description you may want to have
a truncated version just in case the site doesn’t accommodate
lengthy descriptions.
Another tip for submittal is to submit your own domain name link
like www.yoursite.com, not www.somebodyshost.com/yoursite. Your link
may be rejected and not to mention it’s unprofessional. Also keep in
mind that some of the submissions may take a while. Any where from
instantaneously to a couple of months so don’t get antsy when you
don’t see your link after a week. However, if you feel it’s taking
too long to see your link on their site feel free to email the
administrator and inquire about when they think the link will be up.
After all you’re generating business for them by having their link
on your site. It’s only fair. If you don’t get the response you want
or no response at all feel free to delete the link from your
“affiliates” page and make room for a reciprocal link that is going
to bring you potential clients.
Web Design Directory List
Below are some of the sites that really worked for me. All four
combined provided an at least 200% increase in my site traffic and
resulted in a surge in client inquires:
www.marketingtool.com [optional reciprocal link]
www.firmlist.com
www.1234-find-web-designers.org [reciprocal link req.]
www.designfirms.com
Other Web Design Directories:
www.topdesignfirms.com
www.comparewebdesigners.com
www.webdesign.ittoolbox.com
www.a2zwebdesignsource.com
www.aaadesignlist.com
www.find-webdesign.com
www.webmasterfind.com
www.edezines.com
About The Author
Michelle Echevarria has been in the interactive industry for over
five years as a web designer and developer. She is currently
freelancing and plays a vital role in helping small to medium sized
businesses bring their venture to the Internet.
Portfolio site:
http://www.bronxplanet.com, corporate site
http://www.davilldesign.com.
Email info@davilldesign.com
