Best of the Web Directory

Best of the Web Directory is a commercial web directory providing websites categorized topically and regionally. Headquartered in Uniondale, New York, BOTW also maintains offices in Orange, Texas and Boston, Massachusetts.

Founded in 1994 at the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, BOTW pioneered the web awards concept, recognizing the best sites online via an annual vote and presentation, highlighted by the announcements at the International W3C Conference in Geneva. The last awards were given in 1998, after which the site lay dormant until being sold. The award winners from 1994, 1996, 1997 and 1998 remain listed on the botw.org website. [http://botw.org/awards/index.html Best of the Web Awards] at BOTW.org]

In 2002 BOTW transformed into a general web directory, providing users with a spam-free categorization of websites. The company employs a team of paid editors that scour the web for sites with original content, also considering user-friendliness and web standards. BOTW offers listings for both commercial and non-commercial sites, and places each site that meet their editorial guidelines in its most relevant topical and/or regional category.

As the competitive nature of the web has matured, more and more webmasters and site owners have turned to web directories like Best of the Web as an avenue to help with their search marketing efforts. Due to the editorial integrity involved in the listing process, many search engines view listings in "quality directories" as a valued citation. [ Cutts, Matt (2007). [http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/how-to-report-paid-links/ How to Report Paid Links] As an update to the post, Cutts addresses directories in the Q&A] As such, many website owners report of submitting their sites to directories like BOTW and noticing substantial improvements in their organic search engine listings. [Sloan, Paul (May 2007) How to scale Mt. Google. Business 2.0: 54-55]

In 2005 BOTW was the first to introduce a hand-edited blog directory. Maintaining high standards for inclusion, the BOTW Blog Directory focuses on categorizing the best blogs online. [Hartzer, Bill (Dec 2005). [http://www.searchengineguide.com/hartzer/006288.html Best of the Web Launches Blog Directory] ]

Best of the Web also maintains the BOTW Media network, a network of dozens of blogs authored by subject experts.

Paid Review and Advertising

BOTW allows site owners to submit their websites for an expedited review, and commercial sites are required to pay for the review. The company currently offers a choice of either a one time fee or an annually recurring fee for an editor to review the site for possible inclusion into the BOTW Directory. Review fees are non-refundable, and only sites that meet the editorial guidelines are listed.

Additionally, BOTW offers advertising in the form of category sponsorships. Category sponsors are highlighted at the top of their applicable category, and also receive enhanced placement in the BOTW search results. While sponsored listings undergo the same editorial review as directory listings, if accepted, the advertiser is granted more flexibility in category selection and more control over their title and description.

References

ee also

*List of web directories

External links

* [http://botw.org/ Best of the Web Directory]
* [http://blogs.botw.org/ Blog Directory]
* [http://local.botw.org/ Local Search]
* [http://verticals.botw.org/software/ Enterprise Software Directory]
* [http://seniorhousing.botw.org/ Senior Housing Directory]