What Are Directory Websites And Their Types

Long, long ago, there were no search engines, and people could discover websites through web directories only, even when search engines were very primitive. It was in the early 1990s when Yahoo Directory and Open Directory Project (DMOZ) came on the horizon, boasting lists of websites with categories like Banking, Engineering, Music, etc. After the advent and later the improvement of search engines, the search for websites without browsing directories became faster and easier to do. Some niche and local directories have come to replace a lot of huge web directories. Already in the specialization era, specialized platforms took the place of Directories and expanded their functions. If they used to list links, then they added photos, ratings, reviews, and other tools. Nowadays, directories cannot but integrate social media, apps, and Artificial Intelligence. Playing a vital role in local SEO, they opt for monetization strategies and niche markets.

There are some key features specific to directory websites, and we want you to go through them and better understand their peculiarities. The first sign of a good directory is its structure, in other words, how it is organized. Categories and subcategories are good indicators, and users easily browse by type, location, and topic. The search section and advanced filter options help a lot as well. A top-class directory website boasts user ratings and reviews based on trust and user engagement. It is worth mentioning that users can leave their reviews, and this and other features are possible due to responsive design on desktop and mobile, and an admin dashboard designed for site owners in the best way to manage listings, payment, and so on and so forth. Directory websites also have interactive maps, such as integration with Google Maps.

Here you go with a list of seven types of directory websites, and each of them comes with examples.

1. General & Local Directories
2. Business & Services Directories
3. Events, Travel & Leisure
4. E-commerce & Promotions
5. Informational & Learning

General & Local Directories

Yellow Pages Directory

This is a business directory where each kind of profession is a separate category (e.g., plumber, dentist, barber). It used to be a book, printed on yellow paper, and now it can be used both as a printed book or with an online format – www.yelowpages.com. The directory encompasses names of the businesses, contact information, and service details.

City Directory

A city directory is a listing of residents, businesses, organizations, and government offices within a specific city. This directory is designed to provide thorough information regarding organizations, businesses, firms, and state body offices of the city. The list of medical and educational centers, churches, and cultural buildings is available in a city directory.

Example – visitlondon.com

Contact Directory Website

This is a general list of people or organizations with their contact information. Being either internal or public-facing, a contact directory can sometimes include email addresses, photos, job titles, etc. 

Example –  192.com

Business & Services Directories

Online Business Directory

Online Business Directory is a digital platform that is very useful to users who try to find, compare, or contact their preferred business. The listings can be looked for by categories such as type, location, industry, etc. Additionally, a couple of words about the business, reviews, and ratings are available here.

Example – Yelp.com

Real Estate Directory Website

Real Estate Directories include information such as homes for sale, apartments for rent, or lease. What is more, information is found regarding estate agents and agencies. By filtering for surface, location, and price one can find all necessary property features, images, and descriptions. Contact forms and direct messaging are features worth mentioning.

Example – zillow.com

Job Directory Website

This is the most popular job directory website for job seekers. Here, one can find countless job opportunities that come together with the job title, description, requirements, qualifications, salary, and other important information. Good features as application tracking, company overviews, and employer profiles, make it a desirable platform for the unemployed.

Example – indeed.com

Restaurant/Hotel Directory Website

This directory is used by gourmands who really know how to enjoy food and to get the answer to the question “where” they turn to the features offered by the directory. The same is true for travelers who like to read hotel reviews and find detailed information about hospitality services before booking a room or reserving a table. This is a great way of reading about amenities, looking through the menus, and having an option for food delivery.

Example – opentable.com

Wedding Directory

The wedding is the most wonderful day in the bride and groom’s lives. To fulfill the dream of having a fantastic wedding party, the help of others is needed, such as photographers, florists, confectioners, DJs, etc. The wedding dress can be found easily since the wedding directory will give you the names, locations, and reviews of the nearest boutiques for brides.

Example – theknot.com

Automotive Directory

Car dealerships, auto service centers, car rentals, and vehicle sales are found in automotive directories, including valuable information about their main features. First, you will find a car with its price, year, mileage, etc. Second, you can use filters for fuel type or price. The images will help you better understand what the vehicle is.

Example – autotrader.com

Events, Travel & Leisure

Events Directory / Online Events Portal

The best directory for all those who don’t like the idea of sitting at home, since life is short and the weekend needs to be wisely spent. The event directory will give you information about the planned events such as theater performances, concerts, festivals, and exhibitions. Additionally, people of science can find useful information here about conferences, summits, and webinars. Online booking of tickets and registration are the key features of these platforms.

Example – eventbrite.com

Travel Directory

A trip to an island, a tour in Venice, or a business trip – if your goal is to find a listing regarding travel, a travel directory website will be of great use to you. Not only will you find reviews, photos, and prices, but also travel guides and tips will help you get closer to your destination. Filters by categories such as family-style, luxury, first line, adventure, and outdoor pool will help you make the best decision ever.

Example – tripadvisor.com

Online Video Directory Website

Online Video Directory websites are categorized platforms with video content that is indexed and organized by genre, topic, or genre. The videos on this platform fall into categories such as how-to, education, etc. Other key features include view counts, likes, and comments, searchable tags, etc.

Example – youtube.com

E-commerce & Promotions

Coupons/Deals Directory

Is there anyone who is not fond of discounts, promotional deals, promo codes, coupons, and cashback offers? Coupons and Deals directories are designed to help you with usage instructions, discount percentages, filters by category, and service. All one needs is to attentively read the comments and ratings and take some action.

Example – retailmenot.com

Online Marketplace Websites

Digital platforms where buyers and sellers interact to buy or sell goods and services, either new, used, or handmade.

We all need to buy something. In addition, sellers need to sell their products. Online Marketplace directories are unique digital platforms that work well for new or used items. Both buyers and sellers can have user profiles on the site. The items come with price, images, descriptions, reviews, return policies, and all necessary shipping information.

Example – amazon.com

Online Classified Website

A website where individuals and businesses can post and browse small ads for selling goods, offering services, or sharing announcements.

If you have an announcement to share with the community, and if you offer your service and what others know about that, online classified directories can be of great use. The site can be used by both business people and individuals. The browsing of the platform is based on geolocation. Categories include jobs, ads, vehicles, real estate, services, etc.

Example – craigslist.org

Informational & Learning

Article Directory / Knowledge Base

A platform that organizes and publishes informational articles, guides, FAQs, or expert content, often for educational or SEO purposes. As a rule, students and professors never spend a day without this directory. This platform publishes guides, valuable content, valuable information, and FAQs, together with troubleshooting, tutorials, and how-tos. The straightforwardness of the directory provided by internal linking, tags, and related articles makes the platform simple and easy to use. 

Example – medium.com

Review Directory Website

There is a simple yet important platform where some users post and some users read reviews of products, services, and businesses, and assume what the experience with the product or business will be like. Everything is so easy here! You just need to filter the information by service type, location, etc. Photos, reviews, and customer feedback will definitely tell you a lot about a trustworthy business.

Example – trustpilot.com

Course Directory / Learning Management System

A course directory is a catalog of available courses organized by subject, level, or institution. A Learning Management System (LMS) is a software platform used to deliver, track, and manage educational content and learners.

A catalog organized by institution, subject, and level is called a course directory. Course listings with title, duration, and other details are the key features of course directories. It can be linked to a software platform, called Learning Management, which manages the educational content and tracks the learners. With strong user management, LMS boasts interactive features such as live classes, messaging, content creation, and management tools such as videos, quizzes, as well as certificates, assessments, etc.

Example – udemy.com

An effective business is based on maximized SEO benefits, which can be realized with the help of link building. The selection of the right directory can result in ensuring an enduring and deep-rooted impact. First, it can be possible by concentrating on directories that are well-suited and significant to your target audience, location, etc. Remember that search engine rankings and the domain authority of the website can be enhanced by valuable contextual backlinks that come from highly regarded and reputable sources. Directories are just targeting your homepage and can ask the question Who are you. Be watchful while dealing with spammy platforms since the harm they cause to your SEO performance will be noticeable and require time to make it better. A good choice can be the alignment between your business and local directories, as this combination has proved to be the best one while reaching the appropriate audience. Also, don’t forget about key factors that bring long-lasting results, and they are as follows:

• Customer engagement
• Well-developed business information
• Tactics for keyword optimization

As the progress of technology actively continues into the future, directory websites stand in front of a huge problem of being competitive enough to still offer engaging and useful information. However, the combination of the current version and the introduction of new AI tools, personalization, voice-activated interactions, etc, will definitely help directory websites continue to play a significant role in the process of discovering, delivering, interpreting, and clarifying the resources that are essential to the viewers.

If you still have questions regarding the directory websites, let us know, since at GoPeak, we are ready to share our expertise and help drive your success without uncertainties.