OK, so now that we have the basics about Web Directories out of the way I bet you are wondering what Niche Directories are and why you should care.

It helps if you think of Niche Directories as finely tuned versions of their bigger siblings like DMOZ or Yahoo Directory. And whereas large general purpose Directories list websites on virtually every topic, Niche Directories focus on a specific topic, either providing a wider range of topical links or selecting only the best links within thier niche to include, stressing quality over quantity. Many Niche Directories are also better able to categorize your listing as well, due to thier breadth of categories specifically geared towards thier niche market.

And there are a significant advantages to Niche Directories as well; Niche Directories are often easier to get listed on and your website is less likely to be buried in hundreds of other listings! And if you are targeting a specific phrase and need a specific term in your anchor text, Niche Directories are often easier to approach and negotiate with to get just the anchor text and description you need for your SEO efforts.

Affordability may also be a factor that might weigh heavily in your decision about submitting to Niche Directories. It is often cheaper or even free to get listed on a Niche Directory, and most Niche Directory listings are permanent listings as well, unlike Yahoo's $299 non-refundable recurring annual fee for most commercial websites.