Web Directories nowadays are like a dime a dozen except for the good ones. So, how do we recognize a good Web Directory?

A human edited Web Directory is fairly easily identifiable by the quality of the outbound links, the carefully thought out categories and usually is a “paid links only” directory. You can easily find out if it is a Paid Directory by trying to submit your link in one of the categories.

For example, say you owned a site that advertised entertainment guides. You would be looking for the Entertainment directory section. If you owned a shopping web site then you would submit that site into the Shopping Directory section. You might be offering Search Engine Optimization services or advice in your web site. You should try to submit that site in the SEO Services Directory section.

If you see a lot of links in a Paid Directory and the Directory itself has a high PR then you have found yourself a good one.