Directories are an easy way to build links because anyone can submit and get listed. Directories can, therefore, be of little use for the same reason. Of course getting in directories can be time consuming but it is a one-time affair and usually worth the time. They provide one-way links which will increase your online presence. Not all directories are created equal and paying for the better ones is often money well spent.
Inclusion Tips
Select the best category for your site and follow the instructions on the submission form carefully. Write your descriptions without sensational text. Descriptions of sites should describe the content of the site concisely and accurately When submitting to directories, make sure to vary anchor text and use keywords in the description and title fields.
Choose the most appropriate category for your site. Finding a category that best matches your site’s theme or content will increase traffic from the directory and provide higher quality one-way link to your site for the search engines to follow.
Good Directories
A few of the more search engine friendly directories for valuable links are the following:
Yahoo! Directory: The Yahoo! Directory is the biggest and oldest directory on the web, and one of the few directories that can provide traffic.
DMOZ: The Open Directory Project (DMOZ) is a free, volunteer-run directory. Google and many other sites pull information directly from DMOZ and display the description in the search engine results.
Business.com: A huge business-related directory.
Best of The Web: One of the oldest directories on the web.
Aviva Directory: A well-marketed directory.
GoGuides.org: Another well-run directory that has been around a while.
Blog Directories
Here are some recommended blog directories.
MyBlogLog: Everyone who reads a web site or blog can learn about and engage with one another, and in the process take the conversation to a whole new level.
Blogcatalog: Labeled as “the premiere blog directory on the internet”. Promote your own blog or find blogs on various topics.
Bumpzee: join a community, you are fed with an ever-updating list of blogs and blog posts submitted and chosen by like-minded individuals.
A more complete list of online directories is on our website. Aviva Directory has has a list of the best directories.
52 SEO Tips 
You should probably add sites like MyBlogLog, Blogcatalog and Bumpzee to the list.
I get more traffic from them every day than I receive from DMOZ over a few months, and the links they are already providing are more valuable.
Great suggestions, Andy. I have placed links to these sites for blogs in this post.
Thanks for taking the time to comment, I’ve always been a big fan of your blog.
And purely coincidentally I added a link to Bumpzee today from my Dofollow post. I submitted my blog as well.
It’s sad that the good ones are not free and that the free ones (like DMOZ) have a lengthy review process.
I’m not into blogging for the money, and so can’t spend any. Oh well.
The Curious Cat Cool Connections directory has been around for over 10 years and provides SEO friendly links. The “catch” is it is actually designed to be used by people and only the best sites are included (plus the scope is limited). But for the right sites it is a useful resource, I think.