Yahoo-Directory was an early web directory where websites were manually submitted, categorized, and significantly influenced SEO visibility during early search.
What Was the Yahoo Directory?
The Yahoo Directory was a human-edited catalog of websites launched in 1994, where businesses submitted their sites into specific categories for online discovery. Unlike today’s search engines, it relied on manual categorization instead of algorithms.
Why Yahoo Directory Mattered in SEO:
- Provided early link authority for websites.
- Helped users discover niche businesses and resources.
- Served as a trust and credibility signal.
- Offered one of the first backlink opportunities.
Legacy in Modern SEO:
Although discontinued in 2014, Yahoo Directory paved the way for modern search engines by emphasizing site categorization, quality links, and directory-based visibility.
Example in Practice:
In early SEO, submitting a website to Yahoo Directory often improved rankings in Yahoo Search and even in Google.
