More than one person has asked me if I have Directory Submitter (aka DS), either publicly here on my blog, or in private via email. The answer to that is, "Yes." But the better question may be if I actually use the program. I’ve spent money on many programs that I don’t end up using. The answer to this question is also, "Yes."

I’m going to be honest about DS. There is nothing that it does that you can’t do yourself. Having said that, it was one of the better programs I’ve purchased and I highly recommend it.

So, what does it do and what makes it so great?

• DS is a database of ~3,000+ directories. This means you have just about every directory you could ever want to submit to in one place. Should there be a directory you want that isn’t included you can add it manually.
• DS tracks what directories your sites are submitted to. This means you don’t have to keep a separate log or try to remember where you submitted a site.
• DS allows you to create a profile for each web site you want to submit. This means you can submit all of your sites. As already stated, DS tracks where each site was submitted to, so the more sites you have the more valuable this program becomes.
• DS shows the PageRank for every directory. This means you will know the ranking of each directory before you submit to it. You can even have the directories listed in descending PageRank order.
• DS allows you to choose all directories, paid submissions, or free submissions only. This means you don’t need to determine if it will cost money to submit to a directory because DS has already determined this.
• DS lets you export your settings and submission history. This means you can save this information elsewhere for safe keeping. Should something catastrophic, such as a virus, wipe out your computer, you can easily restore your DS profiles and information.
• DS provides free upgrades. This means you don’t have to pay an additional fee if they upgrade from the current version (v3 as of this writing) to the next version number (such as v4). So many companies now charge for upgrades that it’s refreshing to see that some companies still do give away upgrades (as Build A Niche Store does).

I think I’ve covered the highlights of this program. Yes, it is a bit pricey. If you just have one or two sites then pass on it. If, however, you already have, or plan on having, a large number of niche stores, and are serious about building backlinks, then this program will be well worth the investment.

If you have any questions about DS that I didn’t answer here please feel free to ask. Click here to read more about DS, or to download the trial version (or demo version, as the DS people call it).

Oh, one more thing. The people who create DS seem to have changed the name from Directory Submitter to Link Directory Submitter. They are the same thing so don’t be confused by the new name.

Rochelle