Online Shopping Directories

Online Shopping Directories

Most of the major search engines and Web directories have shopping areas on their Web sites that showcase selected merchants and that list hundreds of merchants by product category.
Many Internet users use one of these shopping directories when looking for online merchants to buy from, so it’s a good way to get exposure for your online store. However, to get included in a search engine or Web directory’s shopping directory, or to become one of its “featured stores” or “premier merchants”, you usually need to be an advertising partner or be using the site’s online storefront software. To become an advertiser, you will need to get in contact with the search engine or directory’s advertising department for details about pricing. America Online, for example, has advertising agreements with a number of large retailers that give these retailers prominent positioning on AOL’s shopping directory.
It is important to point out that these types of advertising opportunities are often targeted are larger, established retailers as opposed to small businesses, so depending on your advertising budget and the size/profile of your business, you may find that this type of advertising opportunity is not practical or affordable