Best of the Web Directory
Encyclopedia
Best of the Web Directory is a commercial web directory
providing website
s categorized topically and regionally. Headquartered in Jericho, New York
, BOTW also maintains offices in Orange, Texas
, Rocklin, California
, Studio City, California and Highland Beach, Florida
.
Founded in 1994 at the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
, BOTW pioneered the web awards concept, recognizing the best sites online via an annual vote and presentation, highlighted by the announcements at the International W3C Conference in Geneva
. The last awards were given in 1998, after which the site lay dormant until being sold. The award winners from 1994, 1996, 1997 and 1998 remain listed on the botw.org website.
In 2002 BOTW transformed into a general web directory
, aiming to provide users with a spam
-free categorization of website
s. The company employs a team of paid editors that search the web for sites with original content, whilst considering user-friendliness and web standards. BOTW offers listings for both commercial
and non-commercial
sites, and places each site that meet their editorial guidelines in its most relevant topical and/or regional category.
Due to the manual editorial involved in the listing process, many search engines view listings in "quality directories" as a valued citation. Website owners report of submitting their sites to directories can increase their search engine listings.
In 2005 BOTW was the first to introduce a hand-edited blog
directory. Maintaining high standards for inclusion, the BOTW Blog Directory focuses on categorizing the best blogs online.
Best of the Web also maintains the BOTW Media network, a network of dozens of blogs authored by subject experts.
In 2006, Best of the Web introduced its first lead generation platform, focused on the enterprise software industry. The BOTW Enterprise Software directory serves as a marketplace where users can search for software solutions and request additional information form a host of vendors.
In 2007, BOTW expanded their lead generation offerings with the Senior Housing Directory. Users are able to collect information on housing options for seniors throughout the United States and receive further information from selected vendors.
In 2008, Best of the Web launched their local search offering, BOTW Local. BOTW Local provides users with detailed business information for over 16 million businesses in the US. In addition to searching for local businesses, users can leave reviews and vote for their favorite businesses. While completely free to users, businesses have an option of a free version or an enhanced listing for a fee.
Diversifying again in lead generation, in April of 2011 Best of the Web launched the Online Degree Directory, a resource for students and professionals to find information on online degrees and programs offered by colleges and universities in the United States.
Additionally, BOTW offers advertising in the form of category sponsorships. Category sponsors are highlighted at the top of their applicable category, and also receive enhanced placement in the BOTW search results. While sponsored listings undergo the same editorial review as directory listings, if accepted, the advertiser is granted more flexibility in category selection and more control over their title and description.
Web directory
A web directory or link directory is a directory on the World Wide Web. It specializes in linking to other web sites and categorizing those links....
providing website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
s categorized topically and regionally. Headquartered in Jericho, New York
Jericho, New York
Jericho is a hamlet in Nassau County, New York on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2010 Census, the CDP population was 13,567. The area is served by the Jericho Union Free School District, the boundaries of which differ somewhat from those of the hamlet...
, BOTW also maintains offices in Orange, Texas
Orange, Texas
Orange is a city in Orange County, Texas, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 18,643. It is the county seat of Orange County, and is the easternmost city in Texas. Located on the Sabine River at the border with Louisiana, it is part of the Beaumont–Port Arthur...
, Rocklin, California
Rocklin, California
Rocklin is a city in Placer County, California located in the metropolitan area of Sacramento. It shares borders with Roseville, Loomis, and Lincoln...
, Studio City, California and Highland Beach, Florida
Highland Beach, Florida
Highland Beach is a town in Palm Beach County, Florida, in the United States. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 3,988.-Geography:Highland Beach is located at ....
.
Founded in 1994 at the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, also commonly known as the University at Buffalo or UB, is a public research university and a "University Center" in the State University of New York system. The university was founded by Millard Fillmore in 1846. UB has multiple campuses...
, BOTW pioneered the web awards concept, recognizing the best sites online via an annual vote and presentation, highlighted by the announcements at the International W3C Conference in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
. The last awards were given in 1998, after which the site lay dormant until being sold. The award winners from 1994, 1996, 1997 and 1998 remain listed on the botw.org website.
In 2002 BOTW transformed into a general web directory
Web directory
A web directory or link directory is a directory on the World Wide Web. It specializes in linking to other web sites and categorizing those links....
, aiming to provide users with a spam
Spam (electronic)
Spam is the use of electronic messaging systems to send unsolicited bulk messages indiscriminately...
-free categorization of website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
s. The company employs a team of paid editors that search the web for sites with original content, whilst considering user-friendliness and web standards. BOTW offers listings for both commercial
Commerce
While business refers to the value-creating activities of an organization for profit, commerce means the whole system of an economy that constitutes an environment for business. The system includes legal, economic, political, social, cultural, and technological systems that are in operation in any...
and non-commercial
Non-commercial
Non-commercial refers to an activity or entity that does not in some sense involve commerce, at least relative to similar activities that do have a commercial objective or emphasis...
sites, and places each site that meet their editorial guidelines in its most relevant topical and/or regional category.
Due to the manual editorial involved in the listing process, many search engines view listings in "quality directories" as a valued citation. Website owners report of submitting their sites to directories can increase their search engine listings.
In 2005 BOTW was the first to introduce a hand-edited blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
directory. Maintaining high standards for inclusion, the BOTW Blog Directory focuses on categorizing the best blogs online.
Best of the Web also maintains the BOTW Media network, a network of dozens of blogs authored by subject experts.
In 2006, Best of the Web introduced its first lead generation platform, focused on the enterprise software industry. The BOTW Enterprise Software directory serves as a marketplace where users can search for software solutions and request additional information form a host of vendors.
In 2007, BOTW expanded their lead generation offerings with the Senior Housing Directory. Users are able to collect information on housing options for seniors throughout the United States and receive further information from selected vendors.
In 2008, Best of the Web launched their local search offering, BOTW Local. BOTW Local provides users with detailed business information for over 16 million businesses in the US. In addition to searching for local businesses, users can leave reviews and vote for their favorite businesses. While completely free to users, businesses have an option of a free version or an enhanced listing for a fee.
Diversifying again in lead generation, in April of 2011 Best of the Web launched the Online Degree Directory, a resource for students and professionals to find information on online degrees and programs offered by colleges and universities in the United States.
Paid Review and Advertising
BOTW allows site owners to submit their websites for an expedited review, and commercial sites are required to pay for the review. The company currently offers a choice of either a one time fee or an annually recurring fee for an editor to review the site for possible inclusion into the BOTW Directory. Review fees are non-refundable, and only sites that meet the editorial guidelines are listed.Additionally, BOTW offers advertising in the form of category sponsorships. Category sponsors are highlighted at the top of their applicable category, and also receive enhanced placement in the BOTW search results. While sponsored listings undergo the same editorial review as directory listings, if accepted, the advertiser is granted more flexibility in category selection and more control over their title and description.