A general web directory is a compilation of human-edited links to useful websites. Web directories are useful because they offer visitors an alternative to search engines for finding the particular service or information they are looking for, when a search engine fails to deliver what the user wants.
Several scripts exist which make building and running a general link directory easier. One such script, employed by websites such as the general web directory at secwh, have nice features including automatic spam detection, premium listings, and reviews.
The general link directory script allows a webmaster to focus more on reviewing quality links, rather than the technical aspects of displaying content or building HTML pages of links. The dynamic nature of a script is also useful for updating large numbers of pages on the fly from a centralized location, such as a database.
Using the Add Url tag in a link directory will allow webmasters searching for this common term to find you much easier, and with less hassle. It is also helpful because it's common and that's what many webmasters are automatically looking for when visiting your web directory.
Alternatively, some sites use Submit Your Url or Submit Your Site. While these are also acceptable, they are less common than Add Url, and not as likely to get so many people looking for them in your general web directory.
It is important to have a diverse selection of categories and subcategories. After all, webmasters are going to need a place to put their links, and they would like them next to similar sites for the best link value and ease of locating by users. It is also important to use a hierarchical structure that makes sense. Having subcategories under unexpected main categories will definitely cause problems for the users.
I hope you've enjoyed this little primer on how to start a general web directory. If you need more information, learn more about web design and web development techniques and specifically, how to get traffic and manage your link trades and backlinks. Good luck!