If you're anything like me, you spend hours a week submitting your website to directories, and writing emails to exchange links. And, if you're like me, you hate every second of it and you look for an easy way out at every turn.

Unfortunately, there is no real easy way out, especially if you want to do it right, but I do have a couple of ideas to make your submission and exchange life easier.

There is nothing like spending an afternoon searching through directories, finding your specific category and then submitting your website. It's a lot of work before you even get to the submission process, and by then exhaustion sets in, not to mention being frustrated by the whole process.

There are any numbers of directory lists out there, but http://info.vilesilencer.com/main.php?rock=seo-friendly.php keeps a close watch on a couple of hundred directories. He maintains an Excel spreadsheet of general and niche directories (some paid, some free) that you can download and use to keep track of your directory submissions. All directories are SEO friendly. This method is manual. Submission services are also offered.

At http://4th-media.com/submission you create a profile on the 4th Media website with your website details: Title, URL, and Description. If paid, you can have up to 10 different descriptions for a particular site. He offers several packages: free: do it yourself, paid: do it yourself, and they also have a submission service. There are mostly paid directories, some are free, and most are SEO-friendly.

A third directory submission solution, and my favorite, is the Directory Submitter http://directorysubmitter.com

I found the Directory Submitter after using the above 2 solutions (and I still use them) but I just needed something to give me a feeling of accomplishment, so I started looking for an automated solution. I came across several but was unhappy with my results.

I found the Directory Submitter, checked out the trial version and decided to spend the money on the full version. It was money well spent.

The Directory Submitter works right from your desktop and is super easy to use. The hardest part is loading your profiles. Once you've done this, and then you are good to go. Like any software, you do have to get used to it, but this doesn't take long, and then you'll fly through submissions. On my second night using the software, I submitted a website to 30 directories. I was truly impressed. It normally takes me weeks get through 10 submissions.

The Directory Submitter isn't completely automated: sorry folks, but it won't do it all. You still have to decide the best category your site belongs in, you'll still need to manually type in any "captcha" images you come across. With any method of directory submission you use, you should always read the submission guidelines, for a better chance of being accepted.