Paying for submission to multiple Directories?

I would avoid using any automated submission tools, as these mostly submit you to worthless Free-For-All link sites (often designed to harvest your own email address for sending you more spam) and other worthless directory sites.
Using such programs can even get your site into trouble with the major search engines, as most of them prohibit automated site submission.
I would likewise avoid any paid site submission services, as most of these are just paying some guy to press the "start" button on one of these automated programs. SEO is a hot area - as a result, there are many people who read some simple, but out-of-date SEO advice from a book or the Internet, and suddenly think that they know what they want to promote their site.
Back a long time ago (back in the stone age, before Google even existed), the only way a site even got listed at all in searches is if someone manually submitted it to the search engines.
Likewise, the very first search engines had trouble even figuring out what a web page was about, and used Keyword Meta Tags to allow a web designer to "clue in" the search engine as to the purpose of the page. All modern search engines now have automated robots (aka "spiders", such as Googlebot, MSNbot, and Yahoo's Slurp) which continuously scan the web for new web sites and pages, and update or add them to their indexes. While most search engines still have site submission pages for historical reasons, not only are they no longer necessary, but it can actually hurt your search engine rankings to submit your site in this manner.
One of the reasons is that PageRank, which is used by Google to judge how "important" your site is, is based on what sites link to yours. If you did manage to convince Google to list your site before it has found your site naturally (by finding a site linking to you), your PageRank is going to be nada, and your search engine rankings are going to suffer accordingly.
To get a new site listed in Google, all you need to do is to put a link to your site on any other site that is already in Google. That's it - Googlebot will find the link on that site, and follow it to your new site. Directories are another issue. But there are only a handful of generic directories (plus possibly a few industry-specific ones for your area) that are even worth submitting to (some of which now charge you for a listing).
The best way is to manually submit your site to a directory. Automated submission should be avoided - if a directory is worth listing in, it is worth you taking the time to do it right.

1 week SEO is live!

http://sites.google.com/site/1weekseo/home

web directory

1 week SEO business services SW UK

SEO in 1 week - Business Services
Website Optimisation, Google AdWords, Google Analytics, these are the things I can help with (and much more).
Are you looking for a personal one-on-one SEO Consultant, with over 10 years experience in Marketing, Sales and eMarketing?

1 week SEO does what it says on the tin. Working remotely there's no need for a visit.
If I do not improve your Google rankings in 1 week then there's NO CHARGE.

Visit http://sites.google.com/site/1weekseo/home

1 week SEO is a cost effective way for you to discover the benefits for your company's website. Whether you are a small business, SME, a household name, a sole trader or one man band, I guarantee I can help.

I offer my services at £115 inclusive for an initial 7 days service. Ongoing rates will be established by discussing your needs for the future, there are a wide variety of Search Engine Optimisation services available to you, and I will only recommend the ones you require.

One week, seven points of services:
Search Engine Optimisation recommendations - keywords, meta tags, alt tags, title tags, web page content
If you have Adwords I will improve your visibility and aim to reduce your PPC and daily spend
If you do not have Adwords I am happy to create an account and adverts to suit (optional)
Website Critique, suggestions for improvement, an overview of customer experiences
5 solid UK directory submissions with marketing copy and pictures / logo
Alexa ranking report from day 1 and again at day 7
Full 7 day report with recommendations for the future
At every step of the way I will be able to provide an explanation of why these basics are important and convey to you in a language you will be able to understand. Remember - I've been where you are now - vaguely understanding the importance of SEO, but unsure about how to achieve it. As a sole trader you will have only one point of contact at all times - myself.

Ongoing SEO work is recommended, submitting to online directories, creating trusted backlinks to your website, setting up and maintaining blogs, news pages, social media promotion, analysing Adwords and Google Analytics to extend your reach on the internet and search engines. We will be able to work together to provide a cost effective service tailored to your unique needs.