Directory SubmissionsDirectory Submissions – Are Directory Links Still Worth It? The problem with trying to answer such a generic question is that not all directory sites are treated equally. Some are good sites, and some are spam. Inbetween the vast majority of directories are just so wide in depth and so narrow in keyword diversity and so strung out in terms of pagerank (or ranking ability) and full of pages Google doesn’t want to list in search results to make them very low quality links to your site.

From my experience (and I’ve tested recently) I’ve never seen a site penalised by MANUAL directory submissions to any directory site nor by building these links over time. On the other hand, I’ve never seen a site really benefit from having a lot of directory links in the last couple of years. Perhaps there’s a massive grey area between these two that means spammy tactics actually would give you a better result, but i don’t know, I’ve not pushed in this direction for years.

The time spent manually submitting to directories is often better spent elsewhere like adding a page to your blog and hoping you get somebody to link to it.

Niche Local business directories are another matter though. If there’s a local business directory for your area, you should be in it especially if it’s unpaid.

If you have an exact match domain, that might be another reason for you to consider directory link building strategies.

One thing’s for sure, most directories send you little or no traffic and on their own in little numbers have little impact in SERPS.

The only directory I use (every now and again) at the moment is Yahoo, and generally, that’s for brand new sites or sites with low quality or no incoming links. Results can vary dependent on of course the levels of competition in your niche.

  • I don’t pay any directory, other than Yahoo, to be listed (and for brand new sites and even then, I question the actual cost/roi more and more) – Hobo does not have a link in it as I knew I was going to actively add content / linkuild to pick up links and I wouldn’t expect any ranking imporvement by getting it listed now (20,000 links later)
  • Dmoz is worth considering in a long term strategy – submit to Dmoz and forget it – but one other tip if you want to become an editor if you are a SEO – LIE THORUGH YOUR TEETH ON THE SUBMISION FORM AT EVERY STEP if you want listed!

In summary – I wouldn’t bother with directory links at all if you’re actively linkbuilding. Better to get those links elsewhere.

Directory link building can be good for muddying your link profile in a long term strategy.

This post was part of Hobo link building strategies month.

Update – Eric Ward knows a thing or two about link building and I found this recent article of his a good read and it’s largely about buidling links via directory submissions – What If Everything You Knew About Linkbuilding Was Wrong (I think about this a couple of times a day lol)

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