Directory Submissions? Yay or nay?

[Branlan17]

I was wondering if tools like onewaytextlink.com would be worth using to promote a new site (few weeks old)

[Branlan17]

Another I've found is Fast Directory Submitter | One Way Link Building Software

[turbohips]

nay it's a waste of time

[Mike Anthony]

Agree with turbohips. There are very few directories I would want a link on

[Tom Goodwin]

Originally Posted by turbohips

nay it's a waste of time

Seconded. dont' waste your time.

[Branlan17]

Glad I got your input then, I've got wayyyyy too many other link sources to be worrying about this then : )

[ForumMaster]

Please dont waste your time dude.

[hotftuna]

Directory submissions can be a great way to get backlinks. If the directory has a very high reputation, a listing can give you a competitive edge. Here is why-

Directories like Yahoo Directory and DMOZ are either expensive or difficult to get into. Sites are reviewed by human editors and must have some degree of quality or usefulness to get in.

If I was designing a SE algo, I would boost sites listed in such directories. Reason is that a human must have evaluated the site and has seen something that was a benefit to the net. I bet SE's do this.

As for mass submissions to hundreds or thousands of worthless, low quality directories, I agree with the others- it is a waste of time.

[MarkAse]

DMOZ is even tougher then that. So many "editors" that are there only are trying to protect their own sites SERPS that it makes it exceedingly difficult to get in.

[hotftuna]

Originally Posted by MarkAse

DMOZ is even tougher then that. So many "editors" that are there only are trying to protect their own sites SERPS that it makes it exceedingly difficult to get in.

Yes and I would not hold your breath while waiting for inclusion.

Still recommend submitting quailty sites to DMOZ.

[dvduval]

Submitting to directories is a changing dynamic, and you have to understand it to benefit from it.

Some directories are quite popular and have a good standing with google, and a link is certainly worthwhile, but you may have to pay for it.

Some directories are new, and you just don't know if it will be well maintained, but getting a free listing is very likely, and lots of people get sites ranked by submitting to new directories as they come out.

Some directories are niche based or regional, meaning the links are more theme based, and more likely to be of good quality. Often you can get good links for free from such directories, and they are better maintained because the owner of the directory has a true interest in the topic.

Directories are certainly one way to get links. You can find quality (and lack thereof) in other methods too including blog commenting, forum posting, article submission, etc. But all too often people don't bother learning. They just go link crazy and pay somebody who could care less about quality to do a very important task. This is unfortunate.

Nevertheless, with some study and effort, directories can be very worthwhile, just as other methods can too (and even a better, a combination of methods).

[markiliz]

Google expects you to get directory links, so get some.

[warrior49]

I would only manually submit sites to directories. I would try to find some related ones so that you can possibly get some traffic as well.

[pluto1]

Submit to select few, not whole lot. I wasted my time many years ago when I first started IM. It doesn't help to submit to each and every directory you come across.

[hotftuna]

Originally Posted by markiliz

Google expects you to get directory links, so get some.

Well said.

One thing I do is find directories that my competitor's sites are listed in. If their site that is listed is out-ranking my site, why would I not want that listing?

[turbohips]

Originally Posted by hotftuna

Well said.

One thing I do is find directories that my competitor's sites are listed in. If their site that is listed is out-ranking my site, why would I not want that listing?

Because you can get better links with more link juice/authority than a directory link.

[John Hocking]

Submitting articles to the article directories is a better way to get one-way links to your site.

It helps establish yourself as a subject matter expert and most sites will publish your article on higher profile pages of the sites because they want the content. This helps give the articles better pr.

Don't neglect the social media sites and make your pages easy to share with social media icons. You might be surprized at the increase in traffic you can get from them even if you don't rank well in Google.

[primemarketingmind]

ya dont waste your time not worth it

[indianlinkbuilder]

I am using only manual submissions.

[rypher21]

directory submissions are still helpful...better do manual submission

[Nemanja]

Direcory submission yes, but only manualy and to quality directories only.

[halfpoint]

Originally Posted by turbohips

Because you can get better links with more link juice/authority than a directory link.

Yes, but you can still get those links, regardless.

I'm all for directory links so long as it's automated. Personally, I use Directory Bot and it does the job fine.

I wouldn't, however, go after directory links if I had to do so manually.

[Dan B Rusu]

Yes, but only to the top ones. dmoz, yahoo, business.com ect..

[mondays]

Originally Posted by Pat Jackson

Yes, but you can still get those links, regardless.

I'm all for directory links so long as it's automated. Personally, I use Directory Bot and it does the job fine.

I wouldn't, however, go after directory links if I had to do so manually.

I use directory bot by Big Mike too. Is automated it takes 2 minutes so why not.

I never did any manual submission anywhere.

[brp002]

If you are a local business you can submit your link to localeze they will submit you to many directories and it takes you a minute. You get listed in my directories and yes most of them will not give you anything but some will give you credibility. Def worth your time in my opinion since it takes 1 min.

[hotftuna]

Here is a list of top directories:

Top Web Directory List - Directories Rated by Inbound Link Quality - ILQ

Disclosure- one of my directories is in the list.

[ztws]

Never really seen any benefit from directory submission myself.

[warriorak]

Directory submissions are a component of a strategic search engine optimization program. I say it is a component because relying on them exclusively will not do the trick, especially in very tough (i.e competitive) markets.

I would not forgo them, but I also would not expect them to produce in and of themselves, with the exception of Yahoo and Best of the Web. I would also not expect them to produce results immediately.

[seoguy1]

Search engine friendly directory links can boost your rankings in the SERPs, so it's not a waste of time.

[tvanslooten]

I don't think directory submissions are a waste of time - as long as you don't spend a lot of time doing them. I will typically do a mass submission to hundreds of directory submissions from any one of the many WSO's. I realize that most of the directories are probably garbage but I figure if I throw 2,000 links out there for $25 and only a fraction of those stick, who cares - I'm still getting a decent amount of links. Plus, I do this strictly to have more variety in my backlinking efforts. I don't do it thinking it's going to boost my rankings.

Once I've had the site up and running for a while I'll then submit it to 4-5 PAID directories such as JoeAnt, BOW, and even the Yahoo! Directory IF the site's revenues can justify the investment.

The name of the game is link variety so it is worth it to do at least "some" submissions to link directories.

Travis