Directory Submissions is still an effective way for link building in 2015?

32 replies
  • SEO
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Hello folks. I've come across many sites which state Google doesn't prefer much link juice or no link juice at all after you submit your sites to Directories. Wondering if Directory submission is still a healthy way for gaining some good rankings?
#2015 #building #directory #effective #link #submissions
  • Profile picture of the author xnice
    It is not useful as before but it can use for diversity backlinks.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tactical1
    No, they're junk and should be entirely avoided.
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  • Profile picture of the author dave_hermansen
    This is one of those questions that can be surprisingly controversial.

    The best answer is "in some cases." Small niche directories maintained by real people and frequented by people going there for the purpose of finding relevant information can be a great resource.

    General directories, automated ones, or non-trafficed ones aren't worth your time (and can be potentially toxic) - which frequently doesn't leave many options.
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    • Profile picture of the author Lauren7
      Originally Posted by dave_hermansen View Post

      This is one of those questions that can be surprisingly controversial.

      The best answer is "in some cases." Small niche directories maintained by real people and frequented by people going there for the purpose of finding relevant information can be a great resource.

      General directories, automated ones, or non-trafficed ones aren't worth your time (and can be potentially toxic) - which frequently doesn't leave many options.
      Well, then in 'all cases' one must avoid submitting to Directories? I'm sure no one would want to risk of getting G's penalty.
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      • Profile picture of the author dave_hermansen
        Originally Posted by Lauren7 View Post

        Well, then in 'all cases' one must avoid submitting to Directories? I'm sure no one would want to risk of getting G's penalty.
        I wouldn't recommend blindly writing off directories. Like any marketing effort they just need to be considered carefully. In the case of most eCommerce stores directories don't make sense because people aren't searching directories looking for that one product they want. An attorney though might want to be in a dozen different (high quality, specific) directories because that's where people frequently end up when searching for an attorney.

        The best way to avoid penalties when link building is considering whether anyone visiting the site will actually click on your link (knowing what's on the other end). If there's reasonable potential for the site to refer authentic traffic to your site and the site isn't spammy you're generally safe.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tactical1
    I think we need to separate link directories from citations. If you're a local business then there are going to be a ton of business and local directories you'll want to be featured in. However, if you're looking for "link" directories for SEO value then you're not going to find any. I've seen plenty of directory sites that could deliver relevant traffic for related businesses listed as spam by Google. I've worked on a lot of manual penalties and you'll be surprised what Google references as spam.

    One of the most highly publicized examples was a back link via guest post from Moz.com, which is one of the most respected SEO sites that there is with one of the strictest (best) editorial guidelines. Still, Google referenced this particular guest post back link as spam.
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    • Profile picture of the author lerxtjr
      Yet, dig into any law firm, home remodeling, or vacation rental management company with top search presence and you'll find they spend about $500 to $5K per year alone on "paid" links which we know are satan's spawn in the world of seo right? Somehow it's okay for them. If you or I were to buy a few links on some business directories, we'd get hosed to the pavement.
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  • Profile picture of the author alvinchua91
    As mentioned by Dave above, directory submissions can be a double-edged sword. If you choose to submit only to highly relevant (and preferably local if yours is a local business) directories, then it will help you.

    <Generally if you check out your top ranking competitors, they have at least a few highly relevant directories links>.

    But if you abuse it and link from random and irrelevant directories then you will potentially get penalized, or the link will be rendered void.
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  • Profile picture of the author nirajsharma
    not useful now a days. its counted as a spammy link
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  • Profile picture of the author geeksonrepair
    Banned
    Directory submission is better if you can use your website related directories like if you have health related website then search health directories and submit your content on them to get high rank in search engines.
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  • Profile picture of the author Meenawls
    It depends on what type of directory you are submitting to. Low quality directories can hurt your website.Use some High PR directories(ex:dmoz,yahoo,botw,Business.com) as well as niche directories it will be useful.you want to do is submit manually to a handful of good web directories that have a real human reviewing each submission. There aren’t that many of them out there and links from those directories still count and produce trust in the eyes of Google.If you are doing 100 or 1000 directory submissions it hurt your rankings.
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    • Profile picture of the author stevenwatson011
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Meenawls View Post

      It depends on what type of directory you are submitting to. Low quality directories can hurt your website.Use some High PR directories(ex:dmoz,yahoo,botw,Business.com) as well as niche directories it will be useful.you want to do is submit manually to a handful of good web directories that have a real human reviewing each submission. There aren't that many of them out there and links from those directories still count and produce trust in the eyes of Google.If you are doing 100 or 1000 directory submissions it hurt your rankings.
      yeah agree with you and you can do online 5 directories daily.
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  • Profile picture of the author medstock
    Banned
    Its effective if you submit directories with relevant sites and relevant categories.
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  • Profile picture of the author pinkwhale
    Banned
    Yes it is effective but it take more time.So we can not consider effective techniques.
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  • Profile picture of the author Joseph Dyson
    Google only prefers links from very few, niche, top rating directories. The rest are a waste of time.
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  • Profile picture of the author SEOleaders
    Low PR and DA directory websites are considered junk but adding your business to local business directories has great value and you can get huge exposure in local searches.
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  • Profile picture of the author Gaurav singh
    Yes, it is effective but you should choose category very precisely. If category is not according to your business then it will be consider as spam by SE
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  • Profile picture of the author Tonyjose
    Yeah, its useful still. when your site is new, first you need to post directory submissions because directory sites approval process become late.
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  • Profile picture of the author Carl Hardy
    use full if u submit in high pr web sites,,,
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  • Profile picture of the author hipeopo02
    Localeze
    expressupdate
    yellowbot
    axciom

    These require phone verification while axciom requires proof of DBA to be faxed. A verification process of some kind keeps these directories filled with "real" businesses. I use these at work for my local business clients and they have helped.

    If the comp is heavy thought don't expect miracles.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mehwish84
    yes still effective but use high DA and Local directory submission
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    • Profile picture of the author dezignmywebsite
      Some directories are useful (dmoz). But others, if they look spammy stay away. You can usually tell a spammy directory if there is a big button that says add your site and all the other listings in there are completely random.
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  • Profile picture of the author tami9191
    Lots of ideas more useful. I think submitting to Dmoz, yahoo directory is good.
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  • Profile picture of the author bryan2015
    Directory submission is an important off page seo technique but its effective if you search sites related to your content.
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  • Profile picture of the author shafiqrifat
    If you do it proper way it will help to get better result .
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  • Profile picture of the author rejaulalam
    If you do it proper way it will help to get better result - shafiqrifat
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  • Free directories usually are not good. Paid directories are usually good
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  • Profile picture of the author st0nec0ld
    Directory submission is most likely to be considered as link scheme.
    And in my opinion, it is also a fact that most of us see it as a backlink source.
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  • Profile picture of the author Rado Ch
    With the amount of fake and useless directories out there its very easy to stumble upon ones that wouldn't work for you. They are pretty easy to spot though - full of all kinds of ads, no moderation for submission, spammy etc. In 2015 its better to keep away from those. Truthfully said, even the ones that work, should be just a complementary method as they won't give you any considerable boost or lead to many sales.
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  • Profile picture of the author SandraDLaurean
    Banned
    Yes, it is best way to generate traffic .
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  • Profile picture of the author AmandaThomas
    Hi TS, that depends on which directories you are posting your links on. I still submit my business to local listings and they are indexed frequently by Google. I believe for local SEO or those whose keywords are non-English, directories will give you brownie points
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  • Profile picture of the author halldaniel454
    yaa,directory submission still effective for link building.

    but when effective if we use do-follow & proper directory sites use for posting.
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