Are Directories Worth It? Let's see some figures...

I'm assuming you're referring to straight-up directories like the Google directory or the Yahoo directory not article directories.

In a nutshell - no.

Not all directories are created equal. You do want to stick with the more well known directories even though some of them do have a pretty hefty fee (Yahoo being the worst).

Some you should consider (aside from Yahoo) are:

• GoGuides.com
• JoeAnt.com
• Gimpsy.com
• and of course DMOZ.org

- Kristine

There are thousands of directory sites out there, you can leave backlinks there but your links probably end up in directory pages with low PRs or even 0 PR.

The ones you should consider are directories that Iowagal said, especially DMOZ.
If your link accepted by DMOZ, chances are google will pick up the link from DMOZ, so you get two listing on two huge directories.

You should check the stats (pagerank and traffic) of the page that the site to your site is likely to be placed on before submitting. I tend to only submit my sites to the top 100 directories because after that the time taken to manually submit is not worth the return.

Yahoo is the best but, $300 per year... Pay someone to get you into DMOZ, don't try it on your own... Make sure the people you are paying have a good guarantee.

Seriously, don't spend much time on this at all. With the exception of Yahoo and DMOZ you can buy better links than this and save the time hastle.... It is definaetly better to use the sweat equity of submitting to free directories to build other links.

Directories are a relic of when the internet was a lot younger. Back in "the day", if you wanted to find a website on a topic, you went to yahoo and looked through its directory. This was before google, msn, ask, dog pile and the other search engines came along.

Once google came along, directories were pretty much useless. Even for link building, some directories use a nofollow tag. You could submit to 100 directories and if 98 had nofollow - you were wasting your time.

If you want to build links, use your forum signature and only sign up at forums that do not have <nofollow> in the signature. When you sign up at a forum, look at the source code of a thread where there is a link in a signature. If there is <nofollow> in front of the link URL, do not register in that forum.

When I started trying to promote my site I probably submitted to 100 directories over 6 months. I have yet to see a back link from any of those directories, and this is 2 years later.

Hi,
There are several benefits of making directory submissions:

• If you have a new website, directory submissions are a good way to get your site indexed and recognized by search engines.
  
• Directory submissions help search engines classify the theme of your site based on the category your site is listed under and the link/anchor text used.
  
• Directories provide one-way link to your site. Search engines value these links more than reciprocal links (links exchanged with other sites).
  
• You can control the anchor or link texts with which a directory links to your site, which will help your website rank high for searches made with those target term
• The higher you rank, the more popularity you gain and the more incoming traffic you will attract.

It changes what kind of site you have . Generally small directories are not generating any traffic or any advantage for high ranks in search engines. But there are some tips about local directories which are supporting your page well .

Example : a co.uk domain in a co.uk directory

Thats just a tip good luck

You can find a free list of about 800 directories to submit to at:

Add URL.nu : Add your URL to free SEO friendly directories

I personally prefer to outsource this work and one of my favourite places is:

SEO Firm : Directory Submission Link Building Service with Article submission

It costs about $60 for 750 submissions and I have found it to be of benefit, particularly in smaller markets, for improving rankings.

Richard

Directories help generate traffic cause they also pop up on google and yahoo search engine results. however, you should always keep in mind the credibility and traffic the directories generate. it would be futile to submit sites on directories that people don't really go to.

It will help. What people seem to forget is the reciprocal link "thing" about listing with directories. Each link back to the directory helps boost the directory's PR which increases the value of the link coming to your site.

You're doing this for SEO purposes, not traffic. Any traffic you get is a bonus. It's the link that counts.

Some directories that might be PR0 or PR1 today could easily be PR8 in six months. Don't be too quick to judge.

There are thousands of directories anywhere for free..

Anyway, directory submission is a dead meat... Submit and forget... better to focus on forum posting and blog commenting..