Which directories to use?
-
I've recently has a conversation with a colleague regarding which directories to use when link building. In her opinion we should use only the ones that are relevant and nothing else. For example if you're working on a travel website, you should only submit either to travel directories or local directories (based on the business location). In my opinion yes we should submit to these directories but then you'll reach a limit and then you need to submit to general directories that have the "travel" category, even if the business is in NY and the directory is in India, as long as it is a good directory and has the relevant category.
What is your opinion about this?
-
The link is dead, it goes here http://www.whitelistproject.com/
-
I agree with most of what Tom pointed out.
Directories in general are outdated and not many people use them. Thus they have no value and rightly so.
However, this is not true for every industry. There are some animals out there for some industries like ThomasNet (Paid), Designt2Part (Paid), Eng-Tips, Efunda, are all good for manufactures and engineering. The difference here is these sites actually add value to users looking for companies and services.
Additionally, DMOZ.org still seems worth while getting but I wouldn't fret if they don't add you.
Hope that helps
-
The problem is not the client, but the marketing agency I work for. They do link submission to directories and if I want to work there, I have to do it too. I'll have a look in to that list, thank you.
-
Who's the SEO consultant here? You or the client? If they won't listen to your recommendations and want to rely on crap tactics, let them get on with it themselves.
If you must use directories, I would do as your colleague says and only use industry specific ones, or location specific ones. General directories are not only link-farms but they will not be able to pass on strength to your website due to indexing issues.
Check out the SEOMoz Directories list for some of the 'better' ones out there.
-
Thank you but this client really wants directory submission so I have no chance. Can you please answer my question? Thank you.
-
My advice would be not to use any directories at all.
Directories offer very little user value (no real web user uses directories any more - at a push they use very local ones) and consequently they offer very little SEO value. What I have seen consistently since the turn of the year are links coming from directories being completely devalued. It has been a common theme in the Moz forums that people experience ranking drops for homepage keywords, with no apparent penalty. A look at their link profile shows that the majority of their links are coming from directories, pointing to the homepage. They're low quality links and Google has been quite proactive in devaluing directory links on the fly every month or so.
There are infinitely better ways to earn high quality links to your website. Don't bother wasting your time and money with directories and focus your efforts elsewhere. Start creating content that is going to accrue high quality links over a sustained period of time.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
Are niche directories still helpful as good links to have to help ranking in the serps?
Are niche directories still helpful as good links to have to help ranking in the serps or has Google discounted directories? The Niche directories that i would be using are not spammy at all and are quality sources of info. Thanks mozzers!
Link Building | | Ron100 -
PR directories good for seo?
Hi I would like to publish article with backlink to gambling related website in PR directories - page rank 3 and more. Each articles wil be unique -no duplicate. Is it googe for seo? Thanks.
Link Building | | centrum0 -
Local Personal training studio needs SEO advice. Is directory submission they way forwards?
I have a local personal training business and am struggling to push our website to the top of local personal training searches despite already having a better domain and trust score than almost all of the higher ranked competitors. The website has only been live around 4 months but I was wondering if submitting to paid directories would help me to rank on page one? our website is www.danielalexandra.com
Link Building | | DAlondon0 -
Which are the best directory submission sites: UBL.org, localeeze.com, web-listings.net, other?
Manual sumbissions are a PAIN IN THE B, why good directory submission management sites are great. However, which ones are the best ones?
Link Building | | yvonneq0 -
Has Anyone used Eyeflow SEO out of Pittsburgh
We are looking to have a third party do some white hat link building for us because we currently do not have the resources to do so in house and do not want to rush into a hire. We are looking at eyeflow because they are local to our area and we would have the opportunity to personally see how they do things. Has anyone had any experience with them, or have any suggestions for things to ask or be weary of? Thanks
Link Building | | ClaytonKendall1 -
SeoMoz Directory List
Is it worth cracking through the directory list on SEOMOZ as the first step when link building to get things moving?
Link Building | | activitysuper0 -
Paid directory submission
Hi Team,
Link Building | | PLEsearch
We are looking for link submission in paid directories, so could you please you please let us know what will be the procedure of paid link submission ASAP Regards0 -
Trying to use the SEOmoz link building tools but...
all of the directories that are listed seem to be based in the US for US companies - am I missing something? By the way my target audience is solely based in the UK, Thanks, Jason
Link Building | | JasonHegarty0