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    4. Which Directory Sites to Choose?

    Moz Q&A is closed.

    After more than 13 years, and tens of thousands of questions, Moz Q&A closed on 12th December 2024. Whilst we’re not completely removing the content - many posts will still be possible to view - we have locked both new posts and new replies. More details here.

    Which Directory Sites to Choose?

    Link Building
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    • seanmccauley
      seanmccauley last edited by

      Hi All

      I am a newbie to SEO and have a quick Q.

      Assuming that appropriate steps would be to;

      a) Ensure all onsite matters are are correct, title tags, meta descriptions, redirects, canonical issues.

      b) Submit to Directories

      c) Build Links

      I am approaching step b)

      Which Directories are worth submitting to? For those which require payment, how can I decide which are value for money or should I just use SEOMOZ list of links and assume that theyre worth the $50 - $100 if my higher ranking competitors have links from these directories. Also, can this be looked opon as grey/black hat 'buying of links'?

      Thank you

      Sean

      www.pretavoir.co.uk

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • scanlin
        scanlin @KeriMorgret last edited by

        Keri, that link in your post is broken. I see it as:

        http://../blog/seo-link-directory-best-practices

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • KeriMorgret
          KeriMorgret last edited by

          Just wanted to leave a quick note saying that SEOmoz has upgraded the Link Directory! You can view a post Cyrus wrote with more information about the directory updates and link building via directories at http://www.seomoz.org/blog/seo-link-directory-best-practices

          scanlin 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • BlinkWeb
            BlinkWeb @seanmccauley last edited by

            Yeah I just feel like if SEO people put half the effort they put into tricking Google, into doing SEO the right way and creating value that they could have one hell of an SEO product.

            What you are essentially looking to do is create web spam.

            It seems like a lot of effort for something that may work for a whille but will almost surely be figured out eventually and doesn't bring any value to your clients.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
            • seanmccauley
              seanmccauley @seanmccauley last edited by

              Cheers for reply Roger.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • BlinkWeb
                BlinkWeb @seanmccauley last edited by

                You should put that in a new question and I'll bet it would get more eyes on it.

                I've seen it done a lot but not sure as to how effective it is. I would think its pretty easy for google to figure out. Especially if they are all new domains registered to you and hosted on one c block or even the same IP address.

                I think to do it where it wouldnt raise obvious flags would be expensive and you are still just getting links from new sites with little/no authority so not sure its worth it.

                My guess is Google would figure it out anyway.

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • seanmccauley
                  seanmccauley @seanmccauley last edited by

                  Roger

                  Thanks for that advice.

                  I just downloaded quite a good whitepaper from http://www.fastdirectorysubmitter.com/ which seems makes sense to me. Any of you have used this site or similar?

                  Thanks

                  Sean

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • BlinkWeb
                    BlinkWeb @seanmccauley last edited by

                    Not a chance its worth 50-100.

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • scanlin
                      scanlin @seanmccauley last edited by

                      I never pay directories for inclusion, nor do I pay people to do directory submission for me (unless you're just trying to get into 1000 low-value spam directories, it's not worth it). You need to do it yourself so you get the categorization of your site's listing correct (each directory is a little different) and optimize/maximize the characters that each one gives you to write a description of your site (and/or add tags/keywords). It's a high-touch operation for human-moderated directories that are actually valuable.

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • seanmccauley
                        seanmccauley @seanmccauley last edited by

                        Mike

                        Thanks for taking the time to give your advice. I think you make good points.

                        One last thought is; Is it worth paying 50-100 $ pa?

                        Thanks

                        Sean

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • scanlin
                          scanlin @seanmccauley last edited by

                          Directory submission is a background task and subject to time management constraints and other things you need to get done. I would do all of the relevant non-weak directories first. Then, when you have time, get around to the relevant weak directories. Every do-follow inbound link you get has some value. Especially if it's on a different C-class IP address, or from a trusted source (human moderated directory). I wouldn't obsess about directory submissions, but I would put it on the list of things to do for when you have a few minutes (do a few per day or else you'll get burned out on it if you do them all at once).

                          As for UK vs non-UK, it may help you to have some .uk directories but regular old .com directories should help, too.

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • seanmccauley
                            seanmccauley @scanlin last edited by

                            Thanks Mike The seomoz contains 180 directories with some of them towards bottom of list described as weak? Why have they listed these weak links? Also, as I am in the UK a) Should it make much difference as to which directories I use? b) As I am hoping to optimise for google.co.uk in the main, is there a different approach I should take due to my location? Sean

                            scanlin seanmccauley BlinkWeb 8 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • scanlin
                              scanlin last edited by

                              SEOmoz maintains a list of directories here: http://www.seomoz.org/directories

                              seanmccauley 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                              • seanmccauley
                                seanmccauley @seanmccauley last edited by

                                Roger

                                Thanks for reply. That makes sense.

                                I will take a look at these links.

                                Sean

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • BlinkWeb
                                  BlinkWeb @seanmccauley last edited by

                                  Hi Sean,

                                  I guess I am being a little black and white there. I would try and get listed in any directories that your competitors are listed in that show authority in OSE. It may or may not do you any good but it wont hurt.

                                  Here is Yahoo Directory, submit link.

                                  https://ecom.yahoo.com/dir/submit/intro/

                                  I guess what I am saying is that I would limit my time submitting to directories and try to use that time doing something that ads value, like participating in a community. It will pay you back way more than just pure SEO value and directories just aren't a good use of time or money in any large quantity.

                                  Also check these links out for more info (the fact that SEOmoz has not dedicated ANY resources to updating this list or really discussing directories at all since 2008 is a good indicator of what they think of directories.)

                                  http://www.seomoz.org/directories

                                  http://www.seomoz.org/blog/what-makes-a-good-web-directory-and-why-google-penalized-dozens-of-bad-ones

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • seanmccauley
                                    seanmccauley @BlinkWeb last edited by

                                    Roger

                                    Thanks for you reply. The main reason I ask is that when I use Seomoz Open Site Explorer they list some of the most important links of my competitors as some directories. Our site is as you suggest almost devoid of links. I have submitted to dmoz and I assume that is just a waiting game. How do you get listed with Yahoo sites you mention?

                                    BlinkWeb seanmccauley 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • BlinkWeb
                                      BlinkWeb last edited by

                                      If you can get into dmoz (impossible? maybe) and Yahoo sites they are worth while. Unless you are just have absolutely no links I think directories are pretty useless anymore.

                                      If you are looking for quick easy links, maybe spend some time in some forums answering questions related to your business. you get a signature link (for what it's worth) and if you add value as a contributer, you can see some REAL referral traffic.

                                      I would not pay for many directories.

                                      Find some good communities and participate.

                                      seanmccauley 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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