Is purchasing internal page links from directories worth it?
-
Since data suggests that only the first link on a page to a singular URL is counted, are the deep links purchased from directories worth the money/provide any value?
-
As others here have addressed the merits of directory links, let me address your question more narrowly. Do deep links, if they are from the same page, count?
Short answer, yes. Results from several experiments over the years have shown that Google only counts the first link on a page to a particular URL, but links to multiple URLs still count. (although there are ways to get around this as well.)
Think of them like links on your homepage, all pointing to various internal pages on your site. Each link passes value, although certain links pass more weight than others.
Almost always, the first link in any price of editorial content carries more weight than all the others. Multiple links to the same domain carry much, much less value.
Best advice: Deep linking from directories may carry value, but in light of Penguin and Google's mass de-listing of several directories, I'd be careful to only obtain links from the highest quality of human-edited niche and specialty directories. I'm no longer a fan of general directories at all, although more testing needs to be done.
-
If you notice, the list of directories on SEOmoz is very very short, but I agree that Google's policies may not be the most helpful to someone in your situation. if you notice many of the directories SEOmoz recommends are niche directories with a very narrow focus and a strong editorial policy.
Just as book publishing moves from pay for play vanity presses to esteemed academic houses, so do directory link values move from cheap spammy free and pay sites to directories like DMOZ and Yahoo and BBB.org which provide true value.
You should certainly submit to yahoo and dmoz, of course. I think it all comes down to PR and authority when Google looks at directory links and the nature of the editorial policy. You have to ask yourself "is this directory designed to make the owner a profit only or is this directory meant to add value to the Web as well."
I think a good alternative to buying directory links is to start building links through social properties. Sites like Twitter, Delicious, and Pinterest act like directories in many ways.
So, I would start building some stacks, creating some twitter lists, and pinning all that great content your client is producing along side a few strategic directory submissions. And good luck!
jonatdrpower
-
What about all of the directories the SEOmoz.org suggests as "good" directories? Are you saying Google sees editorial reviewed directories that require payment for that review as bad "paid" links?
-
Business.com external links are no follow, which is in accordance with Google paid links policy, so you would get no seo benefit from buying a link from business.com. I don't think many people would use business.com to find a service or product anyways...They would most likely just use google.
-
This is a little confusing as even SEOmoz produces a list of "good" directories to submit your site to, many of which require a payment for editorial review. Are you saying that Google is now looking down on directories like Business.com. BOTW, etc?
Let's say that you only focus on quality directories that editorially review submission (with a cost). Would multiple links on the same page to internal pages of yours be counted?
-
Mj775,
For me purchasing links of any kind is too risky.
That being said, I don't think these deep links are worth the money. Depending on the size and quality of the directory, you could pay from $5 to $100 a month. That's per keyword of course, and over a year or even six months this could add up.
If I were in your shoes, I would look to expand the number of linking root domains and not the number of links per domain. And if I did buy directory links, I would make sure my link had its own real estate.
And of course, stay away from site-wide links.
Thanks,
jonatdrpower
-
I think google's stance is that any paid links for search engine ranking purposes is bad. Purchased links for advertising purposes is ok. If your purchasing internal links from directories for the sole purpose of rankings, I think google will pick up on that and end up penalizing you sooner or later.
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
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
-
Page links, header links, footer links
HI I have been hearing about links, you should keep to 100 Just look at this url http://www.powerwale.com/store/acdelco-sealed-vrla-iacdv5l--b-5ah-bike-battery/77031 and go for Recommend section, where you same product applies to different vehicles 1. im confused, should keep it or not?
Link Building | | Rahim119
2. Header links are less, Footer links are less, and in the future, we are planning to add more, will this affect SEO more than 100
i see many ecommerce sites, has menu showing many categories, more 100 categories links
3. Wht about link equity? If I have more links in header and footer page(all this will follow in the rest of pages).
4. More links in the header and footer shows that you are big ecommerce site.. Pls suggest, which is right way and go gain SEO value1 -
Where would we get the most bang for the buck? Fresh Content, Internal Links, or Schemas & Metatags
We cannot change the content on our website.And we have a lot of it. Where would we get the most bang for our buck: Adding lots of fresh content; Linking Content Internally in ways that make the relationship between the content more clear; Creating schemas and metatags for the content. Or something else that we haven't thought of. Our content is not really conducive to social. It is legal information. We have a Domain Authority of 61 / 100 Your help and experience is appreciated.
Link Building | | SamD12340 -
Dofollow OR nofollow for internal links
We recently changed our wordpress site and I have noticed that in the new theme all the internal links are set to nofollow. I understand that Google might not decide page rankings based on internal links but isn't it good practice to do a follow on internal links to highlight the relative importance of a page
Link Building | | Advocator0 -
Internal Link Building
For a large part of our SEO we have been focusing on inbound links (mainly from guest posts and blogger reviews). But our rankings have dropped (though I understand there is a natural fluctuation in rankings quite often) this week and it occurred to me that we should be focusing more on internal link building as well. We, of course, link often to our home page and have related products on every page but we lack a lot of direct key word links in in our description. Would it behoove us to be on a specific product page--take for example owls and friends wall decals--and somewhere in the description add something like "our nursery wall decals are safe for....and have "nursery wall decals" be the direct link since that is a key term for us? I just wanted to make sure that we are headed in the right direction before I spend a massive amount of time updating all these product pages. Any input would be really helpful. Thanks so much, Elizabeth
Link Building | | WNL0 -
Root Domain Link for Affiliate's Link
It seems my affiliate link: http://www.hrmsplugins.com?partners=21 is not being considered as a "root domain" backlink when this link is used on their website. Is there a reason for this?
Link Building | | delphia0 -
Is there a software to help me check whether the sites that i give link to, also place my link on their site (reciprocal link)?
When i exchange links with others, i usually put their link on my site hoping that they'll do the same. Since it's impossible to check all sites whose link i have placed on my page to see if they have put a link back to me, i was wondering whether there is a kind of software to help me do that!
Link Building | | isidora0 -
Directories
Hi SEOMOZ'ers I am trying to find high quality directories to submit links, finding it really hard to find them!! Has anyone got any advise for seeking out such sites! I have tried the tool within SEOMOZ but to be honest did not really work that well! thanks Daniel
Link Building | | dan1el0 -
How useful/ damaging is it to have links repeated on every page ?
Our site is dynamic in nature we have tens of thousands of indexed pages with numerous individual brands pages - all of the brand pages are equally important. We are trying to distribute link juice to those pages as much as possible - so my question is --- Is it smart and or useful or perhaps damaging or spammy to have a space on the bottom of each page throughout our site with links to each and every single brand page ? is this practice considered as duplicate content etc ?
Link Building | | AJMKristi0