Are directories still an option for linkbuilding
-
I know that after the recent slate of Google updates, many free directories got taken down. We've typically used the list of directories placed on SEOmoz (www.seomoz.org/directories). Before adding a site to a directory, we always check to see if it is indexed by Google.
Is this still a safe option or should directories be avoided?
-
Eric,
Sure. If there are barriers to get in a directory, that will help prohibit many "spammy" type links. So a barrier made be a paid listing (TN, MacRae's, GlobalSpec & etc.), a vertical directory (where only sites that are contextual relevant apapera) or any directory that are selective.
Personally, we have had much luck with ThomasNet (not so much with GlobalSpec). However, like you said, it requires a bit of work. If you have any questions about TN, let me know as we have used for many years.
-
I do some directory submission but on a small scale and only in local, niche specific directories that I believe could bring us some traffic.
The biggest caution I would say is to be really careful about anchor text. If you've got a pile of directory submissions all using keyword anchor text then that could be a Penguin trigger. I mostly use my URL for anchor text now, with the occasional keyword where appropriate.
-
I have to disagree with the people that don't think they carry much value these days. Over the last month I have submitted my site to 5 of the referred directories on the seomoz list and this week alone I have had 4 keywords move up +13 +3 +8 +45. So I think they still carry some weight but I believe it really depends on how your entire back link profile is set up.
Think of it like a scale, if you have tons of junk links on one side of the scale, then you may not see any change because the bad links are weighing you down. However, If you have a good back link profile these links will carry more weight and help you out tremendously.
-
Great info, Michael. Thanks for the response!
-
Are you sure this is the 'Best' practice post panda/penguin?
-
er, contrary to some posts on here i'd say that yes, it still does play a (small) part in the overall mix.
Getting a listing in Dmoz no longer has the impact it once had, and getting listed can take an age, so submit to it and forget about it.
Most of the manually edited directories can still play a part, and more than anything getting listed in directories is a natural process for any website.
If you have already visited the moz list and submitted your site to them then good work, as long as you worked towards getting listed in directories that are specific to your industry then a job well done.
Keep moving along with your day to day seo efforts and submit to directories as and when you find a good, relevant one.
Further more, as you have probably already seen on the moz list and by reading other Q&A posts there are some paid directories such as Yahoo and BOTW (others are available) that for me have proved worthwhile when submitting to, and I did see a ranking increase as others have in the weeks after I submitted to them.
-
Kevin,
Thanks for your reply. Question, could you elaborate on "it its difficult to get in a directory". We've had good luck with Thomasnet; with their directory, the difficulty getting in is that they require a lot of information about the client. Is this what you mean?
-
We still get relevant traffic and good leads from some directories. However, we only use reputable directories in certain niches (industrial directories). General rule of thumb, if it's difficult to get in a directory, it's probably a good place to be.
-
Indeed the best practice is link exchange with good PR and relevant to your site. I totally agree Matthew Marley you don't get too much value this day using that technique.!
-
I would only look at the likes of dmoz, local and maybe niche directory's
I dont think they carry much value these days.
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
-
Link from a directory
Hi, im submitting a clients website to some directories. They are a dental practice and I'm adding them to this website http://goo.gl/Tvyabd Once i added the business to its directory it asked me to add a link (in so many words) back to its website from my clients website. Is this ok to do or is it seen as spam? Im confused about this as sometimes directories are free and sometimes they ask for a fee for it to be fast tracked to put it on the website. I always check the Domain authority of the websites and make sure they are relevant to the industry that I'm working in but again not sure if this would be seen as "paying" for links. Thanks Ade
Link Building | | popcreativeltd0 -
Question about a specific directory
Awhile back I listed our website here: http://directory.r-tt.com/ I spotted one of our competitors there and I went ahead and listed our site. Now it seems that we are listed on 37 pages on the site. The titles that you can use for links to your site are very SEO friendly. Should I remove my site from this directory? We've experienced a recent drop in traffic from Google and I'm trying to pin point the source.
Link Building | | brandzz0 -
Article Submission Old Hat or Still Good hat?
I have always used article submission sites such as ezine, article snatch etc... I have always seen the big ones as a good way of getting relevant content out into the internet network with the bonus of building quality links back. However I have now been reading a lot of conflicting information, since the latest update from Google that even an article being republished multiple times around the net will wipe out the positive impact of the article and bring no SEO benefit. I wanted to get feedback from the SEOmoz community to see if you now feel this is a pointless exercise and we should now be even more careful as to where our content is published.
Link Building | | iprosoftware0 -
Adding a directory and aggregated content to my ecommerce site
I'd like to add a directory of websites to my ecommerce site. We operate within a nice niche both in terms of products and demographics. The directory would be specific to our verifical and market. My concern is how Google will see these external links. A reciprocal link won't be required to be in our directory, but I suspect many sites would like back to us as we outreach to them with content ideas, their directory links, and as we share them with our social network on twitter and facebook. The directory would be broken down into categories so each page may have 1-20 external links on it. Our architecture already incldes category links (all internal) so these would be in additional the links you would normally see on our site. I'd also like to aggregate some content - again, mostly external links. Will Google have take poorly to that aggregation?
Link Building | | DenverKelly0 -
Is this going to help for Linkbuilding
I am not able to do link building from like minded websites. Hence I am planning to go for following approach : By creating links to my website on blogspots (using comments).
Link Building | | ArtiKalra
Participating in question / answer forum on the websites meant for r asking questions for different categories.
Writing articles on good ranking websites and creating links.
Participating in Social media websites Please let me know if this will help me. Any other possible way apart from these?0 -
I want to know that which is better option for link building through article submission.
which option is better for Link building through Article Submission and why? 1. submitting one article at 100 websites. OR 2. submitting 20 articles at 20 different websites.
Link Building | | pawankatak0 -
Link DIrectories - Is it a Good Idea with recent Panda Updates
Yo! I have been doing a tonn of research on a few of my top competitors and have noticed that a decent percentage of their links are from link directories. Most of these directories seem organized and the links on the pages are relevant to the selected category. These pages offer both free link submission and a paid feature link submission. My question is that is it a good idea to submit my site to these directories with the recent Panda update(s). I have read a bit about it, but still do not fully grasp the overall picture of it. Any thoughts or suggestions?
Link Building | | techbattery0 -
Linkbuilding from different niche!
Hi Mozzers, I have a small question. If my website niche is Rent a Car, and lot of friends, people around the world, have restaurant, for example friend of me was a CHEF of restaurant for about 15years, and now he started working with Cars, how is danger if he receive backlinks from the restaurant websites? Its this danger? can google penalize the site if receive backlinks from different niche,different cctld domains,and language too? Thanks
Link Building | | leadsprofi0