Many Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing professionals express their opinions and say that directories are dead. Just as strongly, we have others that oppose that. We can’t believe everything we see because quite frankly there are “experts” that say PageRank is dead, SEO is dead and some even say Social Media never was alive, let alone dead now.
Hmm, interesting. Can any of these experts, please tell me why then, after all this — DMOZ is still one of the most influential sites on the internet?
Ever since Google (Matt Cutts personally, I think it was) mentioned that adding your URL to directories, was no longer recommended — many people assumed it meant “If you add your site to a directory, we will penalize you”. That’s not true — they just don’t “take it as heavily” when it comes to SEO — but directories still play a major role in the infrastructure of the internet.
NOTE: “Paid Links” with the Do-Follow attribute will always get penalized as per usual. If you decide to pay for your directory links; make sure it as the NoFollow tag associated with it.
However, even though Google’s announcement was a crucial turning point for directory links, I think the real reason why people don’t do it as often is because — there are so many directories out there; some good, some bad, some you won’t even get accepted and then some are even paid.
With so many options, the choice can be quite daunting, and as we all know “time is of the essence”, so we can’t just sit there and add our URL to 1000’s of directories everyday (even though some really, really bored people do!)
Well, let’s make your choice of directories that bit easier. If you can take into account the following three simple factors — you will most likely eliminate most of those “crappy” directories.
1) Is the directory is indexed and regularly crawled?
Just do a quick background check of the directory. If it was opened last week, has about 200 links and has less than 100 pages indexed — then you shouldn’t even think about adding your site, let alone waste time adding it. Get as much information as you can without too much trouble. Tools such as Alexa,
2) The links are pure text, no redirects or Javascript.
Just expanding over what I said earlier; just run through the source code quickly — make sure the NoFollow tags are there and if any suspicious coding is found; don’t just overlook it. There are many directories out there that try to trick you into buying their links. Make sure there aren’t any fishy-JavaScript coding and simple redirects.
3) Do not link to bad neighborhoods.
Depending on the niche of your website, make sure the directory isn’t associated with any “questionable” sites such as gambling, adult, illegal etc. These types of sites usually get flagged by Social Networks + Anti-Phishing software (McAfee SiteAdvisor). Their bad reputation will eventually get filtered down to your site, so be careful.
These three factors can help you filter out a lot of the directories that seem valuable but isn’t worth your time from a SEO perspective. Just watch out, there’s a lot of hoax directories out there — waiting to snatch your dollar. Howeever, with these 3 factors in mind and a bit of common sense — you’ll be armed well 
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The third point is very important. Most of those directories where you submit your site, ask you to link to them. But if it is associated with any questionable (content) sites, your site might get banned from Google listings. So make sure you only link to directories that are 100% -good and whitehat-.
I never link to -any- directory. If they like my site they’ll link to it. That’s it.
Chetan’s last blog post..4 Steps To Better Internal Linking in Wordpress
Fair comment, Chetan – I see your perspective on the issue, that’s probably why directories that aren’t closely moderated become pretty sh*t over time.
You have millions of potential people around the world with all these different intentions coming to your directory site, and there can so-easily be conflict of interests. So, anyone who adds their link to these directories (people like you and me) won’t get what they expected – a “lovely” drop in the G-SERPS.
Just curious to as, have you had any directories manually link to you? That is like the best result, but just wondering how often they actually link to external sites because they like it.
I am no fan of directories. I am listed in DMOZ and I still recommend it. But I might disagree when you state “DMOZ is still one of the most influential sites on the internet?” I recently spent 2 weeks pouring over the 10,000 forums listed in its database. What I found was a badly out of data database. Every forums sub forums where listed as if it was a separate site.A large number of forums were no longer in existence. So I have lost a lot of respect for the site based on my research.
Boris’s last blog post..SEO Doesn’t Take Forever Or At Least Not For Me!
Hmm, that’s pretty interesting. I didn’t know that DMOZ had become such a “dump” as you describe it, Borris but at the end of the day – it’s still valuable to get listed in it? Google still refers to it (as far as I’m aware of) and so does many directory-dependent search engines.
It might be as bad as you say (even with their countless number of “active” editors) but from a SEO perspective – it is quite valuable to get listed there.
What do you think?
Janith: Excellent points. When submitting to free directories, most people won’t bother to look at stats at all. But for paid directories they should definitely look at crawl rate.
We definitely should, but sometimes it can be a bit hard. Some hoax-directories will do anything to cover their “true-self” just to steal your money.
Not the biggest fan of paid-directories, but it is the easy-way out
Awesome post, Janith, made a great read. Honestly though, is it really worth submitting your site to directories? In the past I’ve used a few services to get my site submitted to different directories and none really had any effect
Simon | Teenius’s last blog post..Getting Recognised In The Blogosphere
It really does depend which directories you work with Simon. However, if you have the $$ and can get submitted to a couple of high-PR directories; you’ll definitely see a significant SEO improvement
Like I’ve said earlier, the same can be achieved with free-directories, but takes a lot more time and effort. Finding quality directories is only one part of it, getting accepted is just as hard (because a lot is beyond your control)
Ah, good point. I must admit, I usually just get one of those cheap services that submits to 200 free directories (PR2-PR6 or something) for a few dollars, but maybe I’ll start sourcing out some quality directories and actually work
Got any suggestions of good directories?
Simon | Teenius’s last blog post..Getting Recognised In The Blogosphere
Haha, some directories have a fairly high PR (4-5) on their homepages, but barely a PR1 in their inner pages – these directories are pretty pointless, unless they feature you on their homepage for ever.
I did have a list of some nice directories, but not sure how “out-dated” it is, Simon. But I’ll definitely look into it, and round up some good ones.
Will let you know, when it’s ready!
its great submitting to directories only because thet give you a backlink but other than that i wouldn’t submit to a directory because they only send any visitors to others websites
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That back-link can go along way
Directories are okay for quick links. I suppose the real big hitters like dmoz and Yahoo have the limitation of time to get listed or money but it seems reasonably straight forward to find free directories to submit to. Directory submission should not be the main focus of link building though
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Getting listed on Yahoo (pretty easy with a good site) and DMOZ should be one of your focuses when it comes to SEO. However, couldn’t agree with you anymore about directories NOT being the “main focus” of link building, there are definitely more important things
I keep three thing in my mind when i submit in a directory.
Is there a more than 500 letter description ? must i make a reply link ? and is there any no follow or anything like that.
After that, i can say, directory are not dead, just find the better for your activity !
Wow, some still pay for directories? How sad. Anyhoo, there are far too many decent free ones w/ accepted do follow links even, to be concerned with it.
Dennis Edell’s last blog post..Understanding The New Rules Of SEO
I don’t encourage Directory submission myself not because it’s “dead” but because it’s a waste of time.
Note: Submitting your site to a directory by itself, will never get you penalized by the search engines.
The reasons why they are a waste of time (beyond what Matt Cutts says):
* It takes time to submit to directories.
* The page where you site will be indexed hardly will ever be crawled.
* Assuming the page would be crawled and mysteriously indexed, the value of the page and the link you would be getting are absolutely of no value to the search engine.
* Do you really expect that somebody has so much time to waste as to browse the page 14 of the sub-sub category of that free directory you submitted your site, and then would be so captivated by your listing as to click on it and bring you traffic?
Even if you managed to get any little bit benefit from it, it would never be worth the time you spend doing it. For the same amount of time, there are countless things more productive you can do to your site that will bring much more rewarding results both in terms or traffic and search engine appreciation.
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Directory submission is dead you don’t get any traffic from it except from the directory owner when he check your website at the time of approving it LOlz
but I still recommend submission to local directories or niche directories because they can bring some good traffic for you
I strongly recommend that you turn the No Follow off in your comment section.
I’ll watch Google Webmaster Tools, and if the links don’t show up after a couple of weeks — I won’t go back to that blog again.
Another suggestion: you should have a Top Commentator widget installed.
Do Follow and Top Commentator will ensure that you have a successful blog with lots of readers!
You have a great blog here and it is Nice to read some well written posts that have some relevancy…keep up the good work
Redirect links are not followed? Please advise.
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I am not sure directory submission is worth my time, but i think it will help if submit to quality directory’s relevant section. I don’t think it is worth paying to submit link since the benefit is unknown. Also you can pay for directory submission service if this work is too tedious for you.
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