How Effective Are Directories? Options

[DarrenC]

I have to admit that I hate directories, and as a few of you have said in previous posts, some directories can be useful for SEO.

I don't want this to be a promote-your-directory thread, but what directories are a MUST?

[phaithful]

This is probably a better post for the Large Scale Directories forum, but I haven't looked at directories in some time with regards to SEO.

The level of effort and opportunity cost aren't there anymore to warrant spending time going after directories any more.

I'd say just stick to Yahoo, Best of the Web, and DMOZ if you must go after anything. One thing to note... even Yahoo knows that directories are on the decline.

Yahoo! Removes Category (Directory) Links from Under Search Results: http://www.seroundtable.com/archives/012844.html

[EGOL]

If it is a directory where anyone can add their link then the value of a link from that directory will be very low to none. However, if it is a very selective directory, where every site in it is high quality then the value of the link could be very high.

In short, directories can be some of the most worthless links and some of the most valuable.

[BJ Wright]

It would be nice to have a valuation tool for the directories, as there are a million to submit too. Is there anything like that available?

This post has been edited by BJ Wright: May 6 2007, 02:18 AM

[sanity]

I'd also stay clear of directories that link to sites promoting things like diet pills, casinos debt consolidation etc.

[AjiNIMC]

If there are niche directories with good human reviews go for it else it is just a waste of time. Avoid the auto submission softwares which will submit to 1000s of directories (IMO it can be labeled as Link farms).

There are few directories which can help as the directory page has related high quality content and outbound links. You can get a good list of directories by scanning your competitors links.

Type link:competitor.com -site:competitor.com keyphrase directory in yahoo and you will get useful directories. DO NOT SUBMIT TO NON REVIEW Directories, do not submit to 301 redirection directories, do not submit to content copying directories.

[Angela Charles]

I agree with AjiNIMC. We work primarily with b2b companies and focus link strategy on related industry directories. We also run two industry portals and find that companies that have links on our site are benefiting from the industry association.

[yannis]

Q. How effective are Directories

Answer

As effective as cemeteries. They tend to bury everything, you have trouble finding your way through them and there more dead things in them than living!

Yannis

[Ron Carnell]

As effective as cemeteries.

Exactly! And unless one wants to be buried in the middle of their local mall, I suspect we'll all eventually discover that cemeteries are very effective . . . at performing their designated purpose.

A good directory can similarly be very effective at performing its designated purpose. Ask your local librarian. I think they only become grossly ineffective when their purpose is subverted to something never intended. Like search engine rankings?

[markov]

I don't think it is worth to submit a site in paid directory. Some are of the opinion that the search engines are taking strict action on the paid directories. If it is a FREE directory like DMOZ, it could be beneficial.