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Directory Backlinks, Do They Still Have Value?
Most directory backlinks have been devalued by search engines but there are still some good ones. And when properly done web directories submission is still a good way for a new site to get started on building backlinks.
This article weighs the value of directories submission and provides guidelines on how to properly submit a site or page to directories to get SEO backlinks.
Why Search Engines Devalued Backlinks from Directories
Not too long ago directory backlinks were high quality backlinks that help webmasters to rank high in the search engines for their respective keywords.
So many people started web directory services just as webmasters started to submit their site and pages to hundreds of directories in other to beat competitors for their keywords at the search engines.
Search engines being who they are, realized this and devalued the backlinks coming from directories.
Does this mean that links pointing from directories are now completely worthless? The answer is No, though some may think otherwise.
The fact is there are still some directories that the search engines see as credible and treat backlinks from them accordingly.
But generally you can't count only on directory backlinks to win at the search engines for your keywords anymore. Their quality is low. And what they say is '1000 low quality links equals 10 high quality backlinks'.
Moreover like I discussed in the article on building backlinks diversity is important in link building.
Little links from here, little links from there.
When to Use Web Directories for Backlinks
To get a new site running backlinks is required. Except you write quality uncommon content that readers are quick to link to, you have to get backlinks for your site to start ranking in search results especially if you're in a competitive niche.
And webmasters are not always willing to link to a new site, which leaves you with the option of directory backlinks.
So to get a new site started on backlink building submitting your site to directories can be helpful. But you must submit your url properly in other for your backlinks to be SEO Friendly.
You can submit to general directories, niche directories or major blog directories.
For general directories it takes from few weeks to months before your submission is approved, which makes submitting url to directories an alternative for only getting backlinks and not traffic building, especially at the first few months into your site.
Guidelines for Proper Web directories submission
Ensure you have at least 15-30 pages of content on your site before starting out on your submission.
Leave your site ads free for some months because some of the directories manually review your submissions and if they visit your site to find many ads they might not approve your submission.
Directory submission benefit is not in submitting to hundreds and thousands of sites rather in submitting to quality directories.
I already said search engines devalued many directory backlinks, so find few quality ones (you'll find a good list below) and do your submissions properly.
Anything done manually always bring better results. So do not use a directory submission software. Do your submissions manually. It's simple really if you install a free software called Directory buzz.
I use Directory buzz by www.imbuzzcreators.com . You download and install the software on your computer.
It comes with a list of directories. You can find other quality directories and add them to the software, simply click on the 'Add directory' button.
When you have a good number of directories added click on "Add project" to add your personal information and site's information (title, keywords, and description) and all you have to do after that is click on each directory to visit it.
With the help of some little buttons on the software you can navigate the site and when you're ready to fill the form just click the 'fill' button and all the data you have saved will be automatically pasted on the form.
It is semi-automated, saves you a good amount of time having to manually fill in all your information over and over again as you submit your url to directories.
Before deciding whether or not to use a directory, check how many pending listings they have. It is usually displayed at the left hand side of the site.
If it is too much then it will probably take them forever to review yours or worse yet they will mass approve it, which could signal a red flag with the search engines as such directory could be seen as a link farm doing so.
And if many of the directories you use work like that, then your directory backlinks will be completely useless.
However a site having few pending listings doesn't mean everything is okay as it could also mean that they mass approve their listings.
Some sites states it on their site that they review manually, but for sites that doesn't state it, you just have to go with your instinct, there's no way to tell really. I usually go for sites in-between.
Not too many pending listings and not too few. I think that indicates that the sites are manually reviewed.
Don't bother with the page rank (PR) of a directory site because even though the home page has a high PR as you go down into the pages which will be the case when submitting your url, the page rank will reduce.
Moreover Google is yet to update PR for sometime now. So PR may no longer have much weight.
Choose the right category and sub-category that fit your site's main keywords.
If you don't find a proper category, which I have found to be the case for most of the general directories, settle for a closely related category and if there is still no closely related category, then move on to another directory.
The more closely related the page where your link appears is to your site, the higher value the search engines places on it.
And the deeper you go into a sub-category the lesser the value of the link too. So the closer your link is to the main category you are submitting to, the more value search engines attach to the link.
But don't settle for irrelevant categories just because you want your link to be closer to the main category.
Just as important as submitting to the relevant category is the text you use to create the link to your site. The text you use to create your link must contain the main keywords of your site.
It helps the search engines to know what the site being linked to is about and rank it accordingly.
Your title should be short and contain at least one main keyword of your site.
Write your description as you would when publishing a post on your site.
Just like the description about a certain post should describe the content of the article being published, your directory submission description should describe your site's overall content and can be lengthy.
Most web directories accept between 200-500 words for description.
Vary your titles and descriptions depending on how many sites you wish to submit to.
I usually plan a different title and description for first 10 - 20 submissions.
That is a new title and description for every 10-20 submissions. This creates unique directory backlinks.
And also I usually submit to 10-20 directories at a time because I like diversifying my link building methods as I have said before.
So on a day I decide to build some links, I will decide which method to use.
I could decide to work on directory backlinks today, next time I type some articles for guest posting and another time I use article marketing strategy to build some backlinks , just like that.
This makes my backlinks build gradually and from different sources too, which appears natural to the search engines.
Remember we discussed keeping things as real as possible when building links.
But with directory backlinks you can afford to submit to 100 sites at a time because many directories will most likely not approve your site until after some weeks.
And it is not likely that you'll have 50 directories out of the hundred you submitted to approving your site on the same day.
Do take a break after such initial submission to look into other areas of getting backlinks to your site.
Types of Directories and Directory Backlinks Submission Process
There are many paid and free general directories, niche directories and blog directories.
Using paid directories usually ensure a quick review and listing of your site but like most directories will state, it doesn't guarantee approval.
As for free sites some require you to give a link back before you can submit your site for free or for your site to get a quicker review and listing.
Others just let you submit for free. If it is a quality directory then you should consider giving a link back. Though I have never used paid directories, I only submit to free directories without even linking back.
There are so many directories to submit to, that I don't waste my time with the paid ones or the ones asking for a link back.
Moreover these directories need us to get content, so it's still a win win without the link back and payment.
For a new site just starting out without any backlinks, it doesn't help you much to be linking out too often, especially just to get directory backlinks. Always consider in-bound links verse out-bound links ratio.
Below is how a web directory submission form looks like.
Where to Find Quality Web Directories to Submit Site URL
Start with http://www.dmoz.org/add.html
Dmoz is a good directory that allows webmasters to submit their sites for free though it takes 3-6 months to get a listing.
http://www.strongestlinks.com/directories.php
Strongest links is a directory containing a list of directories sorted by name, Google PR, Alexa ranking, free or paid and cost of paid submissions.
http://info.vilesilencer.com/
There are many directories here not found on Strongest links.
http://www.avivadirectory.com/strongest-directories/
Aviva uses page strength to sort directories. It indicates which are authority directories and also which gives a better link juice.
Article photo by Filomena Scalise / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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