Do You Use Directory Submissions To Build Up Links?

[AlphanetChrisC]

Or Do you use other methods?

[PHPGator]

I have, but I haven't found it to be very effective. I pretty much solely used signature links and directory submission on one of my sites. It pretty much took from nothing to a PR2. Which is okay, but not great by any means.

[mori]

only good for anchor text nothing more.... you wont get any traffic from it but you rank better in search engines.. but it takes time and time...

[vansterdam]

I agree that it isn't a very effective technique. It can be beneficial for a brand new website though. It can be particularly difficult to build up PR for a new website, but directories will gladly link to your website if it looks professional. For the time it takes, there are probably better things to do with your time. It probably helped a lot more several years ago.

[blogdude]

Take your time and add great, unique content to your website instead.

[vstar]

Google no longer gives any weight to directory links... they used to suggest it in their SEO guidelines but they have recently removed it.

[dota]

google doesn't like it
more over with spam submission
use another method
like ppc

[snowbird]

Google no longer gives any weight to directory links... they used to suggest it in their SEO guidelines but they have recently removed it.

Not true. Matt Cutts recently noted that they removed the suggestion to submit to directories because there were too many people submitting to fly by night directories. He also indicated that they have not changed how they weigh directory backlinks, but reserved the right to discount them in the future.

@ the OP

Use a variety of methods to get backlinks. The best method is by providing quality content that other will link to. Other methods include, blog commenting, social bookmarking, article submission, and participating in forums. You can also reach out to other webmasters and politely ask for a link.

Good luck :)

[jitendraag]

Web directory links are not dead yet, unless you are submitting in totally useless directories that approve just about everything.

@OP: Using just one method to getting backlinks is not good because it will not be natural and at the same time you will be in a soup if SEs start discounting that method of link building.

[usamaung]

I think directory links still help to give traffic and good SERP..I always use this technique

[napa]

Very few directories are worth the time and effort. Sometimes you can find some good ones if you check your competitors back links.

[Jim4767]

My linkbuilding efforts include:

• Directory submissions (but less now than in past years)
• Forum signatures
• Social bookmarking
• An "Add This" button on every page (check out addthis.com)
• Direct email to people in my niche

I think they all have some value. By keeping the strategy broad, I avoid getting caught in a big decline if one linkbuilding sector goes "belly up".

[Jim4767]

Very few directories are worth the time and effort. Sometimes you can find some good ones if you check your competitors back links.

Nowadays that is increasingly true. I cannot remember the last time I've found a free, regular-submission directory page that was anything other than PR0. In years past, you could often find inner directory pages with PR1 or higher. I'm not a PR-chaser. I only bring that up to point out that the impact of directory links seems to be less and less lately. I have in years past been a regular directory submitter. But recently, unless the directory offers free deep links, I generally don't submit.

[vstar]

Not true. Matt Cutts recently noted that they removed the suggestion to submit to directories because there were too many people submitting to fly by night directories. He also indicated that they have not changed how they weigh directory backlinks, but reserved the right to discount them in the future.I stand corrected, However, I would bet that the vast majority of people on this forum that are questioning the value of directory submissions, would likely be doing mass submissions to useless directories.

On the other hand, if you were to get inclussion in such directories as...

Google Directory www.google.com/dirhp

Yahoo directory http://dir.yahoo.com/

Dmoz http://www.dmoz.org/

That would be a different story!

[snowbird]

I stand corrected, However, I would bet that the vast majority of people on this forum that are questioning the value of directory submissions, would likely be doing mass submissions to useless directories.

On the other hand, if you were to get inclussion in such directories as...

Google Directory www.google.com/dirhp

Yahoo directory http://dir.yahoo.com/

Dmoz http://www.dmoz.org/

That would be a different story!

You are right. Many do question the value of directories, and when Google removed the suggestion to submit to Yahoo Dir and DMOZ it raised everyones eyebrows. :) Fortunately Matt Cutts followed up on the removal of the directory submission suggestions.

As I noted in another thread, all the dropped domains being used for directories, and even directory networks, give the directory industry a black eye. That's most likely the main reason why Google no longer suggests submitting to directories, and I agree with Google.

The cost of submitting to free directories makes it a good solution for the bum marketer but is time consuming work. This is why many outsource this task. To determine which free directory is of value is simply more time consuming then it is to submit.

[STV]

i dont think directory submission is a effective way to build link... :D
but it's worth to try and submit to directory... it's helps in "certain way" of link building

[Dreads]

i would say if 5% or so of your links comes from directories it should be okay, but more then that it becomes unnatrual.

try your best to limit yourself from using directory submissions. If you want to use directory submissions, try to spread it across subdomains or register a .info and submit it. Then place your link on the .info

[cheeta.admin]

yes i do directory submission and do it by time to time ..
to build baklinks there are other sort of way as well like blog posting, forums, social bookmarking web site ..

[primeelite]

directories do little to nothing for your SEO in my opinion. I still do them but not at the rate I used to. I just now do very high quality directories such as high alexa rank, high PR, no spam/gambling/adult, and make sure they have been around for at least 2 years.

[edygalantzan]

Today directories help.

[jpearce]

Too time consuming. If you have an in house make them do it!