Hi, I feel at present directory submission serves very little purpose for getting direct traffic to ones site. However, it may help in link building a bit (in some cases). That way it partially helps in ranking. I think comments and social book marking is more useful to link building as well as getting some direct traffic.
Most free and paid directories are dofollow and they have editors approving the sites, at the same time, there is almost no editorial intervention for social bookmarking sites. The big ones are almost always nofollow, do you still think social bookmarking is better? Not to mention that bookmarking your own site/blog is considered spamming by most of these sites though directories 'invite' submissions from business owners.
You will never get lots of traffic from directories but what you will get is backlinks and inmproved serps. Socual bookmarking is ok if you want to see instant increases in traffic but these will only decrease over time.
When its come to getting more traffic i think social bookmarking is a good technique for good page rank quality directory submission plays vital role.
Social bookmarking can definitely send a LOT of traffic your way and I have had problems with my database multiple times because of twitter and SU. Couldn't do much on digg yet ;-) But for SEO purpose, most social bookmarking links are a waste of time.
If you can educate further. 1. Whats the purpose of SEO. If one of the major functions of SEO is to get traffic through lot of indirect steps, starting from web page to links and other steps ... and IF we agree that social book marking gives us reasonable traffic ...? 2. Could you please educate on no follow links by most social book marking sites. I studied a list some where and found few with no follow.
Social Bookmarking is for instant results and traffic but when we deal with directories, it needs to be approved for several month but actually it could still provide backlinks.
To my limited knowledge, social bookmarking helps hasten the visibility of your site as far as the search engines are concerned. When your site / content gets bookmarked, it gets traffic and increased importance as far as the search engines are concerned. With directory submissions, you are more likely to get traffic if you are a bidding directory owner who bids on another bid directory. Potential advertisers are likely to come visiting to your site to buy a link. But if your site is any one of the millions of sites out there, chances are your site will be buried in the catalogue of sites within the directories (whether general, niche or bidding) with visitors few and far between.
Both of them are very import to get backs link for the website. But directory bit stronger than book marking.
So the advantages of directory listings are only related to indirect traffic owing to search engine ranking which may come your way due to increased links.
Yes, you can say that. But when I check for backlinks, it is usually quite difficult to track the backlinks coming from general / niche directory listings unless your submission places you on the front page of the directory (which would usually require a bid / premium paid). Just do a random backlink search on some sites and you will be hardpressed to find backlinks coming from general directories.
IMO, you can still get good backlinks from social bookmarking sites. You just need to consider some factors - i.e. PR, nofollow attribute, redirects, etc. I would say at least PR 2 is ok.
Directory links are usefull but not like were in the past. Doesn't hurt to have some imo. Social book links are more volatile, they are good for 1 month but they drop to 0 usefulnees fast.
i always Prefer Social bookmarking, Because of this i can get lot of traffic and Also Some back links too, but Directories are just for Back links because people don't like to use directories now a days , So i use directories too but just some time to submit my site, And i don't give much attention to directory submission