Do listing in those low quality directories really help?

Do they really help your search ranking?

If so, how much?

 

Hi SpringHeeledJoe some of the as you describe 'low quality directories' may in fact be directories that have just started up

We have 1 of our directories that now has over 14,000 listings and many waiting approval and we started in November 2005 with no listings

But specifically we submit to as many directories as we can as they help with search engine indexing and PR

Of course not all are good even the start ups, so yes if you come across a poor quality layed out directory then submit with caution, maybe watch the site for 2 to 3 days before you submit

 

My opinion normally paid ones give the best value, look for low populated directories, if you are not on the first page of the category probably is not going to help you much.

 

First thing I thought when I read this line was, "I bet he owns a directory."

It seems like EVERYONE has a directory. And most of them are of either poor design or poor layout. Most look very cheap and inactive.

My question was, do listing even in these small crappy ones help?

Or does Google just ignore them completely?

Would it be worth the time to sign up for like 200 of those small directories?

 

For each 10 directories you get 1 decent, normally you have to buy featured links to get some value and then you get better value for the same price on a paid only directory.
My opinion just pass it I am link building intensively for my new Ask Directory and I almost exclusively submit to paid directories, I only submitted to 1 or 2 good free ones like this one Linkunow.
There are no free meals if you want a quality backlink you have to pay for it.
A good directory takes a loot of work and money, giving it for free it simply is not going to happen.

 

I have to disagree with that Ask. Some of the best directories out there in terms of quality and revenue generation accept free submissions.

 

But someone as to pay, featured links, adsense something, and then this directories are normally overcrowded so on regular listings you go to the 40 page any value on this?

 

i would say, submit it to as many directories... low ranking doesn't matter because those sites will grow eventually. Those sites might get PR on the inner pages, and yeah. Its always good to have a link back.

 

This I don’t agree there is a thing that is call cross-reference, imagine on a low quality directory you share the same page with sites unrelated to yours, you are messing your cross-reference with google.

 

I would say look to see what links are pointing at these new directories. It will tell you alot as far what direction the directory is going. When I check out a directory and see that all they are doing is listing themselves in other free directories this lets me know that the owner can not really be serious about making this work.

I agree with !ASK! you have to pay to play, that is if you really want to do well. If you just want be another directory then sure do not buy any links do not look for quality sites to be listed in. It is easy for the guys with free directories, so no offense but I do not give those directories much credit, any directory that is offering free listings is bound to get tons of traffic and a billion submissions. However once you put a price tag on it then things start to change.

Just like any other market the companies that do well are the ones that are not afraid to invest into thier business. The same goes for directories alivedirectory is a perfect example of that, that guy is not afraid to spend money which is why he is doing so well.

 

Sorry directory owners but I have to say its useless.

Instead of going out and spending time sub'ing to directories, why not take your topic, find 50 or so forums that are related, and go make a few useful posts, perhaps with your link in the sig, and maybe even in the post. These will help you WAY more because there is more relevant content, and not just a kazillion links. Also, nobody except webmasters go through directories. Thats right, nobody. BUT forums - yes, people do read those!

Or - go out and create a blogspot account to compliemnt your site. whenever you write new content, post a teaser article, with a link.

EDIT - and if you ARE planning on buying a paid dir link - why not take that cash and offer a topic-related website a few dollars for a text link ad. I'll bet that MOST would accept, and would even give you a lifetime link if you asked, for what is probably a small price.

 

I think they help quite a bit. I have a site doing 500 uniques per day and up till this month, the only thing I've done is directory submissions over the past seven months. Along with that, the last PR update, the main page was PR4 and 102 inner pages were all PR3.

You can spend 5-10 minutes per day adding to about ten new directories and over time, they really add up. To *what* degree they help, one can only speculate, but they sure haven't hurt me in the least bit.

I brought a client's site for an extremely competitive term, from mid-60s in google to page 1 in four months by doing directory submissions only, with four keyword phrases, where 75% of the submissions were for the primary keyword.

I've brought another client's site from nowhere in google to page 2 in the serps for a local competitive term, just by directory submissions.

Granted, buying 4-10 PR6/7 links might have worked better, but they didn't have an ongoing budget for that. I like new directories. They are free up front and over time (6-12 months), if the owner works on incoming links, it yields a nice PR link as well as some traffic. All for ten minutes of work per day. A long term strategy.

 

Hi SpringHeeledJoe

I just want to thank the guys who have articulated their comments herein so well about the positive & negative about directories

I am not going to pass comment 'on First thing I thought when I read this line was, "I bet he owns a directory." '

In the real world on the net it is always very re-assuring when I see input that helps everybody

Because sure as anything postive comments always help everybody

By the way we spend serious money on the web everyday, and in return we do a lot of business and all our sites have heavy traffic 365/24/7

 

I would say join any directory you find...
especially the new ones, if you contribute to the new ones, then you will probably have a top spot once they become
*MUCHO popular*
like mine... lol feetured.forumer.com

 

Well, in most cases it can't hurt, and it might help. But there sure aren't many directories I'd consider paying for.

 

listing in mine always helps

 

I think it surely makes a +ve difference.

 

Paid ones sometimes are a pain. I've submitted to a few paid ones and not even 3-5 months they are gone. So say bye bye to your money.

 

seriously - how much are paid listings? at least $5 right? for what? a PR0 inner page with possibly 100s of other links?

i'll sell you a pr4 homepage link lifetime for that price.

 

I think it depends on what your goals are. If you are looking for higher pr then go with some of the paid ones. If you just want to get the name out and build up links for ranking on yahooo and msn then it really does not matter.