Rand

Randfish goes into more detail on the value of directories.

http://www.seomoz.org/blog/the-wisdom-folly-of-directory-link-building

Like many others I'm growing disappointed in using directories for backlinks. There are just too many crappy directories. 80% of you reading this may own one of these useless dirs. Sorry but its true. Not to mention the stupid prices on those that might offer a bit of value. And their recent switch to yearly pricing while maybe they are not truly discerning enough on approving low-quality search spam sites (com'on guys, sheesh). I'll refrain from naming sites.

Now determining which paid and free directories are actually worth while? Man, its getting hard.

Even on Aviva's Strongest List I bet only about 25% of those are truly worthwhile and only half of them have any value at all.

 

Well one thing is for sure this OP will ensure some healthy debate in this thread

 

That's why I just signed up at http://www.directoryinbox.com/ so they can tell me what's worth submitting to.

 

Agreed but ive already made my points..

http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showpost.php?p=3892894&postcount=26

and im done on that topic..

thx
malcolm

 

ugggg. I'm seeing the shit on some of the other threads related to Rands first Whiteboard Friday post.

Now what I would really like to hear in this thread is a discussion on how to determine the directories that offer REAL value. Not a bitch-fest from an industry that is feeling slighted.

 

dude, There is 2 types of directories, QBC and serious Directories Of members who spend thousands of dollars in the promotion and backlinks, recently i started selling directories links from my new network of 60 directories, and after only 2 to 3 weeks one of my clients went from #8 to #6 for a very competitive online games keyword, another one jumped from page 8 to the top 20 for a home business keyword, then another one got the #2 position for a baby gifts shopping keyword, now am sure that am giving a value to my clients and you can pm me if you want the urls and the DP nicknames of the members that bought this service so you can ask them.

but hey 80% of us ? are you serious ? how did you calculate that ? because am sure that 80% of the directories owners here are serious webmasters who invest a lot of money and time to give a value to their clients... also its up to you to find the quality directories from the QBC directories..

good luck

 

Exactly what I focus on too, directories that offer REAL value, but in my opinion and only an opinion

One of the first steps to determine those factors is to understand that almost without question due to the large amount of useless directories out there, it's nigh on impossible to know which is a good and which is QBC

For that reason I base all my Review submissions on who owns the Directory and whether that Directory is supported 365/24/7 by a marketing and support program

 

Yup, its a wild guess. But look at the number of new directories popping up in Solicitations and Announcements every single day. 90% might even be a better number.

10% to 20% may still represent 100's of good directories.

Sounds great, but your deeply involved in the industry and know most the owners and interact with them regularly. I on the other hand just submit to directories, and scratch my head often trying to figure out if this one directory is worth my time or my $10, $25, $49, $whatever.

Yet i still take the shotgun approach with the free directories. Pay a submitter $40 and have them hit 500 directories. I know some of them are passing link juice because they do help ranking for moderate to low competition keywords.

But I'm not about to take that shotgun approach with paid directories.

 

Very well said...

I as well do the same to make sure that im giving those submitters better
serps (from my acceptence/review) as ive seen some of mine jump up in
Se terms as well and/also thier details page created that beat thier competitors...

And i have a few repeat submitters that wouldnt be coming back if i didnt offer
some type of value to them, wether the webmaster or seo or business people
that submit sites...

thx
malcolm

 

I bet all directories have some kind of value

Let me tell you one thing,I will soon prepare a list of quality directories not based on PS,PR or Alexa or backlinks

It will be based on the value of links in a directory!

 

Rand can be a great guy. But, can he fix his own website before talking about livelyhood of others?

 

I see these articles as link baiting only... and its working too.

 

already said this a few days ago (and believe it too)

 

thats exactly what is happening with my network too, after they saw the value of my directories, they came back and submitted other websites

by the way Malcolm check your pm i sent you a message a few days ago

cheers.

 

Does that mean you will be taking the PS banner off Dump?

I get over 50 pms daily, resend it please as it probably got wiped out..

thx
regards
M1

 

Going to Office right now-- already made an answer to Rand's accusation --will edit it more when I come back from office (yes some people have other works in life too other than bashing some one) -- and announce it to DP Directory community when I am ready,

SEOMOZ should get a fiting and strong reply for what it is doing to our industry.

 

I can see from your posts that you are targeting focused points, which is great as your posts are seeking answers not controversy

But may I say that despite who I know or do not know I too take a 'shotgun' when I submit to free Directories, which these days is very infrequently, as other sites generate better back links which I focus on

I would never take a shotgun approach with Directories but having said that I guess with around 20 to 30 minutes of my time I could create a very solid index of paid Directories just by tagging the genuine Directory Owners here on DP

May I re-confirm that there are many committed reliable Directory Owners here on DP who own & operate quality value added Directories

 

I can tell you from experience these articles are 100% used for link bait and they work very well.

Use a subject that is controversial or is a recent hot topic and boom you have great link bait. Google's recent paid link trip has made directories a great topic for link bait.

Just check out all the comments some recent post have gotten here like "Directories are dead".

 

I know that, but am seeking some direction i suppose.

And no doubt Rands, and others, articles make good link bait, BUT, they are still bringing up topics worth discussing.

 

Who is Randfish? Can you ask him to fix his own website?