Do submitting to many directories help with building links? I've used some backlink checkers in my life but not many of the directories show up.
wow 200, well since you say 5, I am going to round that off to 40 directories equals one good site thanks, I do submit whenever i can
Only Google has real formula ratio (mrsolutions just offered his hypothesis) but tons of directory links will bring you very little value.
General directory submission rule is that if you don't think you will get any direct traffic from the directory itself, you might as well not bother.
Directory Submission can be used to increase the link popularity, but practically it has very little effect on PR. While submission, please make sure that you are submitting into right category. I've a list of 11,000 web directories but I use only 600-700 of them for submission. So try be choosy else it won't be worthwhile.
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I think definitely directories will help in link building you should try both free and paid ones you should submit to more than 1000 free ones(So you can gain a minimum of more than 250 back links) also try out paid ones like Alive and Aviva as it will bring you PR!