Do You Still Find Directory Submissions Worthwhile

Discussion in 'Link Development' started by Chris Munch, Aug 23, 2010.

  1. #1
    When it comes to directory submissions I will now only bother with a very small number of the highest quality directories that are well respected.

    For the mass submission to hundreds of directories, while it may give a small boost to rankings (which I've seen), I strongly suspect it causes a trust issue with Google and can cause it to be in the sandbox problem to last a lot longer, and also damage your overall trust score with Google depending on your overall backlink portfolio.

    That hunch comes from advice from a trusted friend in San Francisco who has contacts in Google. So certainly not fact, and I personally only have circumstantial evidence which indicates it is true, but nothing conclusive. But given I've got some reasonable evidence against it, and the positive effect of directories is pretty limited I really think it is a poor strategy compared to the many more legit ways to generate a strong backlink portfolio.

    Not to mention that a large amount of dodgy directory backlinks tends to upset Google manual reviewers if you ever needed to go through a reinclusion request (such as if you have been hacked).

    If you want to know more how bad backlinks can hurt you I did a post a long time ago here.

    Do you think mass directory submission is worth it?
     
    Chris Munch, Aug 23, 2010 IP
  2. sydzapp

    sydzapp Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    703
    Likes Received:
    12
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    100
    #2
    I don't think it's worth. As a part of my experiments, i hired someone to do nothing but directory submissions for one of my spare domains. It was sandboxed for around 5 months, once it was out it popped to page 2 of a totally non-competitive keyword and has fallen more below in the SERPs since then. Directory submission has been practically useless for me.
     
    sydzapp, Aug 23, 2010 IP
  3. Brad Callen

    Brad Callen Peon

    Messages:
    854
    Likes Received:
    50
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #3
    I have seen first hand that aged industry-specific directories can be influential. Other than those, big directories like Yahoo, BOTW, Business, DMOZ can help establish authority quicker. Anyone doing mass-directory submits, especially in the 1000s should fired! It is no secret that this strategy was very short lived and has been a "no-no" for quite some time now.
     
    Brad Callen, Aug 23, 2010 IP
  4. super556

    super556 Peon

    Messages:
    35
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #4
    i Find Directory Submissions Worthwhile the point is the quality of your backlinks not mass bad backlinks
     
    super556, Aug 23, 2010 IP
  5. DirAnalyst

    DirAnalyst Peon

    Messages:
    18
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #5
    In my opinion, spending time and money (for paid review & inclusion) on selective directory submissions is worthwhile.
     
    DirAnalyst, Aug 24, 2010 IP
  6. Chris Munch

    Chris Munch Peon

    Messages:
    235
    Likes Received:
    8
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #6
    I agree. Certainly these tend to be very good, and it's no coincidence that Google likes them and they also happen to be really good for users.

    Just a shame about the cost. Which do you think give the biggest bang for your money?
     
    Chris Munch, Sep 29, 2010 IP
  7. Drew Bennett

    Drew Bennett Peon

    Messages:
    24
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #7
    They've rarely helped me, but really they can't hurt either.
     
    Drew Bennett, Sep 29, 2010 IP
  8. pass1meister

    pass1meister Peon

    Messages:
    189
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #8
    I am sure that Yahoo is the most helpfully.
     
    pass1meister, Sep 30, 2010 IP
  9. Star425

    Star425 Peon

    Messages:
    93
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #9
    I would think DMOZ, but they are next impossible to get on.
     
    Star425, Sep 30, 2010 IP
  10. prasanna724

    prasanna724 Peon

    Messages:
    126
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #10
    I think its usefull. There is no loss in trying.......
     
    prasanna724, Sep 30, 2010 IP
  11. seo.vijay

    seo.vijay Member

    Messages:
    391
    Likes Received:
    1
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    #11
    its usefull
     
    seo.vijay, Sep 30, 2010 IP
  12. condohunter

    condohunter Peon

    Messages:
    10
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #12
    it is useful but be careful on getting softwares that might send you into spam hell. You may check forums for some reputable softwares that you might use
     
    condohunter, Sep 30, 2010 IP
  13. Chris Munch

    Chris Munch Peon

    Messages:
    235
    Likes Received:
    8
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #13
    When the words 'software' and 'directory submissions' are used in the same sentence it usually means spam hell!
     
    Chris Munch, Oct 6, 2010 IP