How effective are directory links?

Submitting to directories(besides yahoo and dmoz)... anyone with experience in this area?
If possible, please compare to link exchange, buying links, blog comment links...

 

There are MANY threads with same topic and forum members have different opinion about directory submissions ranging from waste of time to very useful

I personally consider directory submissions 'still useful'

I don't like blog comments because of their spammy nature. Google frowns upon reciprocal links and buying links

 

Hi, how would google know if you bought a link, or if a site sold a link(without that site explicitly saying it on their site)? As for google frowning upon buying links, why don't they frown on buying ads?

Thanks

 

Google doesn't frown upon buying links if they are not used for affecting SERPs. You can buy/sell nofollow links and google would be happy

I don't know their algo about detection of a paid link others might want to guess

 

I've had very good success with web directories. Start by getting one of the various free lists out there and spend 15 minutes a day pounding through it. Then spend 45 minutes working on getting links from other webmasters. I've had sites rank on the first page of google for fairly competitive keywords within 4 to 6 months.

The web directories help me target specific keywords that another webmaster might use naturally.

 

Dont simply rely on directory submissions, but don't rule them out either....

Try some other link building tips and techniques also....

 

you can read about the use of web directories in link building process at web directories

 

Hi,

Directory links are effective. But it will take more time for a link submitted in web directory to get approved.

 

They are still effective, try to submit to at least 10 directories every day and diversify your titles and descriptions.

Google doesn't like link exchanges and link buying as they have been massively used in the past to manipulate their serps, but I would do it in case I can get good traffic from it.

 

I Know,........ consider directory submissions still useful....

 

Of course paid links from high PR sites are better than submitting to directories links. But many bloggers suggest submitting and I don't avoid this. Why not?

 

I prefer you to do mixed link building.Thatz better.

 

They simply have no means to identify whether you have a bought a link or not at a particular website

They are simply lying about it...

 

I think at the very least, directory links won't hurt you at all, but don't rely solely on them. I submit to dozens of directories, but also comment on do follow blogs, and try to get "normal" links from other websites.

 

yes , I agree.

 

When submitting to directories, I would suggest you to check if the subpages of the directory are indexed in Google. If they're not, it's pretty much useless to submit to that directory. In my opinion focus on big directories and make sure to submit in the right category to increase your chances of being accepted. Submitting to low quality directories could be outsourced for a few bucks.

 

directory submission can help... but I wouldn't do ONLY that...

 

thanks for all the inputs. you guys think this is a good deal:

http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=308438 ?

 

i love directory links. they work. they help. only flaw = each link is worth close to nothing. as said above, u'll need to spice up your link building technique in order to get high SERPs.

 

Every method helps, but cover the majors first and most frequent