After Big Daddy update, I think that backlinks from directories have less and less value. There's has been theme where everybody said that as much more submissions you do that's better. Links from Directories are for me Low quality links, and I think that only 20 % or less should be from directories. I've read somewhere if google sees that your's 90% of all of your BL's are "junk" then that 10 % will be treated also as "junk". Directory submissions are good, but I will not agree with this as much more that's better. Then 80 % of all of your BL's will be from directories Backlink MIX is the best ->few from directories, few from related sites (natural), few from articles, few from unrelated sites etc. What is your opinion ?
however if you submit your website into 500-600 webdirectories, and only get 5-10 permanent backlinks... that is still something , no?!
Below is a Webmaster Guidelines by Google Visit it http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/b...py?answer=35769 In that goto When your site is ready section, In that 5th point is " # Submit your site to relevant directories such as the Open Directory Project and Yahoo!, as well as to other industry-specific expert sites." What is implies google likes link from the two mentioned directories bacause both are quality directories. So, Directory submission is helping in your Search engine ranking that what i feel. But it should be from quality directories with good anchor text. You don't need to submit all the directories which are announcing each day. Find quality directories and submit on it. Thanks.