The only people that will tell you that directories are useful are the directory owners or script sellers... the only good directories or successful ones will combine elements, like Meme's, Zimbio etc. 2.0 Directories.
I suppose those SEO companies from the UK which submitted to my directory in bulk for their clients (with a recent sale value of USD $1500) must be "directory owners or script sellers" as well in your definition
Yes, I own two directories which is probably why I have a different view than what has been expressed here. A well-run, tightly edited directory will often yield better information than Google. While Google's intent is to index everything, including every crappy micro-niche blog, keyword spammer and scraper site that pops up; a good directory will not include all that junk. Directories aren't always the first place I look but I often use them when the top 20 or so hits on Google are repeats of the same article or MFA sites rather than sites offering usable information. There are a few topics where I don't even bother with Google anymore as I know of directories that offer better information in those niches. It's easy to think that they offer no use when there are so very few directories that are truly well-edited. But, there are plenty of directories that are being used by non-webmasters as a search tool if you know where to look.
I agree that if you want a really specific service then well targeted and indexed directories can still provide this service. I also think that while they still exist their prominence and use has fallen substantially.
Well DMOZ used to be worth using but editors seem to now take ages to validate and so not as up to date anymore :-(
Good Directory site are worthy to go through and you can get a better deal than you find on Google Search. They are big company who comes on no. 1 for Google Search and they are surely expensive too. But if you don't care of cost and need professional services then go to google and contact to 4-5 top company for quote.
Yeah that's what I reckon too... there might be good ones out there - but I rarely bump into them online when I am searching. Decent directories are not always manual and can be automated, as a webmaster I don't even submit to them anymore... Google seemed to frown upon them after they became monetized and you had to pay to be included - hence paying for a link/buying links in the attempt to better search engine results - Google frowns upon this to.
Yes i didn;t get either, what's up with these directories, but when I stared with learning more about SEO, i know that they are good, also, I found some directories, that had requested ~50$, I mean, it can be a PR3 website, but it's sometimes the money they request are quite inappropriate.
Really? Just took a quick look at my stats and found someone typed in "appliances" in google and landed here: http://www.kingbloom.com/299-kingbloom.html "Market Research" landed here: http://www.kingbloom.com/355-kingbloom.html "Visual Arts" http://www.kingbloom.com/25-kingbloom.html These are google search results according to my referring URL report. The following are for BING "http://www.kingbloom.com/38-201-kingbloom.html" was found with "estate" "garden" http://www.kingbloom.com/42-71-kingbloom.html "apparel" http://www.kingbloom.com/639-131-kingbloom.html This is just a small sampling of results from the list of referring URL's and search queries I've logged just in the last week. I think you sorely underestimate the power of a well indexed directory. A directory has more value than passing PR, or a backlink. TRAFFIC. Well indexed directories can and do end up in search results. Those links land visitors at the relevant site by way of that directory. The point is, people do not always visit the "directory". They visit "google" and in google, they end up hitting the directory by way of the search results. Then you thought wrong. I respectfully disagree. Directories can generate traffic. A directory owners job is not to tell someone their service is useful. It is to make sure that their service performs as intended. The usefulness of a directory is not intended to sell scripts or links. It's purpose is to drive traffic to web sites. This traffic is almost always completely indirect and the result of directory links/categories getting indexed in SE's, and the resulting click through from search results that pick up and display relevant content/links based on that KW search phase... Again, I think you too underestimate the usefulness and purpose of a directory.
What I mean is I barely ever find directories in search results - this is my personal experience. I ran a few of your listings in Google and found heaps of duplicates. I still think Google frowns upon them and they are not as effective as they once were. Webmasters don't need to rely upon them anymore for seo or for gaining traffic. I get natural listings in several directories - without lifting a finger. But you are a directory owner - so expect a biased opinion. And if you were in the top results for these keywords : Market Research,Visual Arts and Garden then you would get a lot more traffic than you have reported, and not just one offs - maybe they had to dive deep? And I am not saying that they're all the same re-hashed crap - but they need more effort than the old days to be successful... and I think that a Blog or a normal site would out do a directory... if the same input was put in to place.
Mainly we submit our website details in directories for our link popularity and also we get links after approval.Google is a search engine where we find lists of directories.
Directories and search engines are twin together forever. Successful webmaster who run his directory to submit and to approve the quality information that internet users search for, then search engines will push that kind of information to the searcher from the directories as a resource. All Search Engines count the good backlink as a point for your website and the backlinks are number 1 factory for website rank in the search results.Directories are the main root for the Search Engines. If the directories will closed what you will find in your search !